STEM learning with Geomag: a fun maths adventure for kids

Maths and I have a complicated history. Back in school, my maths teacher had a voice that could make “2 + 2” feel like a personal insult. She shouted, I panicked, and numbers became abstract monsters I didn’t stand a chance against. Fast-forward a few decades, and here I am, trying to help my own child navigate fractions without dissolving into tears. However, thanks to Geomag STEM learning, my brightly coloured cavalry, I’m finally finding my feet.

Why maths feels wrong

Here’s a sobering fact: the UK ranks 17th globally for maths skills among 15-year-olds. Seventeenth! Meanwhile, China, Singapore, and Macau are flexing their numerical muscles at the top. So if you’re sitting there thinking, “How do I make my child love numbers?”, you’re not alone. And clearly, it’s time to stop pretending that rote memorisation works.

National Maths Week

National Maths Week (8–12 November 2021) is your excuse to make maths sparkle, and with a few inventive tricks, maths can go from “ugh” to “actually, this is fun” before you can say Pythagoras.

Meet the Geomag Maths Magicube

Full transparency: we received this set for free, but don’t worry, I won’t sugarcoat it.

During pandemic homeschooling, these cubes were my secret weapon. Sixteen magnetic cubes and forty-five numbers that cling like velcro, but in a charming way, turned our living room into a math playground. Suddenly, numbers weren’t abstract monsters; they were vibrant little friends that Cyrus could stack, count, and colour-coordinate.

Why I’m swooning

Expert tips

Martin Hassler Hallstedt, learning psychologist and author of Count on Me!, has sage advice for frazzled parents:

• Gamify everything: Think shape hunts, paint-by-number adventures, or addition bingo. Kids love it; adults get bragging rights.
• Short, sharp bursts: Fifteen minutes max. Count Lego bricks, pasta shapes, or socks, maths is everywhere.
• Consistency trumps heroics: Five minutes a week beats one marathon meltdown.
• Mix in tech: Apps with stories and challenges make sequences stick. Count on Me! is an ace pick.
• Positive vibes only: If you act like maths is magical, your child will probably start humming number tunes in the bath.

The nutshell version (because we’re busy adults)

Maths doesn’t have to be the homework bogeyman. With some patience, and a set of magnetic cubes that practically beg to be played with, numbers can become fun, and maybe, you’ll stop squirming every time someone mentions fractions.

Our Verdict

★★★★★ – Fun, colourful, and surprisingly effective. A must-have for little learners (and hesitant parents too!).