Top 5 Easy, Fun Maths Adventures at Home with Captain Number

Ahoy there, shipmates! As the summer holidays begin, many parents are wondering how to fill those long sunny days with fun, enriching activities that keep little minds active. At Captain Number, we believe that maths is everywhere and summer is the perfect time to explore it in playful, creative ways!

Whether you’re at home, in the garden, or out on a family adventure, here are some simple ideas to help you bring maths into your summer day - no worksheets required!

🏴‍☠️ 1. Treasure Hunt Counting

Create a mini treasure hunt indoors or outdoors using toys, shells, coins, or even healthy snacks. Hide them in easy-to-find spots and give your child clues like:

• “Find 3 golden coins hidden under the blue cushion!”

• “Can you collect 5 shiny buttons from the garden path?”

Top Tip: Encourage your child to count out loud as they gather their treasure. You can even introduce simple addition or subtraction as you go!

🧼 2. Bubble Maths

Grab some bubble mix and head outside! Count how many bubbles you can pop together in 30 seconds, compare bubble sizes, or see how long each one lasts before it pops.

Top Tip: Try estimating first (“How many bubbles do you think we’ll pop?”), then check the results!

🍉 3. Snack Sorting & Patterns

Snack time becomes maths time with a bit of creativity:

• Sort fruit by colour or size

• Make repeating patterns with berries, crackers, or cheese cubes

• Count and compare different snack groups

Top Tip: Let your child create “snack necklaces” with cereal hoops and string—great for fine motor skills and pattern recognition!

🎲 4. Dice Games

A pair of dice can go a long way! Roll both dice and:

• Add the numbers together

• Subtract the smaller from the larger

• Race to 20 by adding your rolls Use toys or blocks to “build” the total and make it visual.

Top Tip: This is a brilliant way to sneak in number bonds and early addition facts.

🌼 5. Nature Numbers

Take a walk and spot numbers in the world around you:

• Count flowers, birds, or red cars

• Compare leaf sizes

• Collect sticks and use them to make numbers or shapes on the ground

Top Tip: Keep a “Summer Maths Journal” and draw what you find!

Keep things light and playful. Remember young children learn best when they’re engaged and having fun. You don’t need special equipment or lots of prep; just a little imagination goes a long way!

And the best part? While your little one is busy counting bubbles, digging for treasure, or building snack patterns, you might just get to enjoy a cup of coffee that’s still hot, or even sip a glass of wine in peace. (Now that’s what we call a summer miracle!)

Want more maths magic this summer?

Follow us on social media @CaptainNumber for weekly activity ideas, downloadable games, and sneak peeks into our pirate-themed adventures. Or drop anchor at our website to explore our upcoming events!

Until next time, may your summer be full of sunshine, laughter, and a little sprinkle of number magic