Ask any parent or teacher and they’ll tell you the same thing — times tables are one of the biggest hurdles in primary maths. Children either love them or dread them. But here’s the good news: with the right approach, every child can learn their times tables confidently and without tears.
This article is for parents, teachers, and anyone supporting a child aged 5–11 through KS1 or KS2 maths. You’ll discover a proven, step-by-step method for teaching times tables in a way that actually sticks — using games, patterns, tricks, and practice tools like Hit the Button, the popular interactive maths game designed to build speed and accuracy.
Whether your child is just starting the 2s and 5s or struggling with the tricky 7s and 8s, this guide gives you everything you need. No stress. No rote drilling until they’re bored. Just smart, effective learning that builds real confidence.
Let’s get started.
What Are Times Tables? (And Why Children Struggle With Them)
Times tables are multiplication facts — the answers to multiplying two numbers together. For example:
- 4 × 6 = 24
- 7 × 8 = 56
- 9 × 3 = 27
Simple enough on paper. But children are expected to recall these facts instantly — without counting on fingers or pausing to work it out. That instant recall is what makes times tables feel so difficult.
The problem isn’t that children aren’t clever. It’s that multiplication is an abstract concept. A child can count to 100, but understanding that 6 × 7 means “six groups of seven” takes a mental leap.
The key is to build understanding first, then build speed. Most stress around times tables comes from skipping that first step.
Why Learning Times Tables Matters (KS1, KS2 & Beyond)
Times tables aren’t just a school exercise — they’re a foundational skill that underpins almost everything in maths.
In school, children use multiplication facts to:
- Divide numbers (division is just multiplication in reverse)
- Work with fractions and percentages
- Solve word problems and multi-step calculations
- Pass the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)
In everyday life, quick multiplication helps with:
- Working out the cost of multiple items while shopping
- Measuring and cooking (doubling or halving recipes)
- Understanding time (7 days × 3 weeks = 21 days)
Cognitively, learning times tables builds:
- Working memory — holding and using information quickly
- Pattern recognition — spotting relationships between numbers
- Mathematical confidence — children who know their tables feel capable in maths lessons
Research in cognitive science shows that when basic facts are automatic, the brain frees up mental space for harder problem-solving. That’s a huge advantage throughout school.
Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching Times Tables
Step 1: Start With Meaning, Not Memorisation
Before a child learns that 3 × 4 = 12, they need to understand what it means.
Use objects. Line up 3 rows of 4 counters, cubes, or even raisins. Count them together. Do it again with 4 rows of 3. Show that you get the same answer — this is the commutative property, and it instantly halves the number of facts to learn.
Example: “Three bags of four apples. How many apples altogether? Let’s count each bag… 4, 8, 12!”
Mini tip: Use real items children care about — toy cars, sweets, football stickers. Context makes maths memorable.
Step 2: Learn Tables in the Right Order
Not all times tables are equally difficult. Start with the easiest and build confidence before tackling the harder ones.
| Order to Learn | Times Table | Why It’s Easier |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ×2 | Doubling — already intuitive |
| 2nd | ×10 | Just add a zero — very visual |
| 3rd | ×5 | Pattern ends in 0 or 5 always |
| 4th | ×3 | Short sequence, easy to chant |
| 5th | ×4 | Double the ×2 answers |
| 6th | ×6 | Build on ×3 (just double it) |
| 7th | ×9 | Finger trick + digit sum always = 9 |
| 8th | ×8 | Double ×4 answers |
| 9th | ×7 | Trickiest — tackle last |
| 10th | ×11 & ×12 | Patterns make these manageable |
Mini tip: By learning in this sequence, a child has actually already covered most of the difficult facts before they reach the “hard” tables. Confidence builds naturally.
Step 3: Practise Little and Often (Not Long and Rarely)
Ten minutes every day beats one hour on a Sunday. The brain retains information better through spaced repetition — short, regular bursts of practice spread over time.
Set a daily routine: after breakfast, during the car journey, before screen time. Keep it low-pressure and consistent.
Example routine:
- Monday: Chant the 6× table out loud
- Tuesday: Write out the 6× table from memory
- Wednesday: Play a timed game (like Hit the Button maths)
- Thursday: Use flashcards — mix the 6× with the 4×
- Friday: Test with mixed questions
Mini tip: Use a simple progress chart. Children are motivated by seeing their own improvement.
Step 4: Introduce Timed Practice Gradually
Once a child knows a table, it’s time to build speed. But never introduce timing before they’re ready — it creates anxiety.
Start by asking: “Can you answer before I count to five?” Then reduce to three. Then move to a game format where speed is part of the fun, not a source of pressure.
