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Maths In Games

How to turn screen time into maths talk

A parent-friendly guide to asking quick questions before, during or after a game.

Quick answer

You can turn screen time into maths talk by asking simple questions before, during, or after a game that help children notice numbers, patterns, shapes, and measurements. These questions help children use maths naturally without even realising it.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know how to ask simple questions that turn screen time into fun maths talk, helping children notice numbers, shapes, and patterns in games. Success signs:
  • You can ask questions about how many items there are in a game
  • You can talk about shapes, sizes, or positions in games
  • You can notice and talk about patterns or repeated actions
  • You can help your child see maths in their screen time

Why this matters

Maths is all around us – even in the games we play! When you ask questions during screen time, you help your child see that maths is useful and fun. It helps them understand numbers, shapes, and patterns in a way that feels natural and not like school work. This builds confidence and makes maths feel exciting, not boring.

How it works

Turning screen time into maths talk is simple:
  1. Ask questions before playing to get excited about numbers or shapes
  2. Ask questions during play to notice what is happening
  3. Ask questions after playing to remember what they learned
You don’t need to be a maths expert. Just ask questions that help your child think about what they are seeing.

Examples you can see

Here are some real-life examples of how to ask maths questions during screen time. Example 1: Minecraft Before playing: “How many blocks do you think you’ll need to build your house?” During play: “What shapes are the windows on your house?” After play: “How many different shapes did you use in your building?” Example 2: Pokémon Before playing: “How many Pokémon do you think you’ll catch today?” During play: “What numbers are on your Pokémon cards?” After play: “How many Pokémon did you have in your team?” Example 3: Super Mario Maker Before playing: “How many coins do you think you’ll collect?” During play: “What shape is the pipe you made?” After play: “How many different types of enemies did you make?”

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Maths Explorer Game You are a detective looking for maths in your screen time. Here’s your mission: 1st time: Look at the game and ask: “What shapes do you see?” 2nd time: Count how many items there are: “How many coins are there?” 3rd time: Look for patterns: “What happens over and over?” 4th time: Talk about position or direction: “Where is the character going?” 5th time: Think about how much time or distance: “How long did that take?” Every time you play, you are solving a maths mystery!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Asking too many questions at once.
    Why it happens: Parents want to teach everything at once.
    Fix: Ask one question at a time and wait for the answer.
  • Mistake: Not listening to your child’s answers.
    Why it happens: Parents are focused on what to say next.
    Fix: Listen carefully and ask follow-up questions like “How did you know that?”
  • Mistake: Thinking maths talk is only about numbers.
    Why it happens: Parents focus on counting and not shapes or patterns.
    Fix: Ask about shapes, position, and patterns too.

Parent and carer guide

To help your child with maths talk during screen time, try these simple steps:
  1. Before playing: Ask questions about what they expect to see or do
  2. During play: Notice and ask questions about what they are doing
  3. After playing: Talk about what they learned and how they felt
  4. Listen carefully to their answers and ask follow-up questions
  5. Don’t worry if they don’t know the answer – that’s okay!
You can also make it fun by pretending to be a detective or a teacher. The more playful you are, the more your child will enjoy it.

Practice questions

  1. Before playing a game, ask: “How many lives do you think you’ll have?”
  2. During play, ask: “What shape is the character’s house?”
  3. After playing, ask: “How many coins did you collect?”
  4. During play, ask: “What number is on the timer?”
  5. Before playing, ask: “How many different colours do you see?”
Answers:
  1. They might guess 3 or 5 lives
  2. It could be a square or rectangle
  3. They might count 20 or 50 coins
  4. It could be 60 or 30 seconds
  5. They might say 3 or 4 different colours

FAQ

Q: Do I have to know all the answers to the maths questions?

No, it’s okay if you don’t know the answer. Ask your child to explain, and you can learn together!

Q: What if my child doesn’t want to talk about maths during games?

Try asking one question at a time and keep it short. If they say no, try again later. Keep it fun and not like a test.

Q: Are all games good for maths talk?

Yes, any game can be used for maths talk. The key is asking the right questions, not what game you play.

Q: How can I make maths talk during screen time fun?

Try pretending to be a detective or teacher. You can also make it a game by seeing who can find the most shapes or numbers.

Q: Can this help with learning times tables?

Yes! If your child is playing a game with 4 coins, you can count them together or ask “How many groups of 4 are there?”