Welcome to our Maths Blog for Kids UK, where you’ll find interactive resources, tips, and games for KS1 and KS2 learners.
How to Encourage Your Child to Love Maths – Fun & Effective UK Tips
How to Encourage Your Child to Love Maths Helping your child develop a love for maths can be one of the most rewarding things you do as a parent. Many children struggle with numbers not because they lack ability, but because they haven’t yet experienced maths in a way that feels exciting, rewarding, or connected…
KS1 vs KS2 Maths: What Changes and Which Games Work?
Understanding the shift from KS1 to KS2 maths is essential for both teachers and parents supporting children through primary school. As students move up, the curriculum becomes more complex, requiring different teaching strategies and interactive tools to keep learners engaged. This article breaks down the key differences between KS1 and KS2 maths and recommends proven…
Quick-Fire Games for Year 6 SATs Revision
As SATs approach, many Year 6 students begin to feel the pressure of formal exams. Parents and teachers alike are looking for effective, engaging, and time-efficient ways to support revision without burning children out. Quick-fire maths games are one of the best ways to sharpen skills, improve speed, and boost confidence — all while making…
Games That Prepare Year 4 Students for Times Table Check
Many Year 4 pupils struggle with times tables because they lack consistent, engaging practice. Maths games offer a fun and focused way to prepare children for the statutory Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) without stress. Why Times Tables Matter by Year 4 By Year 4, pupils are expected to know all multiplication facts up to 12…
Top Maths Apps for Year 1 & 2 Children
Maths can feel overwhelming for young learners, especially when traditional methods don’t keep their attention. With the right apps, children can build core skills while having fun in short, focused sessions. Why Maths Apps Work for KS1 Learners Apps offer interactive and engaging ways for children to practise key maths concepts. For Year 1 and…
Best Maths Games for Reception (Ages 4–5)
Why Maths Games Matter in Early Years At ages 4–5, children are forming the foundational understanding of numbers, shapes, and patterns. Traditional methods often don’t hold their attention—but well-designed maths games can. The best maths games for Reception engage young learners with colour, movement, and repetition, all while building key skills aligned with the Early…
Using Hit the Button for SATs Preparation: A Teacher’s Perspective
Why Hit the Button Works for SATs Revision SATs preparation can be overwhelming for many Year 2 and Year 6 pupils. Hit the Button offers quick-fire, interactive maths challenges that develop speed, confidence, and fluency—three pillars of SATs success. Its visual and engaging format makes it ideal for both starters and intervention groups. By focusing…
Offline Alternatives to Hit the Button for KS1/KS2 Learners
Why Use Offline Alternatives? While Hit the Button is a powerful digital tool, there are many scenarios—like device-free classrooms, travel, or screen breaks—where offline alternatives are valuable. These activities promote hands-on learning, build number sense, and encourage verbal reasoning without relying on tech. 1. Flashcard Drills Using printed flashcards for number bonds, times tables, and…
Top 10 Games Like Hit the Button for Primary School Students
Why Look for Games Like Hit the Button? While Hit the Button is one of the most popular maths games for UK schools, exploring similar platforms can add variety and depth to a child’s learning. Games that reinforce number facts, fluency, and problem-solving keep children motivated and challenged. 1. Daily 10 Daily 10 offers 10…
Is Hit the Button Free? Full Breakdown of Game Features & Modes for UK Learners
Is Hit the Button Free? Yes, Hit the Button Free is available to play online without requiring a subscription or download. It offers instant access to most maths game modes for children aged 5 to 11, making it an ideal solution for at-home learning or classroom revision. Free Features in Hit the Button The free…
How to Use Hit the Button Effectively in the Classroom
Hit the Button is more than just a fun maths game — it’s a powerful teaching tool when used with intention. For teachers aiming to improve mental arithmetic skills across KS1 and KS2, this fast-paced platform provides instant engagement, real-time feedback, and differentiation that meets each pupil where they are. But like any resource, its…
How to Use Maths Games to Build Decimal Fluency
Helping children develop decimal fluency can be one of the more complex areas of primary maths, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right games and strategies, this tricky topic can become one that’s not only understandable but enjoyable. Whether you’re a parent teaching at home or a teacher working with KS2 learners, maths…
Fractions for Kids: How Games Can Make It Fun
Understanding fractions is a key part of the primary maths curriculum, yet it’s often one of the trickiest concepts for children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. From recognising halves and quarters in KS1 to comparing and converting fractions in KS2, many children struggle with the abstract nature of fractions when taught using…
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…
Teaching Place Value in KS1 & KS2
Understanding place value is a foundational skill in primary mathematics. Without a firm grasp of how numbers are structured, children struggle with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In both KS1 and KS2, effective place value teaching helps pupils build confidence, reason numerically, and make meaningful progress across the entire curriculum. This article explores age-appropriate strategies…
How to Teach Doubling and Halving in KS1 & KS2
Understanding doubling and halving is essential to building solid number sense in primary school pupils. These foundational skills are not just part of early mental maths—they are building blocks for multiplication, division, fractions, and problem-solving strategies used throughout KS1 and KS2. Effective teaching of these concepts requires more than worksheets; it involves clear modelling, structured…
The Ultimate Guide to Times Tables for Kids (2–12)
Struggling with Times Tables? Here’s How to Make Learning Faster, Easier, and Even Fun Many children dread times tables — and with good reason. Traditional memorisation methods can feel repetitive, stressful, and disconnected from real-life maths. But without strong times table fluency, students often fall behind in multiplication, division, fractions, and problem-solving. This guide is…
What Are Number Bonds worksheets? A Parent’s Guide to Year 1 & 2 Maths
Is Your Child Struggling with Basic Addition? Here’s How Number Bonds worksheets can help Many parents notice their children freeze up when asked to solve simple sums like 7 + 3 or 5 + 5. It’s not that they don’t understand numbers — they just haven’t built mental fluency. This is where number bonds come…