Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Logic puzzles with a llama cleverly contain lots of math.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Math Makers
Parent and Kid Reviews
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Parents start with MATH MAKERS by creating an account and setting up profiles. Depending on their age, kids are placed at Small Numbers or Big Numbers to start. In either case, the first several levels teach kids how to play using a hand icon to guide them. Each level contains a challenge to help clear the way for a llama to walk across the screen. Orange cubes explode blue cubes (and vice versa), and kids must find a way to combine the right number of cubes so that none remain in the way. They do this by popping balloons holding different numbers of cubes, using ramps to help cubes go to the right place, running cubes through a "multiplication" machine, and other tricks and puzzles. As kids continue, they earn new pets and silly hats for their llama.
Is It Any Good?
These fun little puzzles are a wonderfully nifty way to get kids reasoning with numbers. Kids can experiment with concepts such as quantity, addition and subtraction, and fractions in a low-stakes, high-fun setting. In fact it's so fun that it borders on addictive. The developers were very successful in creating a game that leaves kids continually wanting to play "just one more level." Parents may want to help set limits so that kids know when it's time to stop. Many puzzles require lots of abstract thinking and logical reasoning and come with little to no help when it just isn't clicking. Though it may be a plus for some that there are no instructions or explanations, other kids may find the puzzles confusing and can end up feeling frustrated. These kids may need some outside help. Even just a little explanation about what's going on could be enough. That said, for kids comfortable with tapping around and figuring things out, this is a fun way to apply math skills.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the underlying concepts in Math Makers to help make them crystal clear. Ask them to talk through what they're doing. Why did they pop that particular balloon or place that ramp in that way?
What do your kids think about games like this? What's their learning style? Does your kid like learning with verbal instructions or visual cues? Abstract or concrete concepts?
Ask kids how they can use the skills from the game to solve real-world problems.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Subjects : Math : addition , counting , fractions , multiplication , subtraction
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : logic , problem solving , solving puzzles , strategy
- Pricing structure : Free to try (7-day free trial, then temporary promotional price: $3.99/month or $28.49/year. Regular price: $7.99/month or $56.99/year)
- Release date : September 20, 2021
- Genre : Education
- Topics : Numbers and Letters
- Publisher : Ululab Inc.
- Version : 00.07.01
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 10.0 or later; Android 4.4 and up
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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