Candyland – Early Math Counts

Lending Library for Early Math Games

Early Math Counts — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 11:22:04 +0000

How many of you have libraries in your centers that allow families to check out books? Often, centers (sometimes classroom teachers) offer both children’s books and adult books focused on child rearing and education, to families for borrowing.

Wouldn’t it be great to create a lending library filled with math games as well? You could begin with a small collection of simple board games like “Chutes and Ladders” and “Candyland” and expand the collection as needed. It might be nice to attach a clipboard to the box so families could jot down notes about their game experience, or so they can suggest modifications or extensions to game play. I would also create small bags of extra “pieces” such as dice, chips, spinners and markers just in case these go missing. You might want to include decks of cards with directions for playing “Memory” or “War.” A few sets of “Uno” might also be fun.

As you introduce these games to the children, you can make them available in the lending library. That way, the children can go home and teach their families about the game, the rules, and how to play. Some families may not know these games, or know that they are good choices for young children. They may think that games such as these require reading or more sophisticated skills than they do. Presenting them as available options may open them up to family game play and another fun way to support their child(ren)’s development.

Now that the summer is here, so are the garage sales. Make sure to check out the garage sales in your neighborhoods as they are often filled with old board games, dice, decks of cards, dominoes, adding machines and other fun math materials. The entire list above can probably be put together for twenty dollars, especially if you get lucky at those garage sales or your local Dollar Store.

Candyland On-Line

Early Math Counts — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:28:48 +0000

One of the Early Math Counts readers mentioned that she plays a computer version of Candyland with her kids and they love it. I did a little digging and found this Hasbro website that has all sorts of games that use the images from Candyland. Most of the games are pretty basic, focusing on moving the mouse and clicking, but some may be a little bit more engaging for children. Most do not require reading, but some do. I would investigate it before I set it up for the kids, but if you have children who love to play Candyland, they may really like seeing those same images in another format.

With characters like King Kandy, Gramma Nutt and Lord Licorice how can you go wrong?

Candyland

Early Math Counts — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 10:25:07 +0000

4 more weeks of exploring board games seems like a good idea right about now, especially since playing board games is one of the ways parents engage in overt math experiences with their children (according to my very-far-from-scientific study).

Candyland is one of our all-time family favorites. Did you know that it was designed by a woman and it is in the Toy Hall of Fame?

Here are some of the reasons I love Candyland….

This is one of the first games that American children play and it simply teaches how to love to play.
It is pretty and colorful and altogether visually appealing.
You don’t have to read at all to play.
It is super inexpensive. Anyone can get a box for next-to-nothing.
It is anyone’s game at any time.
There is matching, counting, jumping, following rules, and getting stuck in molasses.
Everyone is excited to find themselves in the Cupcake Commons or the Chunky Chocolate Mountains.