How to Teach Multiplication Tables to Kids: 12 Easy Tricks and a 6-Week Plan

In many Indian homes, learning pahade (tables) is a rite of passage. Children chant "do ekam do, do dooni chaar" at the dinner table, and parents test them in the car. But for many children, tables feel like a long, boring list to memorise, and the fear starts early.

Times tables do not have to be stressful. When children understand what multiplication means and learn a few smart patterns, they need to memorise far fewer facts than you think. This guide explains how to teach multiplication tables to kids step by step, the best order to learn them, 12 easy tricks, games, and a 6-week plan you can follow at home.

Why Times Tables Still Matter

Calculators exist, so why learn tables? Because quick recall of multiplication facts:

• Makes division, fractions, LCM, HCF and percentages much easier later.
• Frees up working memory, so children can focus on solving the problem instead of counting.
• Builds mental maths speed and confidence, which helps in exams and Olympiads.
• Helps in daily life, from shopping to measuring to managing money.

Most Indian schools introduce multiplication in Class 2 or Class 3, and children are usually expected to know tables up to 10 by Class 3 or 4. Many schools later extend this to tables up to 20.

Step 1: Teach What Multiplication Means

Before memorising, make sure your child understands that multiplication is repeated addition.

• 3 × 4 means "3 groups of 4" or 4 + 4 + 4 = 12.
• Use real objects: 3 plates with 4 laddoos each.
• Draw arrays: 3 rows of 4 dots.

When children see that 3 × 4 and 4 × 3 both make 12 dots, they discover something powerful: order does not matter. This one idea cuts the work almost in half.

If your child is still unsure about addition, spend time there first. Strong addition and subtraction skills make tables much easier.

Step 2: Learn Tables in the Right Order

Do not start at 2 and go straight to 20. Learn the easy, pattern-based tables first. Each new table then builds on the ones already learned.

The Magic of Fewer Facts

There are 100 facts in tables 1 to 10. But once your child knows 1, 2, 5, 10 and the "turnaround rule" (3 × 7 = 7 × 3), only around 15 to 20 truly new facts remain. Telling children this is hugely motivating.

12 Easy Multiplication Tricks for Kids

1. The Turnaround Rule

If you know 4 × 7 = 28, you also know 7 × 4 = 28. Always remind your child to flip a hard fact into one they know.

2. Table of 2: Just Double It

2 × 8 is simply 8 + 8 = 16. Children who know doubles already know the 2 table.

3. Table of 10: Add a Zero

10 × 7 = 70. Just put a 0 at the end of the number.

4. Table of 5: Half of 10

Every answer ends in 0 or 5. And 5 × n is half of 10 × n. So 5 × 8 = half of 80 = 40.

5. Table of 4: Double, Then Double Again

4 × 6 → double 6 = 12, double again = 24.

6. Table of 8: Double Three Times

8 × 7 → 14 → 28 → 56.

7. Table of 3: Add One More Group to 2

3 × 7 = (2 × 7) + 7 = 14 + 7 = 21.

8. Table of 6: Double the 3 Table

6 × 7 = double of 3 × 7 = double of 21 = 42. Also, 6 times an even number ends in the same digit: 6 × 2 = 12, 6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 6 = 36, 6 × 8 = 48.

9. Table of 9: The Finger Trick

Hold up 10 fingers. To find 9 × 4, fold down the 4th finger. There are 3 fingers to the left and 6 to the right: the answer is 36. Works for 9 × 1 to 9 × 10.

Another 9 pattern: the digits of each answer add up to 9 (18 → 1 + 8, 27 → 2 + 7, 36 → 3 + 6), and the tens digit is always one less than the number you multiply by.

10. Table of 11: Repeat the Digit

For 11 × 1 to 11 × 9, just repeat the digit: 11 × 4 = 44, 11 × 7 = 77.

