Sudoku is a number puzzle game that, on the surface, should be ideal for kids to practice their math skills. Yes and no. Although students manipulate the numbers to solve the puzzle, they do not have to add, subtract, multiply, or divide any of these numbers. So how does playing Sudoku help with math?

First, math is more than arithmetic skills. Many of the skills needed to be successful in math go beyond arithmetic, and sometimes these skills are not practiced enough at school or at home. Some of these skills are used when playing Sudoku. We’ll see.

Here are some of the skills Sudoku can help with:

Classification. The Sudoku challenge is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in each row and column of the grid, along with those same numbers in smaller 3 x 3 grids within the larger grid. No number may appear more than once in any row, column, or 3 x 3 grid. While completing the puzzle, a student must sort, arrange, and rearrange these numbers. This requires a level of organization and focus that has benefits beyond math.

Display. While new Sudoku players will write, erase, and rewrite numbers as they solve the puzzle, the more experienced player can visualize an array of numbers before writing anything. Visualization is a very important skill in mathematics. Whether it’s visualizing a geometric transformation or the next step in solving an equation, this much-underrated skill will give students great confidence in solving problems. Visualization is a higher order thinking skill.

Problem resolution. A student completing a Sudoku puzzle has solved a rather complicated problem. The average Sudoku puzzle is much more complex than a typical arithmetic, algebra, or geometry word problem. While students may not believe this, most word problems focus on specific skills. Unscrambling the text to get the mathematical concept is the same process as solving a puzzle. Additionally, Sudoku encourages students to use these math problem-solving strategies: guess and prove, look for a pattern, solve a simpler problem, and use logical reasoning. Use Sudoku to improve these problem-solving skills in a low-risk way.

By far the most important facet of playing Sudoku is for students to have fun with numbers. This goes a long way toward eliminating math anxiety or preventing it from taking hold. Developing a facility with numbers is a great springboard for working with abstract concepts like variables and equations.