Numbers Up

I don't know which subject my daughter loves more these days: reading or math. She devours books just as veraciously as she does numbers, so I'd have to say it's a toss-up. (Wish I could credit my genes for the math, but I'll have to settle for helping shape her into a wordsmith...). In the meantime, trying to keep up with her fascination with all things binary is not as easy as introducing her to a new author or making frequent jaunts to the library. What's a a numbers-challenged mom to do? For kids who love a good math fix, especially during these last few weeks of summer vacation, Math Slam will motivate them to test their skill set. At first glance, it's an electronic handheld game. But before you shout cries of, "Oh no, not another one of those!," take a closer look. This is not a character-driven, mind-numbing flurry of lights and noise, but rather a well-paced, question-after-question game that quizzes kids on everything from simple subtraction, to more complex equations (algebra, anyone?). Players are posed with a question, and they must hit one of the corresponding buttons with the right answer...before time runs out. My 7-year-old is delighted to be able to impress us with her rapid-fire right answers, and aspires to make it through all three levels. I hope I can keep up with her; I may have to hide out with my Tina Fey book.

In a Nutshell: If the extent of your kiddie math days only date back to the "Numbers Rhumba," help your child challenge herself with a mind-blowing math game.

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