Young children learn best through interactive play. Math concepts are fun when applied through play and imagination. All these toys instill a love of learning as well as help to develop a strong foundation with numbers and counting.
The best math toys cover everything from basic counting to more complex concepts. Your child learns these skills without even realizing it when they do it through play.
Grow your child’s love of math with these fun and interactive toys.
Best Math Toys
The MathShark Electronic Math Game is a portable, electronic game that has 8 levels and even timed games to make practice more fun in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions with a handheld device that can grow with your child; whereas the ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Game is a board game that is similar to Bingo but with numbers that you can play with your child as they learn. This game is better suited for a younger child.
Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Up Counting Toy Set
If you have a child ages 3-6, then the Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Up Counting Toy Set is for you. This adorable muffin game helps your little one gain practice in color recognition, sorting, counting, and fine motor skills all while playing this colorful and fun game.
Included in this game are multiple mini muffins, different numbered and colored chips, a muffin pan, a muffin pincher, and an activity guide. There are multiple ways to play so your child never gets bored. they can play either with friends or by themselves.
Use the muffin pincher to pick up the mini muffins and drop them with the correct corresponding chips. Parents who purchased this loved how fun it was and said their children enjoyed picking up the muffins and dropping them into the tin.
This game helps to reinforce hand and eye coordination as the muffins get picked up and dropped. If gift-giving is something you struggle with, look no further than this matching game, it will be a hit with the child in your life.
The chips are solid and not flimsy, so they hold up to lots of kid play. The muffins are also solid plastic which means no denting or crushing if they get mashed.
One thing to keep in mind is that the muffin pieces are fairly small, so keep them out of reach of children who still put things in their mouths.
What We Love
- Great for fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination
- Learn colors as well as numbers
- Can be played alone or with friends
- Several different game scenarios
- It’s just cute!
Considerations
- Muffin pieces are small, choking hazard
We’ve found the best board games for 4-year-olds to help reinforce important Pre-K concepts.
Learning Resources MathLink Cube Activity Set
The Learning Resources MathLink Cube Activity Set is a great way to learn math while also building towers! These math cubes are ideal for small hands to link together and visually see how numbers work together.
You get 115 colorful cubes in this set with at least 10 of each color to easily set up and see a 100’s table. These cubes can be snapped together in any order and using any colors for easy visualization of math concepts.
Your child will learn addition and subtraction as well as multiplication and division. This set also teaches sequencing and grouping. The possibilities for learning are endless.
Large, easy to read colorful cards come included with this pack to guide your child through learning math theories. This is perfect for visual and tactile learners as well as any child aged 4 and up.
Your child will enjoy building with these cubes as they can stack onto each other upwards and sideways. Build masterpieces with these educational blocks.
An activity guide is included with this pack to help facilitate other fun ways to learn and play.
These cubes snap on and off with ease, even little hands are able to do it themselves. Reviewers liked that even though these are easy to snap together and take apart, once together, they stay held very well without coming loose and breaking apart.
What We Love
- Bright colors
- Easy to snap together and make patterns
- Teach basic math skills
- Doubles as building blocks
- Comes with colorful activity cards and a guide
- Over 100 cubes are included
- Good for little hands
Considerations
- Small, easy to loose pieces
Educational Insights MathShark Electronic Math Practice Game
The Educational Insights MathShark Electronic Math Practice Game has it all. This engaging handheld game helps your child learn multiple different math concepts.
Children ages 6 and up will enjoy practicing their skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions as well as decimals and percentages.
Each set has 8 different levels of play which increase in skill to help your child feel motivated to play and beat their last score. The games are timed and it’s easy to go back and repeat any of them as they see fit.
Easy for young hands to hold, this game is controlled by the buttons on the front which makes it easy to move between games and select answers.
The screen displays the math questions both horizontally and vertically, so it’s easy to read. You select the correct answers using the colored buttons.
Having all these different math skills in this all-in-one game makes it better and easier to use than multiple sets of flashcards. This game is also portable so it’s great to take with you in the car, on an airplane, or anytime you have downtime.
