A Parents' Guide to Maths Tug of War at Home
For math games at home, a couple of short tug of war matches a few times a week is enough. Pick facts your child already knows, play together, and stop while it is still fun. Here is a five-minute routine you can start today.
Pick one topic your child is already accurate on, even if slow.
Open the two-player game and set your level higher than your child's.
Play one or two 90-second matches.
Read the missed list together and choose one fact to remember.
Your child is working on | Child's setting | Try yours at |
|---|---|---|
Adding within 10 | Addition, Starter | Expert or Master |
Facts within 20 | Addition, Easy | Master |
Times tables | Multiplication with chosen tables, Medium | Hard or Expert |
Adjust until the rope stays near the middle. Do not let your child win every time, but do set levels that make a real contest possible.
How do you pick the right level?
Ask your child's teacher which facts are being practised. If a child can answer a fact slowly but correctly, it suits the game. If they are guessing, practise without a timer first. The 2025 research review led by Nicole McNeil recommends timing only once answers are accurate.
What if your child gets upset?
Stop the game without fuss. Switch to the Gentle robot, make the numbers smaller, or play the dice version, which has no clock. Praise effort and strategy rather than speed. If worry about maths comes up often, talk to the teacher, and read our guide to timed games and anxiety.
Playing with siblings
Give each child their own level. Let an older child coach a younger one sometimes, or put them on the same team against the robot. Teamwork takes away much of the rivalry.
When to skip it
Skip the game when your child is tired, when a topic is brand new, or as a punishment or a condition for treats. The game is there to make recall quicker, and teaching new ideas is a separate job.
Privacy
Nobody needs an account. Online rooms ask for a nickname, so choose a made-up one with your child, and share room links only with people you know.
What does a good week look like?
| Day | Time | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 5 minutes | Play one topic, and read the missed list together |
| Wednesday | 5 minutes | Practise the missed facts on paper, then play again |
| Saturday | 10 minutes | Family match or dice game, and let your child choose the topic |
What should you say during a match?
Keep comments about effort and method. Try "You stayed calm after that wrong one" and "How did you work that out?" Try not to call out answers, since that takes away the thinking. If your child loses, ask which question they would like another go at, and play again only if they want to.
Which device works best?
A tablet gives two people the most comfortable space on one screen. A computer works well with the keyboard controls, Q W E R and U I O P. A phone is fine for one player against the robot, and two phones can play in an online room.
How do you know it is helping?
Watch for missed lists getting shorter on the same topic, and for your child answering a fact without counting. Those are better signs than winning. If nothing changes after a couple of weeks, the topic may need teaching rather than practice, so ask the teacher how it is being taught in class.
Frequently asked questions
How often should we play at home?
A couple of short matches a few times a week is enough.
Does my child need an account?
No. No player needs an account, and online rooms only ask for a nickname.
What if my child gets upset?
Stop without fuss, then try the Gentle robot, smaller numbers or the dice version.