Activities for children

Here are some ideas for activities you can do with your child to help them see the maths in everyday life.

Whether your child is 3 or 13, you can find activities here.

Extra help during the coronavirus crisis:

To help parents following school closures we have made 28 resources for children aged 4 to 11 available to download.

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Everyday Activity Packs

Our seven new Everyday Activities Packs (Reception to Year 6) are available for parents and carers to buy. Each pack contains 18 activities which are fun, creative and will get you and your child talking about everyday maths

Buy the Activities

Child holding up hands

5 years old and under

At this age, children are beginning to...

  • learn about basic measurement, shapes, spaces, positions, numbers, order and patterns
  • understand the sequence of numbers
  • understand positional words, such as in, on, outside and under
  • develop an awareness of time
  • learn number rhymes and songs, such as one, two, buckle my shoe

Activities for 5 years old and under

Child holding a teddy bear

6-9 year olds

At this age, children are learning to...

  • explain why they think something is correct
  • count up to 100 and put numbers up to 100 in the correct order
  • add and subtract
  • recognise odd and even numbers
  • name 2D and 3D shapes
  • measure the lengths and weights of objects
  • put events in the correct order, for example, giving instructions for a familiar journey
  • collect information to work out answers to questions, for example, how do people travel to school?

Activities for 6-9 year olds

Young girl holding football in a field

10-13 year olds

At this age, children are learning to...

  • try different approaches when solving problems
  • break down problems into smaller, more manageable tasks
  • use mathematical language and symbols
  • convert between fractions, decimals and percentages
  • investigate and explain number patterns by drawing graphs and charts
  • calculate probability, for example, of getting a head and a tail when tossing two coins

Activities for 10-13 year olds