Tiny Polka Dot: Math Game for Kids
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a commission if you visit a link and purchase something from an ad or sponsored link shared. Purchasing via an affiliate link does not cost you any extra. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see our full disclosure if you’d like more information. The Art Kit is a participant in the Target Affiliate Marketing Program, an affiliate advertising and marketing program that pays commissions to affiliates, like me, that advertise and link to Target if you buy products from Target through my link.
We are always on the lookout for fun and educational games and toys for our children, so when we were given the opportunity to review Tiny Polka Dot, we were thrilled! Tiny Polka Dot is perfect for children ages 3-8 (and older) and packs a lot of fun and learning into one little box of cards.
We instantly fell in love with the bright colors, high-quality cards, and easy-to-follow instructions. To see all the details, as well as a glimpse into the many different games tucked inside this fun box of cards, please continue reading below.
What You’ll Need
What’s Included?
- 66 Tiny Polka Dot cards in six fun suits, representing numbers 0-10.
- 8 rule cards, with instructions for 16 games
- Guide for grownups
- Tiny Polka Dot instructions
Getting Started
Wondering how Tiny Polka Dot works exactly? There are actually many different ways you can use the cards but before we jump into that, we wanted to point out one of the aspects of the game that we really love: inside the box, along with all the playing cards, are 8 rule cards, which not only give instructions on how to play that particular game but also give:
- The recommended age for the game
- The cards to use for the game
- How to set up the game
- Ideas for increasing the game’s challenge
This makes the game so simple! At a glance, you can easily find games designed for a particular age group and can easily see how they are played. This was a huge positive for us. It also makes it easy to glance at the rules again while playing.
Playing Tiny Polka Dot
We took a look through each of the rule cards and then decided to try out Pyramid Puzzle 2 with our 6-year-old. To play, you simply arrange the cards to make a pyramid so that the top number is the difference of the two numbers below it. We had a lot of fun playing this game and it was a great way to practice our math without breaking out our math book and pencil.
Next, we moved on to PowerDot with our 4-year-old and were thrilled at how quickly she picked up the rules of the game and at how much fun she had playing it. To set up the game, take out the teal, blue, orange, and purple 0-5 cards, mix them up, and split them into equal piles. To play, everyone turns over the top card in their piles. Whoever has the highest number wins, and keeps all the cards. Play continues until all the cards have been turned over.
After playing Pyramid Puzzle 2 and PowerDot, we decided to pull out our math counters and made up our own math game using the Tiny Polka Dot cards. I placed one card in front of each child, as well as a basket of counters, and asked them to place the same number of counters (either on the card or beside it) as there were polka dots on their card.
Do you have children between the ages of 3 and 8? If so, we highly recommend this game. The cards are the perfect size for little hands and yet sturdy enough in case a little sibling gets a hold of them (we can speak from experience on that one 😉 ). We also really loved the rounded corners and the compact size of the box.
Tiny Polka Dot is available to purchase from Timberdoodle. You can purchase the game alone, or you could purchase the entire Pre-K curriculum kit from Timberdoodle and receive the game along with the rest of the products in the kit.
If you aren’t familiar with Timberdoodle, they offer fantastic learning products for babies all the way up to high school students. We have used their curriculum for many years and have been very happy with not only their products but their amazing customer service as well. Not a homeschooling family? That’s fine too! They have an entire shop of products that would make the perfect gift for any child.
Does this Tiny Polka Dot game look like something you would try? If so, please share this on social media. Or, pin this to save it.
Do your kids love math? Let us know in the comment section below.
Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter, and please sign up for our newsletter to receive updates and FREE printables.
Want more? Be sure to check out some of our other fun activities:
- Lavender playdough recipe
- Ladybug cutting and pasting craft (with free printable)
- Make your own color wheel from rocks
- Cookie counting cards
We were given this game so that we could review it but as always, our opinions are our own.
❤️🔥 Click here for today’s HOT deals!
💌 Follow us on Amazon, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter, and please sign up for our newsletter to receive updates and FREE printables.
💵 Check out our coupon page – we have coupon codes for dozens of shops!
Visit our printable shop for even more fun printables!
If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media. Or, pin this to save it.
Kathryn
Tuesday 25th of July 2017
I love that you can play so many games, so fun!
The Art Kit
Thursday 27th of July 2017
We love that too. It really is such a fun game!
Karla Cook
Tuesday 11th of July 2017
Thanks for the great review! I love how you incorporated math counters with it. I can see how kids would especially enjoying playing it that way.
The Art Kit
Tuesday 11th of July 2017
Thank you so much for stopping by! We had so much fun with just the cards but then I thought I'd extend our play a little longer by incorporating math counters and the kids were happy to oblige. :)
maryanne
Tuesday 11th of July 2017
What a fun math game for littles!
The Art Kit
Tuesday 11th of July 2017
It really is such a great way to make math fun for the littles! Thanks for stopping by to check out our review! :)