Sound effects are part of this game but you can shut it off or your child can put headphones on. You can also adjust the screen contrast whether you are in a sunny area to a darker area.
This game system requires 2 AA batteries (not included). Keeping score records is something reviewers wished this game did. It just keeps score while you are playing, once the game is shut off, the scores disappear.
Parents who have purchased this for their children love the fact that not only does it test several different math skills but it can also be used as a calculator to help with homework. Parents also loved that the games provided clues if you got stuck on a problem.
What We Love
- Tests several different math skills
- 8 levels per skill
- Bright LCD screen
- Easy-to-use buttons
- provides clues
- Timed games
- Can be used as a calculator
- Better than flashcards
- Portable
Considerations
- Requires batteries
- Doesn’t save scores
Learning Resources Money Bags Coin Value Game
Teaching the value of money is easy with Learning Resources Money Bags Coin Value Game. All the way to the end you are collecting, exchanging, and counting money.
This game includes 100 pieces of realistic-looking pretend coins and paper money. It comes with dice, place markers, and a game board for ultimate fun.
It’s a party when you play this game with 2-4 other people. The more your child plays the faster they get at learning values and adding coins in their head.
Children as young as 7 will get value out of this money counting game. Reinforce recognition of the different coins and bills through repetitive play.
Roll the dice and use the spinner to see what your next move will be as you navigate through money land. Whoever ends up with the most by the end wins.
The small parts included in this game don’t make it suitable for young children but that’s okay because they can play Sum Swamp as a prelude to playing this.
The great thing about this game is that your child learns there are several ways to add up money using multiple different coins. There’s no wrong way to do it. Problem-solving becomes a big component of playing.
Some reviewers mentioned they wished the game included a cheat sheet for beginners with pictures of the coins and how much they are worth.
What We Love
- Learn how to count money
- Teaches the value of money
- Realistic coins and bills
- Play with friends
- Learn problem-solving skills
Considerations
- No cheat sheet included
Think Fun Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo Game
The Think Fun Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo Game is an award-winning game. It’s won the Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year, Oppenheim Gold Award, Parents’ Choice Gold Award, and was a nominee for Toy of the Year.
Zingo is a game that teaches number recognition through a form of Bingo. This teaches counting and number sense, as well as patterns and relationships.
Your child learns to read number words as well as memorizing numbers and matching them to the correct word or picture.
It’s a fast-paced game where you have to be quick on the draw to win. The more your kids play, the better they get at memorization.
There are two levels of play boards. The first level has numbers to match. Once your child masters that, they can move to the second level which has addition and subtraction pictures to match. Once someone fills their board, the winner yells out “ZINGO!”, then you play again.
Zingo makes a great gift for any child over 4 years old and with up to 4 players, the whole family can join in.
What We Love
- Award-winning
- Teaches numbers, patterns, and adding
- Includes some reading
- 2 levels of gameplay
- Makes a great gift
Considerations
- Might be too fast-paced if just starting out
Learning Resources Plastic Pattern Blocks
Ages 4 and up will love the Learning Resources Plastic Pattern Blocks.
Learn how to count up to 10 as well as make mosaic tangram patterns. You can also use it to group them together either by shape or by color. These cubes are great for foundational math learning and are considered wonderful for STEAM learning as well.
This set comes with 250 pieces for endless play. Introduce the basis of geometry as well as pattern recognition and design.
The clear storage bucket that is included keeps the pattern pieces from getting lost and makes the blocks visible, prompting children to play.
The shapes included in this kit are hexagon, trapezoid, square, triangle, parallelogram, and rhombus. Let your mind run wild with all the ways and patterns these can be played out.
Because these shapes are made with durable plastic and not make of wood, they are easy to clean and disinfect. Just spray and let dry, you can even soak them overnight and they won’t lose their color.
This set doesn’t come with pattern cards but there are many tangram puzzles online you can print off. Creating patterns either yourself or from a card helps develop great hand and eye coordination and also helps with dexterity.
