Nintendo DS Educational video games are more popular today due to the release of game titles that do have the ability to develop a child’s focus and skills. Adults are not left out as there are brain games like Brain Age and Big Brain Academy designed to sharpen their reflexes.

The Video games are played on the DS console which is a handheld gaming platform with a dual LCD screen. The console contains a microphone and a voice recognition system used in some simulation training video games like Nintendogs. The second screen is used as a touchscreen with the aid of a stylus.

Subject like maths and English can easily be mastered because the games are designed in such away that they make learning all fun and not a pain. Also children can learn mental strategy, eyes and hand coordination by playing these games.

There are varieties of titles to choose from ranging from simulation games to role play games. There are also puzzles and mysteries titles to play. I review below some of the best DS educational games for kids.

• Super Scribblenauts: is an iteration of the original game Scribblenauts developed by 5th Cell for Nintendo DS. The video game allows players to conjure any object by writing the name on the touchscreen. Players can also change the appearance of the objects through the use of adjectives. Super Scribblenauts is a single player game with a PEGI rating of 12+.
• Junior Brain Trainer 2: a sequel to the Junior Brain Trainer is a brain training video game designed for kids. The game helps kids develop their memory, maths, reading, logic and problem-solving skills among others. Junior Brain Trainer 2 is a collection of a 130 puzzles and activities. This game takes a fun method approach in encouraging children to learn in a stimulating environment. The game has been rated 3 and over by PEGI.
• Junior Classic Games: is a collection of games aimed at developing memory, logic and problem-solving skills in kids. The game features various levels of difficulties with a reward system to keep children motivated. This title features number games, logic, arcade, music has a PEGI rating of 3+
• Imagine Teachers: Imagine Teacher is a multiplayer simulation video game. Gamers play the role of a young teacher task with educating initially four students. Students are taught how to write, biology, maths, history and geography and develop artistic skills such as music, drawing and pottery. The video game has a PEGI rating of 3+
• Let’s Draw!: is a simulation video game that challenges kids to be creative. The game teaches kids how to draw by following step by step guides to creating images. The video game allows kids to use their designs as part of the fun mini-games.

By introducing a few fun math games into the classroom or homework schedule, you will change ‘I HATE math!’ into ‘I LOVE math!’.

Best of all, children don’t even know they’re doing math when it is this much fun. Just make sure that kids are challenged.

Included below are a few fun math games for kids for use at home or in the classroom. These are games that practice number skills.

Higher or Lower
This is a perfect math game for practicing order of numbers.
You can use numbers that have 2 digits, 3 digits or more.
To begin select the upper and lower number limits, e.g. between 10 and 100.
One player selects a number and records it on a piece of paper.
The other player/s guesses what they think the number might be. For every guess the first player tells if the chosen number is higher or lower. Keep playing until the number is guessed.

Find It First
Use this fun math game to practice basic times tables (or addition, subtraction or division also).
Simply write the answers to tables you are going to practice, randomly over the board or a piece of paper, e.g. to practice eight times tables write – 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 etc. To make the game a bit more challenging, you can add a few other numbers.
Two kids stand or sit either side to the numbers and a multiplication table is given, e.g. 7 multiplied by 8.
Kids compete to be the first to point to the answer.
The first point to the answer, scores a point and the first to have three points is the winner.
This game works well as a whole class game with children representing their team or have a tournament to find who the class champion is with each child having a go.

Largest Number
This is one of my favorites. It is a simple and fun math game that always motivates children.
Each person rolls the dice. Use
-3 dice for children to practice 3 digit numbers
-4 dice for children to practice 4 digit numbers
-5 dice for children to practice 5 digit numbers
-6 dice for children to practice 6 digit numbers
Each person rolls the dice and records the numbers shown, e.g. 3 4 1 6.
The players then organize the digits to make the largest possible number that they can, e.g. 6431.
The player with the highest number receives 1 point.

Twenty Questions Number Game
No equipment is needed for this children’s math game.
First choose a number within the range to be played, e.g. 1- 20, 1-100, 100-1000.
The number is recorded on a piece of paper but not shown to the others.
The other players then ask questions to help them to identify the number.
Only yes/no questions can be used.
Encourage children to ask general questions to begin with, e.g. Is it odd? Is it more than 50? Instead of trying to guess the number, e.g. Is it 38?

Using games in math offers so much more than just fun. These games also help to develop a deep understanding of number concepts and a confident attitude towards a sometimes unpopular subject. Don’t be surprised when hear, ‘Gee that was fun! Can we do it again?’