You read this correctly!  Math games have few merits, if any, and undermine your child’s progression in mathematics.

    But how can fun, enjoyable games with educational components be harmful to my child you ask.

     They are! At least most of the time.

     Okay, before I rip math games apart, I’ll be a bit kind first.  The only merits I can see with math games (when I refer to math games I’m referring to online games and software you can buy) is that they may help small children remember math facts such as addition and subtraction.

     That’s it. 

     Now for the good stuff.  Math games pose major problems which you probably haven’t thought about, but should consider.

1.  Math games only help your child learn math on a superficial level.

2.  Math games create an experience that weakens your child’s interest/motivation in learning math.

     The aim for math games is to entertain, they don’t teach your child the process nor the fundamental intricacies of mathematical reasoning and computations! 

     Huh?

     Math games don’t r-e-e-e-e—eally teach your child MATH.  For example, you may find a game that asks for simple computation (i.e. addition) and even the conversion of units. But, math games weren’t designed to teach your child how to convert improper fractions into mixed numbers nor show your child how to find the surface area of a cylinder. 

     A good math teacher understands the key parts of the lesson that guarantee both student success and failure.  Math games are too fast, flashy, and colorful to pay attention to that kind of detail.  Sure, they may be introducing and/or reinforcing some basic skills, but they’re not getting to the meat of the concept, only the bun.

     Also, most, if not all, math skills require knowledge and understanding of more basic math skills.  That is, a child will have difficulty finding common denominators if he doesn’t have proficient multiplication skills.  Math games do nothing to address this problem.  They assume that your child has the basic skills.  This is MATHEMATICS!!!  Skills, based on smaller skills, based on even smaller skills.  This is why kids have trouble in math!  They’ve missed out on some basic skills somewhere along the path, and that’s why they’re having trouble now.  Math games won’t fix this problem!

     I can draw an analogy to this entire idea of math games.

     “Let’s assume your child is doing a report on World War II.  Do you want him to spend his time reading high quality non-fiction literature in order to gain information and understanding?

Or…

     Do you want him to watch the movie Pearl Harbor (where perhaps there are some historical facts and see some mediocre acting) and play the video game Call of Duty?”

     Alright, my analogy may be a bit exaggerated, but I think you get the point.  These entertaining mediums won’t help educate your child!  Sure, they’re fun, but they have their own job…to entertain.

     This leads to my second statement that math games weaken your child’s interest in hardcore math lessons.  Let’s go back and assume that your child has watched Pearl Harbor and played the video game.  What do you think that will do to his interest level with regards to reading for information?  It may, ever so slightly, pique his interest.  Maybe.

     But let’s face it…kids are over stimulated by video games and movies.  Sitting down to read and extract information from a textbook is not as much fun for them.

So? How do playing math games and learning math in class differ from the WWII example?  I don’t believe they do all that much.

     In a nutshell…

     I’d stay away from math games IF your child is using them to improve math skills.  Sure, math games are a better way for a child to spend his/her time than watching television or doing something else unproductive.

     But if you want your child to learn math, properly, stick with real lessons.

admin Math concepts, leaning, math games, skills