What can you do if you can't afford a math tutor?
Use the free help around you first, then practice one shaky skill for ten minutes a day at home. A tutor mostly gives two things: someone who spots the gap, and regular practice on it. A teacher can spot the gap for free. You can supply the practice.
Free math help near you: where to look
- Your child's teacher. Ask one question: "Which skill should we practice at home?"
- Your school. Ask about after-school help, math clubs or homework help.
- Your public library. Many branches run homework help or learning programs. Call and ask what yours offers.
- Khan Academy. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit with free lessons and practice.
- Your kitchen table. The sheet above plus ten minutes. Make 10 is a US kindergarten standard, Common Core K.OA.A.4 (2010), so it is often the first gap to close.
Questions parents ask about free math help
What can I do if I can't afford a math tutor?
Start with free help: ask your child's teacher exactly which skill to practice, ask your school and public library what homework help they offer, and use free sites such as Khan Academy. Then practice that one skill for ten minutes at home.
Where can I find free math help near me?
Your child's school is the first stop: teachers, after-school clubs or homework help. Many public libraries also run homework help or reading and math programs, so call your branch and ask. Online, Khan Academy is free.
Is Khan Academy really free?
Yes. Khan Academy describes itself as "a free tool for anyone" and as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on its About page.
Can a parent teach math without being good at math?
For early facts like making 10, yes. You need the answer key, ten minutes and patience, not a math degree. The sheet on this page prints with its answers on a separate page.
Is the printable really free? Do I need an email?
Yes, and no. You build the sheet on this page and print it from your browser. There is no download, sign-up or email.
Is Number Beasts free?
Yes. The App Store listing says no ads, no accounts, no tracking and no in-app purchases, and it works offline.
Honest limits
- A worksheet and a game are not a tutor. If your child is far behind or anxious, keep pressing the school for help.
- The sheet covers partner numbers to 10, 15 or 20 only.
- Number Beasts is iPhone only from us, and it practices bonds, not word problems or times tables.
How to use the printable make-10 sheet
Choose 10, 15 or 20 and a length. The counter shows how many problems are different; past 18 problems, make-10 sheets have to repeat, because the two formats (7 + __ and __ + 7) only give 18 different problems. Print. The answers come out on a second page so you can check without doing the math in your head. We left out timers on purpose: a race at the kitchen table is how worksheets turn into fights.
A guided tour of the app, for parents
123- Aim assist writes the sum, BOND 4+6=10, before your child launches.
- One big Launch button. Stages are turn-based, so there is no clock.
- Rewind is a hero tool. Using any tool caps the stage at two stars.
12- Three stars means solved at par with no tools.
- Replay for par: a reason to try again without starting over.
Tutor or free help: a comparison
| Option | Cost | Personal attention | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private tutor | Paid, rates vary | High | Big gaps, exam prep |
| Teacher and school help | Free | Some | Finding the gap |
| Library programs | Usually free | Varies | Homework support |
| Khan Academy | Free | Self-paced | Lessons and practice |
| Sheet + Number Beasts | Free | You | Daily make-10 practice |
Try it tonight
We make Number Beasts: free, no ads, no accounts, no in-app purchases. Try it tonight with Stage 1, First Bond.
Updated November 2026
Related
- Math games for Christmas break, day by dayMath games for Christmas break 2026, laid out day by day for parents: ten-minute make-10 games, a playable demo, and when to skip math entirely.
- Number Beasts: the make-ten number bond puzzleLaunch a number, make 10, carry the rest. A turn-based number bonds puzzle for iPhone with 45 stages. No ads, no purchases, offline.
- When your child says "I'm bad at math"What to say when your child says they're bad at math, why the label sticks, and a 20-second untimed puzzle they can win by planning, not speed.
- What to do when your child still counts on fingersFinger counting is a normal stage. Pick your child's situation for the next step to try, from counting on to make-ten games, with sources.