Best Ways to Learn Mental Addition & Subtraction at Home

Mental addition and subtraction are essential building blocks for all areas of mathematics. Without fluency in these core skills, children may struggle to progress confidently through topics such as multiplication, fractions, or even word problems. Fortunately, parents can play a crucial role in helping children master these concepts at home using simple strategies and engaging techniques.

This guide provides practical, teacher-backed approaches to make home-based maths practice both effective and enjoyable for children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Why Mental Maths Matters at Home

Mental arithmetic helps children solve problems quickly, make everyday decisions (like calculating change or measuring ingredients), and develop number sense. When children practise addition and subtraction mentally, they’re not only learning to compute — they’re strengthening memory, logical reasoning, and confidence.

Unlike written methods, mental maths requires quick thinking and number manipulation, which becomes easier with regular, short practice sessions.

1. Use Real-Life Opportunities for Practice

Some of the best ways to encourage mental arithmetic happen during everyday routines. At home, parents can incorporate quick calculations into:

• Meal preparation: “If we have 8 strawberries and eat 3, how many are left?”
• Pocket money: “If you have £5 and spend £2.50, how much do you have now?”
• Shopping: “If apples cost 40p each, how much are 3 apples?”

These types of practical problems develop flexible thinking and reinforce the relevance of maths in daily life.

2. Play Timed Mental Maths Games

Short bursts of timed games can help children improve speed and accuracy while making learning more exciting. Games like Hit the Button, Daily 10, and flashcard challenges are ideal for this.

For example:

• Set a timer for 60 seconds and ask how many addition questions your child can solve.
• Use flashcards with number pairs and challenge your child to recall answers before the timer runs out.
• Compete with your child — they’ll often try harder when they’re trying to beat a parent!

Start with simple number bonds or bridging through 10, and then gradually increase complexity.

3. Focus on Number Bonds

Mastering number bonds (especially to 10 and 20) provides a strong mental foundation for both addition and subtraction. Once children are fluent in knowing, for example, that 7 + 3 = 10 or that 9 + 1 = 10, they can more easily manipulate numbers.

Practice number bonds with:

• Matching games (e.g. pairing cards that make 10)
• Bead strings or ten frames for visual representation
• Oral recall drills: “What goes with 4 to make 10?”

Reinforcement of these facts leads to automaticity — where answers are recalled instantly without working them out.

4. Teach Friendly Number Strategies

Mental maths often involves breaking numbers into simpler parts. Teach children to use “friendly numbers” to make calculations easier.

For example:

• To solve 38 + 7, think of 38 + 2 = 40, then add 5 more = 45.
• For 72 – 9, subtract 10 to get 62, then add 1 = 63.

This method is particularly effective for children in Year 3 and above who are moving beyond number bonds.

5. Use Visual Aids and Manipulatives

Visual representations help young learners understand what they’re doing mentally. Even for mental arithmetic, tools like number lines, hundred squares, cubes, or counters can build foundational understanding.

Let children:

• Slide counters on a number line while solving subtraction problems
• Use base-ten blocks to explore regrouping in subtraction
• Use a whiteboard to write and solve quick mental problems aloud

With consistent use, children start visualising these aids mentally — strengthening their internal number sense.

6. Encourage Estimation and Rounding

Encouraging children to estimate helps build a natural sense of numbers and quick judgment. It’s especially helpful for checking the reasonableness of answers.

For example:

• “What’s 68 + 24? Round and estimate first: 70 + 20 = 90.”
• “Is the answer to 198 – 99 closer to 100 or 200?”

Estimation improves mental agility and teaches children to approach problems with logical reasoning before calculating.

7. Mix Oral and Written Challenges

Although the focus is on mental maths, combining spoken and written practice supports recall and language development. Try:

• Oral quick-fire questions at breakfast or in the car
• Dictated maths stories: “I had 15 pencils and gave 6 away. How many are left?”
• Written 5-minute quizzes to track progress over time

The variety ensures children don’t lose focus and keeps learning fresh.

8. Praise Progress Over Perfection

Mental maths takes time to master. Praise effort, not just speed or accuracy. If a child is willing to try, break down mistakes into learning points.

Try celebrating milestones like:

• Beating their previous score in a game
• Completing 10 questions correctly in a row
• Successfully using a new strategy like bridging or rounding

A confident child is more willing to practise, take risks, and solve problems independently.

9. Use Apps and Games That Support Curriculum Goals

There are plenty of maths apps available, but not all align well with what children learn in KS1 or KS2. Choose ones that match UK curriculum standards and emphasise core skills like number bonds, doubles, or subtraction within 100.

Some helpful platforms include:

• Hit the Button (focuses on speed and recall)
• Mathletics (broad curriculum coverage)
• Numbots (great for KS1 learners)
• White Rose Maths apps

Always supervise app usage to ensure children are focused and not just tapping randomly.

10. Set Up a Mini Maths Routine

Children benefit from routines that are predictable and short. Five to ten minutes of mental maths practice each day is more effective than one long weekly session.

Sample home routine:

• Monday: Addition pairs game
• Tuesday: Subtraction with flashcards
• Wednesday: Estimation questions during cooking
• Thursday: Timed app challenge
• Friday: Mini quiz or parent-child game

These routines keep learning consistent and reduce anxiety around numbers.

Final Thoughts

Mental addition and subtraction aren’t just about getting the answer quickly — they’re about building mathematical fluency, flexibility, and confidence. With a blend of games, real-life questions, and consistent encouragement, parents can help children achieve strong mental arithmetic skills from the comfort of home.

Keep sessions short, positive, and focused on progress. Over time, you’ll see your child making faster decisions, solving tougher problems, and even enjoying maths.

Let learning happen naturally — one quick calculation at a time.