Introduce symmetry as you try to create the same pattern backward and forwards. Hours of fun are what you’ll get with these patterned blocks.
Grab a handful to take to a restaurant for if you’re stuck in a waiting room or simply use for quiet playtime. Adults and children alike will get lost in its pattern-making magic.
These blocks would be great for use in the classroom as well as at home or at grandmas house.
What We Love
- Comes with 250 pieces
- Large clear storage bucket
- Encourages counting, patterns, and geometry
- Learn symmetry
- Teaches hand and eye coordination and dexterity
- Create endless patterns
- Group them together by shape or color
- Great for quiet time
- Perfect for a classroom or home setting
- STEAM and math toy
Considerations
- Doesn’t come included with pattern cards
PLUS PLUS Big – Open Play Set – Building STEAM Toy
The PLUS PLUS Big – Open Play Set – Building STEAM Toy is a perfect open-ended toy for learning to measure, sort, and build.
These toys come in either a 100-pack, 300-pack, 600-pack, or a 1200-pack for endless fun. All the bricks connect with each other to make either flat mosaic creations or 3-D models of anything you can dream up.
This toy encourages creative play and works to help develop fine motor skills and creativity. STEAM toys such as this as great for use as alternatives to screen time.
A booklet is included with ideas on things to build to get the creative juices flowing. It’s guaranteed to keep your child busy for hours as they create and build.
Grabbing a handful of these is an ideal way to keep your child busy during long car rides, sitting in a restaurant, or hanging out with a friend.
Use these brightly colored shapes to create messages, work on symmetry, or even opposites. These are also great for quiet playtime.
What We Love
- Interlocking with each other
- Create flat designs or 3-D models
- Learn fine motor skills
- Great for patterns, opposites, and symmetry
- Great for quiet playtime
- Take along on car rides or to restaurants
- Buy as a 100-pack or a 6oo-pack
Considerations
- Pricey
Learning Resources Sum Swamp Game
The Learning Resources Sum Swamp Game is a fun board game for your child to learn addition and subtraction.
Great for either the classroom or to play at home, this game engages your child through basic math challenges and funny creatures. Perfect for ages 5 and up, you can play with 2-4 players.
Choose between several animal game pieces and try to make your way safely through the swamp using a directional die as well as numbered dice. You encounter obstacles along the way.
Quick to play, this game can finish in 10-15 minutes so kids don’t get bored. Play as many rounds as you want.
This would make a great gift for a teacher to use in the classroom or to play at home with mom and dad. Your child will learn addition and subtraction by rolling the dice and finding the best answer. They also learn that there is more than one way to figure out a problem meaning there are several ways to get through the swamp and beat the game.
Your child will enjoy calling out the correct answers and showing you their math skills. This game uses a 6 sided die, to make it more challenging once your child has mastered numbers up through 6, purchase higher-sided dice.
The simple math challenges in this game will help your child’s basic math foundation as well as encourage problem-solving and tactical thinking skills.
Some reviewers mention that there is a printing error in the older version of this game, so be sure to buy the newer version.
What We Love
- Easy board game
- Learn basic addition and subtraction
- Problem-solving and tactical thinking skills
- Play with friends or parents
Considerations
- Must purchase bigger dice to learn beyond the number 6
- Printing error in the old version
ThinkFun Math Dice Game
The ThinkFun Math Dice Fun Game is a fun way to teach mental math skills. Ideal for ages 8 and up, this game challenges the mind and helps to teach quick math recall. For younger children, there is a jr. level game available as well (not included).
This problem-solving game helps to develop critical math skills through dice rolling and scoring. Clear directions make this easy for children to read and understand.
Multiple people can play this dice game, in fact, the more the merrier. The premise of the game is that you try to find the solution quicker than the other players.
Your child will learn addition, subtraction, multiplication as well as division as they play more and more. The goal is to come up with the answers quickly in your head. Adults have as much fun playing as kids, so it’s a game the whole family can enjoy together.
There are several different variations of games you can play with the set of included dice. It also comes included with a carrying bag so your pieces don’t get lost.
