Candy Monster 👾

How to play

Two monsters each have a pile of candy. A voice says "Tap the monster with more candies!" Your child looks, counts if they need to, and taps (or presses the left or right arrow). The monster with more does a happy dance and both piles show their number.

Tap the monster with fewer and it just shrugs, while the right one glows. There is nothing to lose, so children feel safe to guess, check and try again.

What it teaches

• Visual quantity comparison: which pile has more, at a glance.
• More and fewer as words children hear and say.
• Counting up to 15, with candies laid out in rows of five so counting is easier.
• Estimating (level 3): scattered piles that are quicker to compare by looking than by counting.

Curriculum links

For teachers and home educators, Candy Monster practices these Common Core math standards:

• K.CC.C.6: Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group.
• K.CC.B.5: Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things.

In the UK this is Reception and Year 1 math. In India it matches the "more and less" and number comparison chapters of Class 1 and Class 2.

The levels

1. Up to 5. Small piles in neat rows. Big differences first.
2. Up to 10. Rows of five, like a ten frame, so children can count on from five.
3. Quick look. Up to 15 candies scattered around. Children learn to see "more" without counting every one.

Why it works for kids with ADHD and autism

This game follows the same research we use for the TimeNinja app, which is built for ADHD brains. Children with ADHD and autistic children often learn best with instant feedback, one clear choice, a predictable pattern and a short round with a visible end, so:

• No timer, no lives, no score. Speed pressure and losing lives add stress, not learning.
• One decision at a time. Left or right. That is the whole game.
• Instant feedback. Every tap gets a sound, a picture and a spoken sentence straight away.
• Mistakes are hints, not failures. A wrong tap gets a gentle wobble and a glow on the right answer, never a red cross.
• Short rounds you can see. Six turns, shown as candies at the top, then a dance party and a natural place to stop.
• The same calm voice every time. A clear spoken prompt means children do not have to read to play.

More on this in our guide: learning games for kids with ADHD and autism.

Tips for parents and teachers

Common questions

How do I teach more and less to a preschooler?

Start with real objects, not numbers. Make two small piles and ask which has more, then check together by lining them up one to one. Candy Monster does the same on screen: neat rows of five first, then scattered piles, so children move from counting to seeing more at a glance.

What age is Candy Monster for?

Ages 3 to 7. Level 1 suits preschoolers who are just starting to count. Level 3 suits children who can count to 10 and are ready to estimate.

Is it suitable for children with ADHD?

Yes, it was designed around how ADHD brains learn: no timer, no lives, no score, instant feedback, a spoken prompt and only two choices per turn.

Is Candy Monster suitable for autistic children?

Yes, it was designed with autistic children in mind as well as children with ADHD. Every round follows the same predictable pattern, there is one clear instruction at a time, nothing flashes, there are no pop-ups or ads, sound and voice turn off with one tap, and the game ends at a clear, visible point, which makes moving on easier. As with any activity, follow your child's lead.

Is it free? Do I need an account?

It is completely free, with no ads, no account and no email. It runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, and nothing your child does leaves the device.

Does it work without sound?

Yes. Every sentence is also shown on screen in large text. Tap the speaker button to turn sound and voice off.

See all ADHD and autism games →