How to Teach Multiplication (Without Tears)
A teacher-tested guide to teaching multiplication: start with arrays, move through skip counting, and only drill the times tables once the concept is solid.
Most children hit multiplication around age 7, and most of them hit a wall within a week. The problem is almost never the child — it's the order the facts are introduced. Start a kid on the twelve times table before they understand what multiplication is and you get the blank stare that every primary teacher knows.
The order that actually works, tested on a thousand seven-year-olds: arrays first, then skip counting, then the 2s, 5s, 10s tables, then the rest. Skip the 0s and 1s entirely — they're obvious once the concept clicks, and including them in early drills just makes the learner feel like they're getting away with something, which undermines the real work.
Below are the exact steps, what to say, which worksheets to print, and which games to pair them with. The whole sequence takes between two weeks and six weeks depending on the child. Don't rush the array stage. The kids who rush it are the ones asking for a calculator in fifth grade.
Practise With These Free Games
Printable Worksheets to Go With This Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What age should a child start learning multiplication?+
Most children are ready for the concept of multiplication around age 6 to 7, after they're confident with skip counting and addition. Formal drill of the times tables usually starts in Year 2 or Year 3 (second to third grade).
What's the fastest way to learn the times tables?+
Master the 2s, 5s, 10s, and squares first (2×2, 3×3, 4×4 …). That knocks out roughly 70% of the full 12×12 grid. Then drill the remaining facts in short 5-minute sessions daily — spaced repetition beats one long weekly drill every time.
Should I teach multiplication before division?+
Yes. Division is most easily taught as the inverse of multiplication (if you know 7×8=56 you already know 56÷8=7), so solid multiplication recall makes division far less painful.
Are multiplication apps enough on their own?+
Apps and games are great for drill and fluency, but the concept itself — that 3×4 means 3 groups of 4 — is best taught with physical objects or visual arrays. Use both.