Contents
- How can I help my child learn tables?
- Fun ways to learn times tables
- How long does it take to learn times tables?
Your kid’s been learning maths since they started school, but there’s one significant milestone for them to cross: learning their times tables. Memorising these multiplication equations is an integral part of algebra and there are plenty of fun and easy ways to learn them!
Students learn times tables throughout primary school, but they can be challenging! And if you’re wondering what age should a child know times tables, it’s something your child must accomplish before moving onto secondary school or around age 11.
Keeping track of all those numbers can feel overwhelming for even the brightest students. Luckily, there are ways to learn them that don’t involve boring memorisation, and we’re here to share them with you!
How can I help my child learn tables?
It’s probably been a while since your primary school days, so you might feel a little stuck on how to teach times tables to your child. Fortunately, there are easy ways to help your child master multiplication.
What order are times tables taught in?
In Year 1, your child will learn the basic multiplication tables 2, 5, and 10, and by Year 4, they will be expected to learn all multiplication tables up until 12x12.
It makes sense to follow the same lessons your student is learning at school when you're studying at home! There are many patterns in the 2, 5, and 10 times tables, and these can make it easier for children to understand. If they feel confident when they first begin learning something, they’ll be more motivated to continue.
What is the easiest way to teach a child multiplication?
First, think about how your student learns best. Are they a visual learner, or do they need to talk something through to remember it? Maybe they love music or drawing and turn to those media to liven up their studies! Letting your child take the lead will help them find more fun in studying, and that’s always a good thing!
Fun ways to learn times tables
Your child may not usually put “math” and “fun” together in the same sentence but with our help, they can have fun learning times tables! Here are some of our favourite tips and tricks.
Use a times table sheet
This is one of the best ways for a child to memorise times tables. These sheets are an excellent way for students to recognise patterns and understand the logic behind times tables.
Click the button below to download your very own GoStudent times tables print out:
Pick a time every day, such as right after homework or right before dinner, to look at the sheet and drill times tables. There are different ways you can utilise the sheet:
- Draw it on a dry-erase board or chalkboard so your child can fill in the answers each time.
- Recite a column at a time (such as all the 2’s, then all the 3’s, etc.). Ask your child if they notice any patterns among the tables.
- Once you’ve practised quite a bit, cover the table and ask your child to recite the tables from memory.
To make the sheet more fun, you can encourage your child to create their own using their favourite art supplies. Remember, whatever gets your child excited about learning times tables is worthwhile!
Use the internet
The best part of parenting in the 2020s? The internet! There are countless fun songs and videos on YouTube to help your child learn multiplication tables. Some of our favourite channels are Mr. DeMaio, Laugh Along and Learn, and Silly School Songs. If your child wants more screen time (which we’re sure they do!), this is a great way to make sure they’re having fun and learning at the same time, too.
You can also take their times-table learning on the road with some great apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android. What is the best app for learning multiplication tables, you ask? Times Table Hero and Space Pig Math are two of our favourite math apps to keep your kid occupied and learning on long car rides
Try some fun tricks
If you’ve ever seen your child’s face light up over a magic trick, this one’s for you—and you might even remember it from your own school days!
This trick is used for the 9 times table, which can often be one of the more challenging ones:
- Start by showing all 10 fingers in front of you.
- To figure out 9x1, put your left pinky down. You’re left with 9, the answer!
- For 9x2, put your left ring finger down. You’re left with 1 finger, a space, and then 8 fingers, or 18. 9x2=18!
- When you put your left middle finger down, you get 2 and 7, or 27, the answer to 9x3…, and so on!
This trick works all the way to 9x9 (8 and 1, or 81). It’s a fun and novel way to learn the 9 times tables, which can help liven up a sometimes dull memorisation practice!
Make it a competition
If you have children around the same age, or your house is a frequent spot for after-school playdates, this multiplication-learning game is a great idea!
All you need is a deck of cards. Remove the face cards (Jack, Queen, King), and clarify that Ace = 1. The game is simple and similar to the popular card game “War:”
- Each player draws a card from a deck.
- Then, they flip the card over.
- The first person to guess the total of the two cards multiplied together wins the round! For example, if the 2 of clubs and the 6 of spades are flipped over, the first person to say 12 wins!
- Keep playing until all the cards are done. The person with the most cards in their winning pile at the end wins the game.
How long does it take to learn times tables?
As a parent, you may feel worried if your child struggles to remember their times tables. However, it’s nothing to agonise over! All it takes is a little time and effort. Trying the above methods can help make studying more fun for your child and encourage them to keep practising.
However, if your student is struggling a lot, speak with their teacher. Your child could have a learning difficulty like dyscalculia that impairs their ability to do maths. Even if this is the case, though, your student can still memorise their times tables and do well in math, they just may need a little extra help!
If you’re seeking that extra help, or simply want someone else to study times tables with your child, GoStudent is your solution. We have the best math tutors around, and we’ll help your student get those numbers straight in no time! Sign up for a free trial lesson today to see how we’ll help your student thrive.
