Times Tables Practice Tricks That Make Facts Stick
Times tables are one of the few things in elementary math that children really do need to know by heart. When a child sees 7 times 8 and knows straight away that it is 56, their mind is free to think about the harder part of the problem, like the steps of long division or simplifying a fraction.
Getting there takes practice, but it does not have to mean tears over worksheets. This guide covers how to practice times tables in short, steady bursts, the best order to learn them, tricks that make the hardest tables easier, and a simple five day plan.
Little and often beats cramming
The most common mistake is trying to learn a lot at once. A long session on Sunday feels productive, but by Wednesday most of those facts have slipped away.
Short daily practice works much better. Five to ten minutes a day, most days of the week, builds facts that stay. Each time your child pulls a fact from memory on a new day, it gets a little stronger.
Keep sessions short enough that your child finishes feeling good. A child who ends on a win is happy to come back tomorrow.
The best order to learn the tables
Trying to learn every table at once is overwhelming. Learning them in a smart order lets each new table build on the last.
- The 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s. Most children already count by twos, fives and tens, so these come quickly.
- The 3s, 4s and 11s. The 4s are just double the 2s, and the 11s up to 11 times 9 simply repeat the digit, like 11, 22, 33.
- The 6s, 8s, 9s and 12s. These take more practice, but each one has a helpful trick.
- The 7s last. By now your child already knows most of the 7s from other tables.
Spend about a week on each group, or longer if a table needs it. There is no prize for finishing fast.
Recall, not just reading
Reading down a completed multiplication chart feels like studying, but it is easy to fool yourself. Your child reads “6 times 7 is 42,” nods and moves on. Seeing the answer is not the same as knowing it.
Real practice means pulling the answer from memory without seeing it first. That is why flashcards work so well. The answer stays hidden until your child has had a go.
Our times tables flashcards let your child learn a table in order, fill in the answers and then quiz themselves in a random order.
A simple tip: have your child say the whole fact out loud, “seven times eight is fifty-six,” not just “fifty-six.” Saying the full fact links the question and the answer together.
Tricks for the tricky tables
Times tables are full of patterns. Showing your child these patterns turns memorizing into something closer to solving a puzzle.
The 4s. Double, then double again
Multiplying by 4 is the same as doubling twice. For 4 times 7, double 7 to get 14, then double 14 to get 28.
The 9s. The finger trick
Hold up all ten fingers with your palms facing you. To work out 9 times 4, fold down your fourth finger from the left. Count the fingers to the left of the folded finger. There are 3. Count the fingers to the right. There are 6. The answer is 36.
The 9s. The digits add up to 9
From 9 times 2 to 9 times 10, the digits of each answer add up to 9. For 9 times 7, the answer is 63, and 6 plus 3 is 9. It is a quick way for your child to check an answer.
The 6s. Use the 5s
Six groups is five groups plus one more. For 6 times 8, work out 5 times 8, which is 40, then add one more 8 to get 48.
The 8s. Double three times
Multiplying by 8 is doubling three times. For 8 times 3, double 3 to get 6, double again to get 12, and once more to get 24.
The 12s. Split into 10 and 2
For 12 times 6, work out 10 times 6, which is 60, and 2 times 6, which is 12. Add them together to get 72.
The 7s. You already know most of them
Remind your child that the order does not matter in multiplication. 7 times 5 is the same as 5 times 7, which they learned with the 5s. If your child already knows the 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 8s, 9s and 10s, then 7 times 7 is the only fact up to 7 times 10 that is new.
For more ways to use patterns like these, see our multiplication chart teaching guide.
Games to keep practice fresh
When flashcards start to feel dull, switch the same facts into a game. Your child still gets the practice, but it feels like play.
The times tables game lets your child pick one table and answer quick questions, with the correct answer shown when they get stuck.
For a burst of speed at the end of a session, the quick math game is a short race against the clock. The only score that counts is your child’s own best.
For card, dice and classroom ideas, our list of times tables games has plenty to choose from.
A chart on the wall
A printed chart gives your child something to check while they are still learning. Put it near the desk or on the fridge.
Our printable multiplication table charts include a clear full chart and tips for using it without leaning on it forever.
As your child learns more facts, cover up the ones they know with sticky notes, or move on to a blank chart they fill in from memory.
A five day plan for each table
This plan takes the guesswork out of practice. Use it for one table, or one group of tables, each week.
- Monday. Look at the new table on a chart. Skip count it out loud together, and talk about any patterns.
- Tuesday. Practice with flashcards in order. Say each full fact out loud.
- Wednesday. Mix up the flashcards so the facts come in a random order. Play one short game.
- Thursday. Mix the new table with tables your child already knows. Play a speed round.
- Friday. Do a friendly check. If your child answers each fact quickly, celebrate and move on next week. If a few facts are still slow, keep practicing them for another week.
Keeping it stress free
- Praise progress, not speed. “You knew three more facts than last week” means more than a time.
- Never compare children. Siblings and classmates learn at different speeds.
- Stop before frustration. If your child is getting upset, switch to an easy table they already know and finish on a win.
- Make mistakes normal. Say “Let’s work it out” instead of “That’s wrong.”
- Use real life. Ask how many wheels are on four cars, or how many eggs are in two boxes of twelve.
Why it pays off
Times tables come back again and again in later math. Division is multiplication in reverse. Fractions, area and many word problems all rely on quick multiplication.
A child who knows their tables can keep their attention on the new idea being taught. A child who has to stop and count on their fingers for every fact gets tired and loses track of the bigger problem. That is why a few minutes of practice each day is worth it.
Where to find more
For games that practice counting, shapes and quick adding as well as multiplication, explore our guide to math games for kids.