How to Teach Times Tables — 5 Fun Methods That Actually Work

29 March 2026  ·  Maths Times Tables KS2

Why Times Tables Matter

Multiplication facts are the building blocks of almost every maths topic your child will meet from Year 3 onwards — long division, fractions, algebra, area and perimeter. When a child knows their times tables by heart, they can focus their mental energy on understanding new concepts rather than counting on their fingers. The national curriculum expects children to know all tables up to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4, and the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) tests exactly that.

Yet for many families, times tables practice feels like a nightly battle. The good news is that it doesn't have to be. Research consistently shows that combining several different approaches — rather than relying on rote chanting alone — leads to faster, longer-lasting recall. Below are five methods that teachers and parents swear by.

1. Skip Counting

Before children can recall individual facts, they need to hear the rhythm of each table. Skip counting simply means counting in multiples: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and so on. You can practise this anywhere — on the walk to school, in the car, or while waiting for dinner.

Start with the easier tables (2s, 5s, 10s) and gradually add the trickier ones (7s, 8s, 12s). Once your child can skip-count confidently, they have a safety net they can fall back on when a specific fact slips their mind. Try counting forwards and backwards to build flexibility.

2. Songs and Rhymes

Music activates different parts of the brain, which is why we still remember advertising jingles from years ago. Times table songs work the same way. Platforms like YouTube have dozens of catchy multiplication songs — from simple chants to full pop-style tracks covering each table from 2 to 12.

The key is repetition without boredom. Play a song in the background during breakfast, sing along in the car, or let your child listen with headphones before bed. Within a couple of weeks of casual exposure, most children can sing an entire table from memory — and that musical memory translates directly into faster written recall.

3. Arrays and Visual Models

Some children are visual learners who need to see what multiplication means before they can memorise it. Arrays — grids of dots or objects arranged in rows and columns — make the concept concrete. Three rows of four dots clearly shows why 3 × 4 = 12.

You can build arrays with counters, LEGO bricks, stickers, or even slices of fruit. Encourage your child to draw arrays in their workbook whenever they meet a new fact. This not only aids memorisation but also deepens their understanding of the commutative property (3 × 4 is the same as 4 × 3), which effectively halves the number of facts they need to learn.

4. Flashcards and Speed Challenges

Once your child has a basic grasp of the facts, flashcards add an element of speed and recall. You can make physical cards or use a free app — the important thing is that each card shows a bare multiplication question (e.g. 7 × 8) and the child tries to answer before flipping.

Keep sessions short — five minutes is plenty. Sort the cards into "confident" and "still learning" piles, and focus future sessions on the weaker pile. Many children love beating their own time, so a simple stopwatch can turn revision into a game. Pair this with a reward chart and you have a powerful motivator.

5. Times Tables Worksheets

There's a reason times tables worksheets remain a classroom staple: they work. A well-designed worksheet gives children focused, distraction-free practice. Unlike screen-based tools, a printed sheet lets the child work at their own pace with a pencil in hand — and handwriting the answers reinforces memory more effectively than tapping a screen.

The trick is variety. If every worksheet looks the same, motivation drops. That's why randomly generated worksheets are so valuable — each sheet presents the facts in a different order with a different mix, so the child can never simply memorise the pattern of answers. Our free worksheet generator creates a fresh multiplication drill every time you click, tailored to your child's age group.

For best results, aim for one short worksheet (10–20 questions) every day. Consistency matters more than marathon sessions.

When Should You Start?

Most children begin learning the 2, 5 and 10 times tables in Year 2 (ages 6–7). By Year 3, they're expected to know the 3, 4 and 8 tables, and by the end of Year 4 they should have rapid recall of all facts up to 12 × 12. However, every child is different — if your child is keen to start earlier, there's no harm in introducing skip counting and songs from Reception age.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Trying to learn all tables at once. Focus on one or two tables at a time and build confidence before moving on.
• Only practising in order. Children who only ever recite "1 × 7, 2 × 7, 3 × 7…" struggle when asked a random question like "9 × 7." Mix it up.
• Long, boring sessions. Five minutes of focused practice beats thirty minutes of reluctant repetition. Keep it short, keep it fun.
• Skipping the understanding. Memorisation is faster and more durable when the child understands why 6 × 4 = 24, not just that it does. Use arrays and real-world examples.
• Giving up too soon. Automaticity takes weeks of daily practice. Stick with it — the payoff is enormous.