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How to teach multiplication to kids
Multiplication makes sense to children when they see it before they memorize it. Start with what it means, equal groups, then move to pictures, then to facts. Skipping straight to drilling the tables is the most common reason children find it confusing later.
Most children meet multiplication in 2nd grade through repeated addition and arrays, and work on the facts in 3rd grade.
Four steps, with examples
- 1. Equal groups. 3 bags with 4 apples each: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12, so 3 × 4 = 12. Say it as "3 groups of 4".
- 2. Arrays. Arrange 4 rows of 6 coins. Count them: 4 × 6 = 24. Turn the picture sideways and it's 6 × 4 = 24.
- 3. Skip counting. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 is five 5s, so 5 × 5 = 25.
- 4. Facts and strategies. Use known facts to find new ones: 6 × 4 = 5 × 4 + 4 = 24.
8 starter questions
- 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = ?
- 5 + 5 + 5 = ?
- 2 × 6 = ?
- 4 × 5 = ?
- 3 × 6 = ?
- 5 × 7 = ?
- 10 × 4 = ?
- 6 × 3 = ?
Show answers
- 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12
- 5 + 5 + 5 = 15
- 2 × 6 = 12
- 4 × 5 = 20
- 3 × 6 = 18
- 5 × 7 = 35
- 10 × 4 = 40
- 6 × 3 = 18
Tips for parents
- Use real objects first: buttons, blocks, coins.
- Ask "how many groups, and how many in each group?"
- Teach the 2s, 5s and 10s first, then 3s and 4s, then 6s to 9s.
- Keep sessions short. Ten minutes of objects beats a page of sums.
Questions parents ask
What age do kids learn multiplication?
In the US, most children start the idea in 2nd grade (about age 7 to 8) and learn the facts in 3rd grade (about age 8 to 9).
Should I teach multiplication with arrays or times tables first?
Arrays and equal groups first. They show what multiplication means, which makes the facts easier to learn and remember.