Decimal Operations Games for Kids

Decimals are numbers that lie between two whole numbers. These have a whole number and a fractional part. The fractional part follows the decimal point. 

For example, consider the number 10.12. Here 10 is the whole number part, and 12 is the fractional part. The numbers following the decimals have place values starting from tenth, hundredth, and increasing as you move away from the decimal.

By the time the kids reach fifth grade, they should know how to perform mathematical operations on whole numbers, and they should have a good understanding of what decimals are. Interactive educational games will build on this knowledge and use various models and strategies to make your kids sail through decimal operations.

Decimals - Why Kids Need to Learn About Them

Many of the numbers that you deal with are in decimal form. From money to weight to height, kids might have to perform mathematical operations on decimals on a day-to-day basis.

There is no denying that you are more likely to deal with a decimal in the real world than with a whole number. As kids will be dealing with decimals for many more years to come, laying a strong foundation offers them the confidence to deal with decimals in the future.

As kids progress to higher grades, they will use decimals more and more. If they do not become comfortable with decimals at this stage, all the future calculations can seem more difficult.

Get Kids Excited About Decimals

It can be hard to get your kids excited about learning. But that is only the case if you follow traditional teaching methods. The best way to get your kids excited about learning how to perform various operations on decimals is by using fun and interactive online games such as those listed below.

Add Decimals

Kids are visual learners. When teaching a new concept, they are more likely to grasp it if you use a model. Addition games start by using models to add numbers less than one and then slowly move on to adding decimals greater than one.

The models are squares with 10x10 grids. You can represent the decimals by highlighting the necessary squares within the grid. It makes it easier for kids to understand the process.

You can then move on to educational games that ask kids to estimate the sum, perform addition by regrouping and without regrouping, and finally, use interactive games that ask kids to find the missing numbers to practice the skills acquired till now.

Subtract Decimals

Online educational games that help kids learn and practice subtracting decimals are similar to those that help them with addition. The fun games start by asking kids to estimate the difference before moving on to subtraction with and without regrouping.

Word problems and online games that require kids to find the missing numbers help them fine-tune and practice the skills they learned till now and gain confidence in their ability to subtract two decimals.

Multiply Decimals

By the time kids are introduced to the multiplication of decimals in the fifth grade, they should also be well-versed with multiplying two whole numbers. It will help them in the multiplication of decimals as it is a similar process with the addition of a decimal point.

The easiest way to start is by introducing them to the multiplication of a decimal with 10 or a power of 10 such as 100, 1000, etc. Since they only have to move the decimal point, these games can be fun and build confidence.

You can then introduce them to the multiplication of a decimal with a whole number and then to the multiplication of two decimals.

Divide Decimals

The approach towards dividing two decimals is also very similar to that for the multiplication of two decimals. Kids start with dividing by 10 or powers of 10, then move one to division by a whole number before finally arriving at the division of two decimals.

While the educational games for dividing two decimals are similar to those for multiplication, you must pay extra attention to helping kids understand the placement of the decimal point. 

Why the Sad Face For Decimals? 

Decimals might be how we see numbers in the real world, but the placement of the decimal point can be confusing for kids when they are first introduced to decimal operations.

While the decimal point remains the same when performing addition and subtraction, kids have to pay extra attention to the place value of the numbers coming after the decimal point. The decimal point can change location while multiplying or dividing decimals.

Even if the kids are confident performing these mathematical operations on whole numbers, things can get a little complicated for decimals.

How to Help Your Fifth Grader Master Decimal Operations

The best way you can help your child in fifth grade is to ensure that they are confident about performing mathematical operations on whole numbers before introducing them to operations on decimals. They also need to understand decimals and the place value of the numbers coming after the decimal point.

You can do all of this using the curriculum-aligned interactive educational online games on SplashLearn.