[JavaScript users only]

Games are fun, and they give your child the chance to do lots of counting.
Games give your child the chance to:

• say numbers aloud

• count things

• say which number is bigger

• read numbers.

You need to make choices when you play some games. This helps your child work out how to use numbers.

You can talk about numbers when you play games.

Learning to take turns is useful too.

Choosing the numbers to use in games

You can choose the best numbers for your child.

For a simple game use one, two and three spots.

Add more spots if your child can count more.

When your child can read numbers you can begin to write numbers on the dice.

Games to play

Nice Things

Give a plate to each player. Each of you collect ten nice things and put them on your plate. Take turns to roll the dice and say its number. Give that many of your things to the person on your left. The game is over when one of you runs out of nice things, or whenever you want to stop

How to change the game

You can play the game with two people and give things to each other.

Start with just five nice things. Then it's easier to see how many you have got as the game goes on.

When you roll the dice the next player says which of your nice things they want.

OR - Collect a handful of nice things. Share them fairly between you first.
OR - Use more spots on the dice.
OR - Use numbers instead of spots.
OR - Play the game outside. Use a box for each player and some nice outdoor things. Make a big dice from an old box.

Coins

You will need: lots of pennies a grid board for each player (there is one in the pack) a dice showing one spot, two spots and three spots (twice each)

• Put a pile of pennies in a bowl on the table.

• Give a grid to each player.

• Take turns to roll the dice and say its number.

• Collect that many pennies and put them on your grid.

• The game is over when one of you has filled up your grid.

How to change the game

Put the pennies on the grid first. When you roll the dice, take that many pennies off the grid. The game stops when your grid is empty.
OR - Use buttons or little toys instead of pennies.
Use sweets instead of pennies and eat them when the game ends.
OR - Use more spots on the dice. Use numbers instead of spots.

Collecting race

Give an empty small box to each player. Take turns to roll the dice and say its number. Move that number along the track. When you land on a red square, put a button in your box. Go on until everyone has come to the end of the track. Count the buttons to see who has most

How to change the game

Use three different kinds of buttons.

Take one kind when you land on a red square.

Take another kind when you land on a yellow square.

Take another kind when you land on a green square.

At the end of the game, count how many of each kind of button you have.

OR - Play outside using big trucks instead of boxes. Use paving stones for the board.
OR - Use more spots on the dice. Use numbers instead of spots.

What next?

Make a simple Snakes and Ladders game. Draw a track and write the numbers up to 20 or 30. Draw in some snakes and ladders. There is a snakes and ladders board included in the pack.

Bingo

• Use a bingo card for each player. (There are some in the pack).
  

• Write the numbers 1 to 9 on pieces of paper.

• Put the numbers in a bag.
  

• The caller pulls the numbers out of the bag, one at a time, and says the number.

• The players put a button or coin on that number on their board.
  

• The first player to cover all their numbers shouts 'Bingo!'
  

• Check the player's board against the numbers pulled out of the bag.

Playing dominoes is also fun and useful.

Snap!

Use playing cards. Take the picture cards out of the pack. Play snap with the remaining cards. Share the cards out fairly. Each player turns over a card and puts it in front of them. When any of the cards is the same players shout out 'Snap!'. The person who says it first collects the turned-over pile of the other players and adds it to her or his pile. The winner is the person who gets all the cards.

Making up your own board games with your child can be fun and useful.

Boards with simple tracks are the easiest to start with.