These games can be assigned as homework, although teachers should be aware that this practice may be unfair if some children have family members able to support game play and others do not.
A potential for injustice is not the only concern here. As Francis Su says in his book Mathematics for Human Flourishing (2020, p. 9), citing Maloney et al. (2015), “Studies show that parents with math anxiety pass on that anxiety to their children. In fact, math-anxious parents are more likely to pass on math anxiety if they try to help their kids with their math homework than if they don’t.”
However, these concerns do not mean that the games should not be assigned as homework. Positive family experiences around mathematics have good impacts on children’s learning and development (Levine et al., 2010; Snow, 2016b, p. 11-20; State of Victoria, 2018). Parents, including math-anxious parents, may find the highly structured nature of these games reassuring and enjoyable.
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References
Levine, Susan C., Linda Whealton Suriyakham, Meredith L. Rowe, Janellen Huttenlocher, and Elizabeth A. Gunderson. 2010. “What Counts in the Development of Young Children’s Number Knowledge?” Developmental Psychology 46(5): 1309-1313.
Maloney, Erin A., Gerardo Ramirez, Elizabeth A. Gunderson, Susan C. Levine, and Sian L. Beilock. 2015. “Intergenerational Effects of Parents’ Math Anxiety on Children’s Math Achievement and Anxiety.” Psychological Science 26(9): 1480-1488.
Snow, Kate. 2016. Preschool Math at Home: Simple Activities to Build the Best Possible Foundation for Your Child. Charles City, VA: Well-Trained Mind Press.
State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training). May 2018. Literacy and Numeracy Tips to Help Your Child Every Day: A Guide for Parents of Children Aged 0-12. Retrieved from https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/english/literacy/LiteracyandNumeracyTipstoHelpYourChild_Final.pdf
Su, Francis Edward. 2020. Mathematics for Human Flourishing. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
August 18, 2020