Are you pulling your hair out trying to help your kids learn their times tables? 

Is teaching multiplication ending up with one or more of you in tears? 

Then, I’m glad you’re here! I remember when my middle son struggled to learn his times tables. 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s seemed to be a breeze. However, when it came time to learn the more difficult facts, tears were shed. Sometimes they were mine!

Does that sound like math time at your house? Are you looking for ways to make those facts stick while not draining all of the fun out of your homeschool day? Look no further!

Learning the Time Tables

It doesn’t have to be like that, though. Learning multiplication facts doesn’t have to wreck your day. Here are six fun ways to help your kids learn their times tables so they can move on to more complex math skills with ease. 

Watch them!

Times Tales presents a unique way to learn upper level times tables with a fun animated DVD. The DVD contains videos that present cute, simple stories that give kids a “memory peg” which allows them to recall their multiplication facts. With the onscreen visuals and the short stories being told, kids will be learning their times tables without even knowing it. Here’s a short video introduction to Times Tales:

Get moving!

After you’ve introduced multiplication to your student, look for ways to get them moving while you practice the facts. Toss a ball to each other saying the facts as you go. You say a fact and toss the ball to your child. Have them shout out the answer as they catch the ball. Jumping jacks. Hopscotch. Toe touches. Those are all great activities to do while reciting and repeating the times tables. 

Read about them.

I’ve written before about how I love using living books to bring our homeschool lessons to life. Here are a few of my favorite books for teaching multiplication. Sometimes, kids just need to see how math works in the real world. 

Sing them! 

Many kids learn well when they put what they’re learning to a tune. If you have a child who learns that way, check out products like Multiplication Rap! These catchy tunes will hook your kids and make them want to listen and sing along. They’ll be learning those times tables in no time! Have a listen, and see what you think. 

Play games. 

Use dominoes and playing cards to review multiplication facts. During a game of dominoes, have kids multiply the dots before laying down another domino. Play a game of war. Have each player lay down two cards instead of one. Multiply the cards, and the person with the largest answer wins that hand. 

Make it hands-on! 

There are so many hands-on activities you can use with your students to help them learn their multiplication facts. Many of these activities are self-checking so kids can practice on their own, and then come show you what they’ve learned. 

What is your favorite way to help your children learn their times tables? 

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