The Numberblocks Review: A Colourful Dive into Early Maths Education

By Sean Connick | Published: 25th April 2025

Following our recent look at Salman Khan’s Brave New Worlds, where the future of education is examined through bold and sometimes radical lenses, I was recommended to explore something a bit more grounded but no less ambitious in its own way: the children’s educational programme Numberblocks. Created for preschoolers and airing on CBeebies, Numberblocks brings maths to life through animated blocks that personify individual numbers. It’s a simple concept on the surface, with each character representing a number and embodying traits connected to that number, but it quickly becomes clear that there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface.

The basic premise is that each number is a blocky character with a unique personality and visual identity. For example, Number One is curious and energetic, while Number Four is stable and square, quite literally. The characters can combine to form larger numbers, break apart, and explore maths through fun scenarios and clever storytelling. A magical mirror allows the blocks to create copies of themselves, which adds a layer of fantasy and flexibility to how they interact with numbers. I’ll admit, the logic behind the mirror is a little fuzzy to me, but perhaps that’s part of the show’s charm.

What makes Numberblocks particularly effective is its commitment to focusing each episode around a single, clearly defined mathematical concept. These range from the very basics, like "one plus one equals two," to more complex ideas such as doubling, odd and even numbers, square numbers, and even times tables in later episodes. The structure is tight, usually within a five-minute runtime, and the lessons are wrapped in vivid storytelling, humour, and often a catchy musical number. I found myself unexpectedly humming some of these songs while writing this blog, which speaks to the show's sneaky effectiveness at embedding learning into entertainment.

Two episodes that really stood out to me were The Numberblocks Express and the Number Twelve episode. In The Numberblocks Express, the characters must find creative ways to make the number five using different combinations of numbers. It’s a clever way to reinforce basic addition and subtraction, and the visual representation helps children grasp the concept intuitively. The Number Twelve episode, on the other hand, is a personal highlight. Not only does it introduce a bigger number, but it also includes a delightful Star Wars parody, replacing the Death Star with the "Number Star." It’s a playful nod to pop culture that made me chuckle, and it shows that the creators are aware of the adults who might be watching alongside their kids.

To get a sense of how well the show actually works for its intended audience, I had my son, who’s currently in his first year of formal education, watch a few episodes. It didn’t take long for him to be completely absorbed. He laughed, pointed at the screen, and even repeated some of the numbers aloud. It’s hard to say whether it was the maths lessons or the lively adventures that captivated him, but either way, he was hooked. He ended up watching over an hour of Numberblocks, which, for a young learner just starting school, is quite a binge session.

From an adult’s perspective, the show is surprisingly watchable. The animation is bright and clean, the characters are charming without being annoying, and the music is genuinely well-produced. However, I’ll be honest, after five episodes or so, the formula can start to feel a little repetitive. This isn’t necessarily a flaw. After all, the target audience is young children, not adults. But it does mean that it’s probably best enjoyed in smaller doses if you're a parent watching alongside.

So, what do I really think about Numberblocks? Overall, it’s a commendable and imaginative effort to introduce foundational maths concepts in a way that’s accessible, engaging, and fun for young children. It’s not easy to make addition, subtraction, or number bonds exciting, but this show manages to do it by turning maths into a story. That said, I do think the balance between education and entertainment can sometimes tilt a bit too far in one direction or the other. Some episodes are heavy on fun and light on learning, while others focus so much on the maths that they lose a bit of narrative spark.

Still, these are minor quibbles in the face of what is clearly a thoughtfully produced and educationally sound programme. If you’re a parent, educator, or even just a curious viewer, I’d definitely recommend giving Numberblocks a watch. At the very least, it might change the way you think about numbers, and who knows, you might even find yourself humming a tune about multiplication tables when you least expect it.

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