Take this game anywhere, it’s portable and easy to play on a whim. Your child can fit in as little or as many rounds as they want. It would make a great gift for a math teacher to use in the classroom.
While parents and reviewers loved this game, some mentioned that a few of the dots didn’t line up with their ink properly. Regardless of that, this game was highly rated as fun to play.
What We Love
- Great mental math game
- Easy to take anywhere
- Clear instructions
- Comes with a carrying case
- Fun for the whole family to play together
- Makes a good gift
Considerations
- Ink and dots sometimes didn’t line up
Learning Resources Double-six Dominoes
The Learning Resources Double-six Dominoes is a classic toy. Dominoes never go out of style and teach us a lot. The great thing about them is that anyone can play.
Younger children use them to count and make patterns with the colors as well as the numbers. Dominoes are a great STEAM toy as well. Building towers and making creations is part of the learning process.
Older children enjoy playing the actual game of Dominoes. They learn addition, sorting, and patterning without even realizing they are learning math basics.
This age-old game is enjoyed by everyone. No one can resist stacking them end-to-end or sorting them by colors. It’s also fun to create a run with them and knock them over. The possibilities are endless.
These sturdy, wooden dominoes come in a bucket of 168, which is enough to entertain a group of children for hours. These would make a great addition to a classroom as well as playing at home.
These would make a great gift for any child who loves to use their hands to build and create as well as any adult who is a kid at heart.
While reviewers loved how simplistic and educational these dominoes are, a few mentioned that the dots rubbed off over time and had to be drawn back on with a white marker.
What We Love
- Classic toy
- Great math and STEAM toy
- Helps teach addition, sorting, and patterns
- Fun to stack, build and make runs
- Comes with 168
- Play alone or with multiple people
- Hours of entertainment for all ages
Considerations
- The dots can rub off over time
Best Counting Toys
While these two games both use imaginative play to learn, the Learning Resources Pretend & Play Cash Register is very interactive with a working screen that doubles as a calculator and comes with a credit card, cash, and coins for your little one to learn math while pretending to shop, while the Learning Resources Smart Counting Cookies is not as interactive but still has numbered cookies that fit inside the cookie jar which could be added to a pretend kitchen or just by itself for counting and number recognition.
Melissa & Doug Abacus
Melissa and Doug are known for their high-quality toys and products, the Melissa & Doug Abacus is no exception. Its solid wood design is made to withstand being played with over and over by children or even used in a classroom.
This abacus includes 100 beads separated into 10 brightly colored rows and attached with thick-coated colored wire. Its large size makes this a perfect toy for ages 3-5. Your child will learn counting skills and well as logical thinking skills and dexterity.
Besides counting, this abacus can be used to do additional activities to help master counting and other basic math skills with an activity extension (not included).
Your child will have fun as they flip and slide the beads back and forth and create patterns that will challenge their mind. This is a great alternative to screen time and can be carried around or taken in the car with them.
Parents love the abacus because it helps their children with homework rather than relying on finger counting. Parents also love it because it entertains their young children while also being an introduction to math.
An abacus is also a fantastic tool for visual learners as well as hands-on learners. It can also be used to keep score when playing games.
What We Love
- Made sturdy and strong
- Brightly colored
- Learn basic counting as well as complex concepts
- Helps with logical thinking and dexterity
- Good alternative to screen time
- Great for visual and hands-on learners
- Durable
Considerations
- None
Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
To learn about counting money the Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register is the perfect toy.
This 73-piece set includes real-sized pretend paper money, real-sized plastic coins, pretend credit card, and an activity guide for realistic play and learning.
When it’s opened, this cash register dings like a real one. Perfect for pretending to work behind the counter.
This cash register has a working screen and realistic buttons that appear on the screen when pushed. It’s also a working calculator to help your child learn to add and subtract.
One of the great things about this toy is that it’s solar-powered and doesn’t require batteries, the light is enough to make it work continuously.
Learning to recognize and count money is easily done with this fun toy. You can pretend to buy things from your child as they learn to give you the correct change. This would be fun for several children to play with as a group.
