Bedtime Math
A free daily math habit from a nonprofit: a short, silly story followed by word problems at three levels, posted every day on the website and in a free app for families with kids ages 3–9, plus storybooks and a free after-school math club.
What is Bedtime Math?
Bedtime Math is a free family math habit from the Bedtime Math Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Laura Overdeck in 2012. Its goal is to make math as normal and loved as the bedtime story.
Every day it posts a short, often silly set-up story followed by math questions at three levels. You read it together, talk through the answers, and you are done in about five minutes.
How it works
Open the free app on an iPhone or iPad, or visit the Daily Math page in any browser. Each post has:
- Wee ones: pre-K math such as counting and shapes.
- Little kids: early elementary problems.
- Big kids: harder multi-step problems.
- Sky's the limit: an occasional extra challenge.
The site leaves off age and grade labels on purpose, so kids can try as many levels as they like. Answers sit below the questions, and parents are encouraged to walk a stuck child through the steps. The app also has an archive of more than 1,000 problems you can search by skill or topic.
This is a talk-together activity. A parent reads aloud, asks the question and listens. That is the point: kids hear that math is something families enjoy.
What it covers
| Level | Rough fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Wee ones | Preschool | Pre-K math such as counting and shapes |
| Little kids | Kindergarten to grade 2 | Early elementary word problems |
| Big kids | Grade 2 and up | Harder, multi-step problems |
These grade fits come from independent reviews; Bedtime Math itself avoids grade labels.
Beyond the daily problems, the foundation runs the free Crazy 8s after-school club and school boosters like Fun Factor (grades 3–5) and Math Rocks (grades 5–8). There are also four Bedtime Math storybooks.
Who it's best for
Bedtime Math is ideal for families with young kids who want an easy, positive math routine, especially parents who feel unsure about math themselves. Mixed-age siblings can share one story and each answer their own level.
It is not a curriculum. If you need lessons and practice, pair it with a core program from our preschool math or kindergarten math lists.
Pricing at a glance
Free. The app and daily problems cost nothing, and the App Store lists no in-app purchases. The foundation runs on donations, and the storybooks are sold by regular booksellers.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
There is nothing to pay for. If you use an education savings account or a homeschool scholarship, you can put those funds toward a core math curriculum or books instead, depending on your program's rules. Save Bedtime Math and a main program to your wishlist to keep your plan in one place, then check scholarships in your state.
How it compares
Todo Math gives young kids independent app-based practice. Khan Academy Kids is another free option that covers reading too. DragonBox Numbers builds number sense through puzzles. When your child is ready for deeper problem solving, Beast Academy keeps the fun going. Browse all math programs.
Who Bedtime Math is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Parents who want a five-minute daily math habit
- Mixed-age siblings, since each post has three levels
- Families who prefer talking through math over screen-based drills
- Math-anxious parents who want a low-pressure way in
Look elsewhere if
- Families who want a structured curriculum or skill tracking
- Kids past about 4th grade
- Children who want to play independently on a device
Bedtime Math pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free from a nonprofit, with no subscription or in-app purchases
- Three difficulty levels in every post
- Archive of 1,000+ problems searchable by skill
- Builds math talk between parent and child
Cons
- Not a curriculum; no lessons, scope or progress tracking
- App is officially iPhone and iPad only
- Word problems can feel samey over time, per Common Sense Media
- Some reviewers find a few questions worded confusingly
What’s included
- A new story-based math problem posted every day
- Three levels per post: Wee ones, Little kids and Big kids, plus an occasional Sky's the limit challenge
- Searchable archive of more than 1,000 math problems by skill or topic
- Free iPhone and iPad app
- Answers listed under each set of questions
- Crazy 8s after-school math club kits for schools and libraries
How much does Bedtime Math cost?
Bedtime Math's daily problems on bedtimemath.org and its app are free. The Bedtime Math Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and asks for donations rather than charging families. The Bedtime Math storybooks by founder Laura Overdeck are sold separately through regular booksellers.
Free trial: Not needed; it is free.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Longtime users on the App Store say they have used it for years as a bite-size bedtime routine, and teachers recommend it to families. Common Sense Media calls it inspiring but notes little variety in the word problems. A few parents found some questions confusing, and some fans miss animations from the older app.
Common praise
- Bite-size and easy to fit into bedtime
- Families stick with it for years
- Teachers recommend it to parents
Common complaints
- Word problems have little variety
- Some questions are worded confusingly
- The redesigned app lost some fun animations
Sources: apps.apple.com · id637910701 · commonsensemedia.org · bedtime math
Bedtime Math family reviews
Be the first to review
Loading…
Bedtime Math FAQs
Is Bedtime Math free?
Yes. The daily problems on the website and the app are free. The Bedtime Math Foundation is a nonprofit funded by donations; only the printed books cost money.
What ages is Bedtime Math for?
Daily posts are designed for ages 3 to 9. Each one has questions for Wee ones, Little kids and Big kids, starting with pre-K skills like counting and shapes.
Is Bedtime Math available on Android?
The foundation's own FAQ points families to the free app for iPhone and iPad. Android users can read the same daily problems on bedtimemath.org in any browser.
Is the Bedtime Math app available in Spanish?
Bedtime Math says the app is not available in Spanish on iPhone or iPad. It suggests Spanish-speaking families use their browser's translation feature on the website.
Who started Bedtime Math?
Laura Overdeck founded Bedtime Math in 2012 as a nonprofit in New Jersey. She also wrote the Bedtime Math storybooks published by Macmillan.
What is the Crazy 8s math club?
Crazy 8s is Bedtime Math's free after-school math club for schools and libraries. Hosts receive a kit with materials for eight weekly sessions of active, playful math.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: