Have you seen this game?!?
When we were on vacation this summer, we discovered our first Shut the Box board and got hooked.
How did we miss this when we were kids? So much fun!
As soon as we got home we purchased our own board at our local Folk Festival!
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| Shut the Box is a great game for teaching math to children! |
The object of the game is to roll the dice and eliminate their sum by shutting any combination of numbers on the board. If you are able to close all boxes, you win!
Easier said than done...
There definitely IS a bit of strategy in this game.
As your playing advances, you'll learn to consider the "odds" of throwing certain numbers and combinations.
The whole family is loving having Shut the Box around the house, and the girls are learning various math skills with every game.
What a fun way to teach basic number recognition (for our 2-yr-old) and addition, strategy and probability for the older kids!
For extra learning opportunities, we've created an option where we allow subtraction of the numbers on the dice. For example, if a 6 and a 2 are rolled, the kids can either shut boxes for the sum (8) or the difference (4). More options=more mathematical practice and discovery!
Not gonna lie, my fella and I often throw a round while we're waiting for coffee to brew. We compete for best score, for sure. Homeboy just gets lucky, I tell ya. Should send him to Atlantic City STAT.
You can search for your own version of Shut the Box online or in stores.
Such a fun, simple game to help develop number sense and skill.
Factor this one into your list of great games for the wee ones!
If you know of any other games that promote learning and discovery, drop us a line and tell us about them.
Have a lucky day, friends!