Some reviewers didn’t like that the money was non-laminated paper because little kids tend to be rough and the money can tear easily. Also, that the kit comes with 4 different types of paper money (20’s, 10’s, 5’s, and 1’s) but the register only has slots for 3 of them.
What We Love
- Realistic paper money and coins
- Real cash register sounds
- Working screen display
- Doubles as a calculator
- Solar-powered
Considerations
- Paper money isn’t laminated
- Not enough slots in the drawer
CoolToys Monkey Balance Cool Math Game
For a fun game to play with little kids, CoolToys Monkey Balance Math Game is it. This uses bright colors, numbers, and graphics along with little monkey pieces to teach young children math concepts such as counting, addition, and subtraction.
The numbers in this game are weighted and you use the scale to match a number with the same amount of monkeys using the scale. This is great for children ages 3 and up. Your young child will love learning how to count with the monkey pieces and matching them to their corresponding numbers.
Using a scale with numbers is a unique and fun way to teach counting as well as addition and subtraction. The cards are double-sided, so once your child masters counting, they can flip the cards over and graduate to basic addition and subtraction.
This game would make a great gift for a young child as well as a great tool to use at home or in a preschool setting.
Some reviewers noted that sometimes the weighted numbers are very sensitive and didn’t fully match up with the right amount of monkeys. However, most reviewers had no issues and loved what great quality the game is and relayed how much their children loved playing it.
What We Love
- Unique use of a scale to teach math
- Teaches counting, addition, and subtraction
- Big colorful numbers and graphics along with toy monkeys
- Good for ages 3 and up
Considerations
- Sometimes the numbers aren’t weighted correctly
- Lots of small parts
Lydaz Wooden Puzzles Counting Game
The Lydaz Wooden Puzzles Counting Game is a great way for young children to learn counting.
This game teaches counting by using brightly colored wooden circles, number chips, and cartoon cards. Stack the circles onto the sticks or onto the cards with the correct corresponding pictures. The number chips are also used to stack onto the correct pictures to make patterns and encourage your child to count.
The puzzles this game provides help with hand-eye coordination as well as cognitive thinking and fine motor skills. It’s ideal for visual and hands-on learning.
As well as using the provided cards, your child can also create patterns using colored circles and stack them into towers. This durable game provides hours of fun for your child aged 3 and up with all the different types of learning it provides.
The wooden circles are painted with non-toxic and tasteless paint so it’s safe for your little ones to play with.
One thing reviewers mentioned were the rods are short and the tallest one holds only up to 10 circles. However, parents loved how bright and colorful this game was and said their children loved playing with it.
What We Love
- Multiple math skills (counting, sorting, addition)
- Colorful puzzles
- Great for hand-eye coordination, cognitive thinking, and fine motor skills
- Non-toxic paint, durable
- Ideal for visual and tactile learners
Considerations
- Rods are short
Learning Resources Smart Counting Cookies
The Learning Resources Smart Counting Cookies is a yummy way for your little ones to learn counting.
This is aimed at children ages 2 and up to help develop skills in counting and comparing. They will learn to count as well as recognize numbers with these soft chocolate chip cookies and cookie jar.
Each cookie has a number on the back with corresponding chocolate chips on the front which are raised, so your child can feel them as well as see them as they count.
The cookies are made with high-quality rubber plastic so they aren’t flimsy and don’t feel cheap.
There are 11 cookies that come included and they all fit perfectly inside the cookie jar.
The numbers on the back are printed on so they won’t come off the way a sticker would. They stand up to being chewed on by a toddler.
These cookies float in water so your child may want to take them in the bathtub or use them with a water table. Each one has a tiny hole on the side to allow for squeezing that you could easily plug up with a hot glue gun to allow for water play.
Your child will love using these with a pretend kitchen or playing in your real kitchen. It’s never too early to introduce counting even if the concept is still over their head. Your child will enjoy playing without even realizing they are also learning.
