Hands-on maths resources that help your child count, compare and understand numbers, for ages 3 and up. From maths cubes and bead strings to base ten blocks, each set turns numbers into something they can hold, build and see.
Counting and number toys: your questions answered
Numbers make much more sense when children can count them, link them and see them. These counting toys and maths cubes take little ones from first counting to number patterns, fractions and beyond.
What are the best counting toys for 4 year olds?
Choose something they can touch and move. The Math Cubes Set of 100 and Transparent Number Set (numbers 0 to 9) are suitable from 3 years, and the Student 1-20 Beadstring, from 4 years, groups beads in fives so amounts are easy to see. Moulded Foam Dice (2 jumbo soft dice) make counting games work indoors or outdoors.
What are maths cubes used for?
Counting, sorting, patterns, area and measurement. Each 2cm cube in the Math Cubes Set of 100 has a hole and connector, so cubes join vertically and horizontally to build number towers or a homemade ruler. Five sides show a different shape (circle, square, triangle, pentagon and hexagon), the cubes come in 10 colours, and an activity guide is included.
Which maths cubes or linking cubes should I choose?
Math Cubes Set of 100: 100 cubes with shapes on five sides, from 3 years
Linking Cubes 1000: 1,000 interlocking 2cm cubes in 10 colours, for siblings or groups, from 3 years
Translucent Linking Cubes: 10 translucent colours, perfect for light table play
1cm Interlocking Cubes: 1,000 smaller cubes for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, from 6 years
Which bead string should I choose?
Student 1-20 Beadstring: 10 strings of 20 beads in groups of 5 red and 5 white, from 4 years
Student 1-100 Beadstring: a pack of 10 for counting to 100, from 5 years
Teacher 1-20 Beadstring: a single 100cm string of 20 beads, from 4 years
Teacher 1-100 Beadstring: a single string of 100 beads in groups of 10, from 5 years
How does the Hundred Board Activity Set work?
Children build the numbers 1 to 100 by placing 100 numbered cubes on the printed baseboard, then lay 60 translucent cubes over the grid to light up patterns such as odds and evens, multiples and prime numbers. The Hundred Board Activity Set includes an activity booklet with 18 activities, for ages 5 and up.
How does a number balance help with adding and subtracting?
Children hang weights on the numbered beam and see that both sides balance only when the sums are equal, which also shows greater than and less than. The Student Number Balance is a pack of 10 balances with 20 mini weights each and an activity guide, for ages 6 and up. For home or showing a group, the new Number Balance with 2-Piece Beam (65cm) has numbers 1 to 10 on both sides and 20 x 10g weights, and the beam separates for easy storage, for ages 6 and up.
Which maths toys help with fractions and place value?
The Printed Fraction Squares (51 pieces in a sturdy tray, from 6 years) show how fractions make a whole. For place value, the new Place Value Cups (20 colour-coded cups and 4 place value dice, ages 6 and up) let children turn the cups to build numbers like 9876 = 9000 + 800 + 70 + 6.
Which number toys suit toddlers?
From 18 months, The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ My First Construction Cubes have enlarged 2.5cm cubes that are easy to grasp and stack. The Geo Pegs Activity Set (144 pegs, 4 foam boards, 12 laces and 12 double-sided activity cards) is great for early sorting and counting.