Two children playing feed the monsters

Feed the Monster: Math education experts create card game in the hope of improving children’s numeracy skills

Experts from Loughborough University’s Centre for Mathematical Cognition have created a game in the hope of improving youngsters’ numeracy skills.

Part of the Children and Young People campaign.

Aimed at ages four to five, ‘Feed the Monster’ is a card game that encourages children to practice counting up and down.

A wide range of opportunities exist in everyday life that help youngsters practice counting upwards, but few activities are on offer to help them practice counting down – despite studies suggesting the skills are of equal importance.

The card game, developed by Dr Francesco Sella, Dr Ella James-Brabham, and Professor Tim Jay, is played on a yellow tablecloth-inspired mat with 10 spaces and starts by placing a monster card at the end of the mat.

The double-sided ‘food’ cards are scattered randomly on the table with the number-side facing up. One card is selected as the starting number and children must then select cards in ascending or descending numerical order to bring food to a monster.

Once an adult has confirmed the numbers are in the correct order, the cards are flipped over revealing what the monster has for dinner.

The game can be played in pairs and, as it features customisable numerical intervals, it can be enjoyed by players of different skill levels.

Feed the Monster aims to enhance children’s early numerical skills such as counting, number recognition and reading, symbolic number ordering, and spatial disposition of numbers on the number line while encouraging social interaction.

Dr Sella said: “We know from our previous research that number line interventions to improve mathematical skills and linear board games are particularly effective in improving numerical skills.

“Feed the Monster promotes active participation, focuses on the content without distractions, and encourages interaction with others to achieve learning objectives.

“Our primary goal for Feed the Monster is to complement and reinforce mathematical concepts taught in the classroom, allowing children to apply and practice their skills in a new context.

“The game aims to help children foster a genuine interest in math by making the subject fun and interactive.”

The Feed the Monster cards and instructions can be downloaded via the PDF links:

Feed the Monster cards

Feed the Monster instructions

Dr Sella and Professor Jay are currently evaluating the impact of the game on children’s mathematics learning and encourage parents and guardians that play the game to share their feedback by emailing: f.sella@lboro.ac.uk

The game was developed using funding from the Nuffield Foundation.

More research from Loughborough University's Centre for Mathematical Cognition - which aims to harness insights from basic research on cognition to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics - can be found on the dedicated webpage

For the next few weeks, the University’s PR team will be shining a light on research and expertise that is improving and enhancing the lives of children and young people. Keep an eye out on Twitter and TikTok for the latest Children and Young People campaign news by searching #LboroExperts. Or visit the Media Centre for the latest campaign and University news.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 23/65

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2023 QS World University Rankings – the seventh year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2023, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2023 and 11th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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