Education
How to Learn Multiplication Tables Fast: Tricks That Work for Kids
Patterns, stories and short daily drills that help children memorise times tables with less frustration, and how to look at courses that teach them.
What is the fastest way to learn multiplication tables?
Learn the easy tables first, use patterns to unlock the rest, and practise a few facts daily in short sessions. Because order does not matter in multiplication, each fact you learn covers two.
A sensible order for the tables
- Tens, twos and fives first.
- Fours as doubling the twos.
- Nines using the finger or digit pattern.
- Threes and the remaining sixes.
- Sevens and eights last, using the facts already known.
Start with tables that have obvious patterns: twos are doubles, fives end in 0 or 5, and tens add a zero. Then move to fours as double the doubles, and threes, nines and the rest. Each new table feels smaller because many of its facts were already learned.
Use the swap rule: 3 x 7 gives the same answer as 7 x 3, so a child who knows the twos, fives and tens already knows many facts in other tables. Mark known facts on a grid and let the child see the empty squares shrink. That visible progress is motivating.
Which patterns and tricks make the tables easier?
Useful patterns include the nines trick, where the digits of the answer add up to nine, the swap rule, doubling for fours and eights, and the fives rule. Children remember patterns far better than isolated facts.
For the nines, the digits of each answer up to 9 x 10 add up to nine: 18, 27, 36, 45. The tens digit is one less than the number you multiply by. Eleven times a single digit repeats the digit, such as 11 x 4 equals 44. Children enjoy discovering these on their own.
Some facts need extra practice. A common one is 6 x 7 equals 42, and 7 x 8 equals 56, which many children remember with the sequence 5, 6, 7, 8. Write the hardest facts on cards and review those more often than the easy ones.
How do stories and games help children memorise the tables?
Stories and pictures attach an answer to a memorable image, and games turn repetition into play. Many children remember a character or scene more easily than a bare number, so mixing both can reduce frustration.
A story or picture for a hard fact can help: invent a character for each number and a short scene for each product. The child supplies the images, which makes them more memorable. Songs, rhymes and chants also help many children, since rhythm makes repetition easier.
Games add variety. Try dice, card pairs, board games, a race against a timer for a few facts, or a family quiz at dinner. Keep the mood light and praise effort. If a child is stuck on one fact, move on and return later instead of drilling it.
How often and how long should children practise?
Five to ten minutes a day is usually enough. Review facts already learned, add one or two new ones and finish with a game. Short regular practice builds recall more reliably than occasional long sessions.
A good daily rhythm has three parts: a quick warm-up with old facts, one new fact or table with a pattern or story, and a short game. Stop while the child is still comfortable, and avoid timed pressure at the start because anxiety makes recall harder.
Spacing helps. Revisit each fact the next day, a few days later and a week later. Keep a simple chart of facts the child knows well and facts that need more practice. Only add new facts when most of the older ones come quickly.
What do multiplication video courses include?
A video course for tables usually offers animated lessons, quizzes and printable pages. Check the age range, the number of videos, the billing and the refund terms, especially if a free trial leads into a monthly charge.
1x1 Guru: Multiplication Tables with Video Stories is an online course with 28 animated story videos, quizzes and coloring pages, with content and method clearly explained. It suits parents of children aged about 7 to 10 who respond to visual stories. It offers a free 7-day trial that turns into $14.99 a month, and the refund is 60 days on the order form while the page speaks of 30 days, so read the order form.
If your child is also starting to read, Step-By-Step Reading Guide for Kids (70-Page eBook) is a $10 printable phonics ebook for ages 5 to 7, with a 60-day refund window on the order form. Browse the Education and Languages category for more options.
How can study routines support times-table practice?
A fixed time, a short checklist and small goals help children keep practising. Routines also protect rest and motivation, which matter as much as technique for steady learning.
The Power of Study Routines is a $17.99 ebook on building daily study routines with a sound premise, and it covers rest and motivation, not just technique. Study Hacks and Exam Prep is a $17.99 ebook that bundles study tactics and exam preparation in one file. Both carry a 60-day refund window on the order form.
They are written for study habits in general, so use them as a source of ideas and adapt them to a young child. For payment questions, our guide to subscriptions that look like one-time purchases explains how to read trials and renewals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest multiplication table to learn first?
The tens, twos and fives are usually easiest because of clear patterns: add a zero, double the number, and answers ending in 0 or 5. Learn them first, then build on them.
How can I help my child who keeps forgetting the tables?
Use short daily practice, patterns, stories and games, and review the hard facts more often. Keep it relaxed and praise effort. If difficulty continues, talk with your child's teacher.
How long does it take a child to learn the times tables?
It varies by child, age and how much practice they get. Steady short sessions over weeks help most children, and progress is easier to see with a fact chart.
Are timed tests a good idea for learning tables?
Gentle games against a timer can be fun once facts are familiar, but heavy time pressure early on can cause anxiety. Build accuracy first, then add speed gradually.
Sources
Platform rules quoted in this article come from these official pages, read on . Product details come from our own reviews, each dated on its page.
Worthorpass publishes offer reviews, not hands-on product tests. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our review pages. Nothing here is financial, medical or legal advice.