11. Table of 7: Use What You Know

By the time your child reaches 7, they already know 7 × 2, 7 × 3, 7 × 4, 7 × 5, 7 × 6, 7 × 9 and 7 × 10 from other tables. Only 7 × 7 = 49 and 7 × 8 = 56 are new. A rhyme helps: "5, 6, 7, 8 → 56 = 7 × 8."

12. Tables 12 to 20: Break It Apart

Split the number into 10 and the rest.

• 14 × 6 = (10 × 6) + (4 × 6) = 60 + 24 = 84
• 17 × 4 = (10 × 4) + (7 × 4) = 40 + 28 = 68

This is called the distributive method, and it is also the foundation of mental maths for larger numbers.

Fun Games to Practise Tables

Table Ludo

Play ludo, but before moving, multiply the dice number by the "table of the day." Answer correctly to move.

Clap and Skip Count

Skip count aloud (4, 8, 12, 16...) while clapping or skipping rope. Rhythm helps memory.

Multiplication Snap

Make cards with facts on some (6 × 7) and answers on others (42). Turn them over and shout "snap" when a pair matches.

Beat the Timer

Give 10 facts and a 1-minute timer. Record the score and try to beat it the next day. Children love competing with themselves.

Shopkeeper Game

"Each pencil costs ₹7. How much for 6 pencils?" Real-life questions make tables meaningful.

Table Bingo

Make bingo cards with answers. Call out facts like "8 × 3" and your child marks 24.

A 6-Week Plan to Learn Tables 2 to 10

Spend 15 minutes a day: 5 minutes of understanding or tricks, 5 minutes of practice, 5 minutes of a game.

After Week 6, move to tables 11 to 20 using the break-it-apart method, one table every two to three days.

How to Build Speed (Without Pressure)

• Mix the order. Reciting 7, 14, 21, 28 in sequence is not the same as knowing 7 × 8 instantly. Ask facts randomly.
• Short daily practice beats long weekend sessions. Memory grows with repetition over many days.
• Track progress visually. A tables chart where your child colours each fact they know is very motivating.
• Focus on tricky facts. Most children struggle with 6 × 7, 6 × 8, 7 × 8 and 8 × 8. Give these extra attention.
• Praise accuracy before speed. Speed comes naturally once facts are secure.

Common Mistakes Parents Make

Only Using Rote Chanting

Chanting is useful, but if a child can only find 7 × 8 by reciting the whole table, recall will be slow. Combine chanting with understanding and random questioning.

Starting Too Early

If your child is still counting on fingers for basic addition, wait. Multiplication builds on addition.

Comparing With Other Children

Every child learns at a different pace. Comparisons create fear, and maths anxiety makes recall even harder.

Testing Instead of Teaching

Constant testing feels like pressure. Make at least half of practice time playful.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age should kids learn multiplication tables?

Most children start understanding multiplication around 7 to 8 years (Class 2 or 3) and learn tables up to 10 by around 8 to 9 years. Tables up to 20 usually follow in Class 4 or 5.

Which table should a child learn first?

Start with 2, 10 and 5. They have simple patterns and give children quick confidence.

How can my child learn tables fast?

Teach the meaning of multiplication, use the turnaround rule, learn tricks for 9, 11, 4 and 8, practise in random order, and keep sessions short and daily.

What is the easiest way to learn tables 11 to 20?

Break the number into 10 and the rest. For example, 16 × 7 = (10 × 7) + (6 × 7) = 70 + 42 = 112.

My child forgets tables after a few days. What should I do?

Revisit old tables for two minutes every day before learning new ones. Spaced, mixed revision is the best way to make facts stick for the long term.

Conclusion

Learning tables is much easier when children understand the patterns behind them. With the right order, a few clever tricks, fun games and 15 minutes a day, your child can master tables 2 to 10 in about six weeks and move confidently to 20.

Remember: understand first, then practise, then speed up. And keep it playful.

Want a ready-made practice book? Our Times Tables & Mental Maths workbook covers tables 2 to 20 with tricks, speed challenges, puzzles and a weekly progress tracker. If your child needs to strengthen basics first, start with Addition & Subtraction Practice.