What We Love
- Comes with cookie jar and 11 cookies
- Numbers are printed on the back
- chocolate chips are raised and can be felt
- Great for counting and playing
- Made with rubber plastic, okay if chewed on
- Can be played with in water
- Makes a great gift
- Ages 2 and up
- It’s just cute
Considerations
- Hot glue the holes for water play
Comparing the Best Math Toys
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register | 8.8 | 9.4 | 44.84 |
| Educational Insights MathShark Electronic Math Practice Game | 5.7 | 8.8 | 43.99 |
| PLUS PLUS Big - Open Play Set - Building STEAM Toy | 7.3 | 9.6 | 39.99 |
| Learning Resources Double-six Dominoes | 3.9 | 9.2 | 29.99 |
| Learning Resources Smart Counting Cookies | 8.6 | 9.6 | 24.94 |
| Lydaz Wooden Puzzles Counting Game | 5.6 | 9.0 | 21.99 |
| Think Fun Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo Game | 9.9 | 9.6 | 20.74 |
| Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Up Counting Toy Set | 6.9 | 9.6 | 20.24 |
| CoolToys Monkey Balance Cool Math Game | 8.9 | 9.4 | 19.99 |
| Learning Resources MathLink Cube Activity Set | 9.1 | 9.6 | 17.53 |
| Learning Resources Plastic Pattern Blocks | 6.5 | 9.6 | 17.44 |
| Learning Resources Money Bags Coin Value Game | 8.4 | 9.4 | 15.56 |
| Learning Resources Sum Swamp Game | 9.4 | 9.6 | 13.89 |
| Melissa & Doug Abacus | 9.5 | 9.6 | 12.99 |
| ThinkFun Math Dice Game | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.78 |
How We Selected Great Math Toys
There is no shortage to finding and buying educational toys for your children but when it comes to math-specific toys, we narrowed it down to some good ones. Here are some things to keep an eye out for when looking for toys that will foster a love of learning while also helping to build a math foundation.
Math Foundations
Learning math goes beyond teaching addition and subtraction. It’s also all the early legwork that provides a strong foundation to begin branching out and learning math concepts. It’s problem-solving, logical thinking, and pattern recognition as well as counting to 10 and learning shapes.
The Smart Counting Cookie Jar is a great example of counting to 10. It’s a toy that is played with through imagination while also being educational in number recognition.
I really like the Money Bags board game. It’s a fun and interactive way to experience real-life money skills while also learning cognitive thinking skills and problem-solving. All of which are important to acquiring a love of math.
Wide Age Range
Math is important at every age so it was vital to find toys that would engage all stages of learning. Young children enjoy playtime, so the Mini Muffin Match-Up is perfect for learning and playtime, while the Dominoes are a toy that can be enjoyed by even adults.
Math and STEAM toys are easy to spot, they encourage brainwork and thinking rather than just mindless play.
FAQs About Math Toys
What is STEAM?
The term STEAM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. It’s also sometimes seen as STEM.
STEAM is an approach to education that encourages creative thinking and experimental learning through the process of hands-on play. It lends itself to integrating more than one of the subjects together so you learn several concepts at the same time. It’s a fairly new idea that has grown into entire curriculums.
According to Live Science, playing with STEAM toys really does encourage and help your child learn math and science.
Are wooden toys better than plastic toys?
This debate has turned into an entire toy industry with some manufacturers only producing wooden toys. It’s not just a fad, wooden toys definitely have their place in the toy world and are here to stay.
Wooden toys are better for the environment. Many are hand-crafted with organic and renewable resources. They are also biodegradable and don’t contain the toxins that some plastics have.
Some argue that wooden toys are more calming which helps you to concentrate better. Also, because wooden toys are plainer than plastic toys, they encourage imagination better than their plastic counterparts.
That being said, there is nothing wrong with buying your child plastic toys. They tend to be brighter than wooden toys and can be disinfected better. They also hold up better in water, so bathtime is more fun.
So what’s the verdict? Ultimately as the parent, the choice to buy wooden toys vs. plastic toys is up to you. As long as you find toys that your child loves and plays with, then you’ve won.
