Multiplication Tables Tips & Tricks for Parents

By KidsDoMath Team · Published February 25, 2026

Learning the times tables doesn't have to mean endless memorization. There are patterns, tricks, and shortcuts that make multiplication facts much easier to learn. Here are the best tips you can share with your child.

The Order Matters: Start Easy

Don't start with the 6s, 7s, and 8s. Begin with the tables that have the most obvious patterns. A good order is:

1. 1s — anything times 1 is itself.
2. 10s — add a zero.
3. 2s — just doubling.
4. 5s — always ends in 0 or 5.
5. 9s — the finger trick (see below).
6. 3s, 4s — build from known facts.
7. 11s — repeat the digit (up to 9 × 11).
8. 6s, 7s, 8s, 12s — by this point, most facts are already learned from the other tables!

The 9s Finger Trick

This is one of the most satisfying math tricks for kids. To multiply 9 by any number from 1 to 10:

1. Hold up all 10 fingers.
2. Count from the left and put down the finger matching the number you're multiplying by. For 9 × 4, put down the 4th finger.
3. The fingers to the left of the down finger are the tens digit; the fingers to the right are the ones digit.
4. For 9 × 4: three fingers on the left, six on the right = 36.

Another handy 9s pattern: the digits of any 9s answer always add up to 9. So 9 × 3 = 27, and 2 + 7 = 9. This gives kids a quick way to check their answers.

Doubles and Double-Doubles

The 2 times table is just doubling, which most kids learn early. The 4 times table is “double the double” — to find 4 × 7, first double 7 (14), then double again (28). Similarly, the 8 times table is “double the double the double,” though by that point most kids prefer other strategies.

The 5s Shortcut

For the 5 times table, there's a shortcut: take the number, divide by 2, and shift right (multiply by 10). For 5 × 8: half of 8 is 4, so the answer is 40. For odd numbers like 5 × 7: half of 7 is 3.5, so the answer is 35. Kids who know this pattern can skip count by 5s lightning fast.

The Commutative Property Is Your Friend

Make sure your child knows that 3 × 7 = 7 × 3. This cuts the number of facts they need to learn nearly in half! If they already know 7 × 3 from the 3s table, they don't need to re-learn it for the 7s table. Visual arrays make this easy to see — just rotate the grid.

Break It Down

For tough facts, teach your child to break them into easier parts. For example:

6 × 7 = 42

Think of it as (5 × 7) + (1 × 7) = 35 + 7 = 42.

8 × 6 = 48

Think of it as (8 × 5) + (8 × 1) = 40 + 8 = 48.

7 × 8 = 56

Think of it as (7 × 7) + (7 × 1) = 49 + 7 = 56 (if they know 7 × 7).

This strategy — called the distributive property — builds real mathematical thinking, not just rote memorization.

The “Tricky Six” Facts

After learning all the tricks above, only a handful of hard facts remain. Teachers sometimes call them the “tricky six”:

• 6 × 6 = 36
• 6 × 7 = 42
• 6 × 8 = 48
• 7 × 7 = 49
• 7 × 8 = 56
• 8 × 8 = 64

These are the facts that benefit most from spaced repetition. Regular practice with extra focus on these six facts makes a big difference.

Practice Makes Permanent

Tricks and patterns help kids learn faster, but regular practice is what makes facts stick. Keep sessions short (5-10 minutes), make them fun, and use proven teaching strategies alongside these tricks. KidsDoMath combines visual arrays, spaced repetition, and game-like practice to make the whole process easier.

Practice Individual Times Tables

Focus on one table at a time: