Most maths games for kids feel like worksheets with animations. The problems are still abstract, the motivation is still external (stars, points, streaks), and children still feel like they’re doing maths homework.
myplayshop takes a different approach. The maths is real, but it’s hidden inside running a shop. Children don’t think “I’m practising subtraction” — they think “I need to give this customer the right change.”
The Maths Inside the Shop
Every transaction in myplayshop contains multiple maths problems. Here’s what happens when a customer buys three items:
Addition: Three items priced at $2.50, $1.75, and $3.00. Your child watches the total build: $2.50 → $4.25 → $7.25. That’s two addition problems right there.
Comparison: The customer hands over $10. Is that enough? $10 is more than $7.25, so yes. That’s a comparison.
Subtraction: Change needed: $10.00 - $7.25 = $2.75. This is subtraction — the hardest part for most children.
Coin selection: $2.75 in change. That could be a $2 coin + 50p + 20p + 5p, or $2 coin + 75p in other combinations. This is decomposition and number bonds.
One transaction. Four types of maths. And the child experienced it as “serving a customer.”
Why Context Changes Everything
Research on maths education consistently shows that context helps children learn:
Motivation: Children practise longer when maths is embedded in a game. A child who resists 10 minutes of worksheets will happily play shopkeeper for 20 minutes.
Transfer: Maths learned in context transfers better to real life. A child who practises change-making in a shop game is more prepared for real shops than one who does the same sums on paper.
Understanding: When children see WHY they need to subtract (to give correct change), the operation makes sense. Abstract subtraction problems don’t provide this “why.”
Retention: Memorable contexts create stronger memories. “The time I had to give $2.75 change from a $10 note” sticks better than “Question 14 on page 6.”
Maths Skills by Area
Number Sense
- Working with realistic prices builds familiarity with numbers in the real world
- Handling amounts like $4.75 develops intuition for number magnitude
- Repeated exposure to coins strengthens understanding of number relationships
Addition
- Adding item prices as they’re scanned
- Running totals that build with each item
- Checking if a payment covers the total
Subtraction
- Calculating change: payment minus total
- Finding the difference between two amounts
- The “counting up” method of subtraction
Place Value & Decimals
- Prices like $3.50 naturally introduce decimals
- Coin values (1p, 10p, £1) reinforce place value
- Working with dollars and cents builds decimal understanding
Mental Maths
- Quick calculations during transactions build speed
- Estimating totals before scanning builds estimation skills
- Repeated practice with common amounts builds fluency
How to Maximise the Learning
For younger children (4–6)
Focus on the shop experience. Let them scan items and explore coins. The maths awareness builds passively at this stage. Ask simple questions: “Which costs more, the cake or the cookie?”
For middle years (6–8)
Encourage active maths. “What do you think the total will be after this item?” “How much change should you give?” The game provides feedback, so let them try before helping.
For older children (8–10)
Challenge their efficiency. “Can you give change using the fewest coins?” “What’s the total going to be before you scan the last item?” Push mental maths speed.
Beyond the Screen
The strongest learning happens when game maths connects to real maths:
- At the shop: “The total is £12.40 and I’m paying with £20. How much change?”
- Cooking: “This recipe needs 200g of flour. The bag has 1kg. How much will be left?”
- Pocket money: “You have £5 and want to buy something for £3.75. Can you afford it? How much will you have left?”
myplayshop builds the skills. Real life gives them meaning.