Hit the Button is perfect here. This maths game presents multiplication questions rapidly, and children tap the correct answer. Because it feels like a game, children naturally want to improve their score — and that motivation does the teaching for you.
Easy Tricks and Shortcuts for Times Tables
These memory hacks make even the trickiest tables more manageable:
The ×9 Finger Trick Hold up all ten fingers. To calculate 9 × 4, fold down the 4th finger. Count fingers to the left (3) and to the right (6). Answer: 36. Works every time for 9 × 1 through 9 × 10.
The ×5 Clock Pattern Every answer in the 5 times table is either a 0 or 5 at the end. Just like a clock — 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. If a child can read a clock, they already know the 5× table.
The ×4 Doubling Trick Multiply by 2, then double it again. So 4 × 7: first do 2 × 7 = 14, then double it: 28.
The ×6 Even Number Rule When you multiply 6 by an even number, the answer always ends in the same digit. 6 × 2 = 12, 6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 6 = 36, 6 × 8 = 48. Spotting patterns like this makes recall faster.
The 7 × 8 Memory Phrase This is the most commonly forgotten fact. Use this sentence: “5, 6, 7, 8 — 56 = 7 × 8.” The numbers 5, 6, 7, 8 appear in order. Children who hear it once rarely forget it.
Square Numbers Are Symmetrical 7 × 7, 8 × 8, 9 × 9 — these “square numbers” only need to be learnt once. There’s no reverse fact to worry about.
Common Mistakes Children Make (And How to Fix Them)
1. Reciting Without Understanding
Why it happens: Children memorise the chant but can’t apply facts out of order. Fix: Always mix up questions. Ask “What is 7 × 6?” not “…5 × 6, 6 × 6, 7 × 6?”
2. Skipping the Foundation
Why it happens: Parents jump straight to flashcards before the concept is understood. Fix: Use physical objects and pictures first. Meaning before memorisation.
3. Practising Only the Easy Ones
Why it happens: Children naturally gravitate to what they already know. Fix: Use games that randomly mix all tables, like Hit the Button, so weaker facts get equal practice.
4. Irregular Practice
Why it happens: Busy family schedules push maths to the weekend. Fix: Attach practice to a daily habit. Even 5 minutes counts.
5. Introducing Timing Too Early
Why it happens: Parents want to replicate school tests at home. Fix: Only add a timer once the child can answer correctly — even if slowly. Speed comes naturally with confidence.
6. Learning All Tables at Once
Why it happens: School sometimes sends home all 12 tables at once. Fix: Master one table fully before moving on. Depth beats breadth at this stage.
7. No Variety in Practice
Why it happens: Worksheets every day become boring fast. Fix: Rotate between chanting, writing, games, flashcards, and real-life applications.
Fun Practice Methods That Actually Work
At Home:
- Times tables in the car — call out a question at every red light
- Multiplication snap — write facts on cards, flip and match
- Cooking maths — “We need 4 cookies each for 6 people — how many do we bake?”
- Chant to a beat or favourite song
In the Classroom:
- “Around the World” — two students compete to answer first
- Multiplication bingo with random fact grids
- Whiteboard races — teacher calls a question, students write the answer and hold up boards
- Peer quizzing in pairs
Real-Life Applications:
- Shopping: “These cost 8p each — how much for 7?”
- Sport: “A team scores 6 points per match — what’s the total after 9 matches?”
- Lego: “Each row has 8 bricks — how many in 5 rows?”
When maths appears in real life, children understand why it matters.
Practise Times Tables Using Hit the Button
One of the most effective tools for building times tables speed is Hit the Button — an interactive maths game used by thousands of schools and families across the UK.
Here’s why it works so well:
Speed: The game presents questions rapidly and asks children to tap the correct answer before time runs out. This trains the brain to recall facts instantly — exactly what’s needed for the Year 4 MTC.
Accuracy: Unlike chanting where children can fall into a rhythm without thinking, Hit the Button maths requires correct individual answers. It highlights genuine knowledge gaps.
Confidence: Because it’s a game, children want to beat their own score. That intrinsic motivation drives repeated practice — without any nagging from parents.
Flexibility: You can select specific tables (just the 7s, for example) or mix them all. You can practise multiplication, division, number bonds, and more — all in one place.
Children who play the Hit the Button game regularly show measurable improvement in both speed and accuracy. Start with one table at a time, then gradually introduce mixed practice as confidence grows.
Ready to play? Try the Hit the Button game on this site — it takes just a few minutes and makes a real difference.
Practice Questions
Try these questions. Answers are at the bottom — no peeking!
Beginner:
- 2 × 6 = ?
- 5 × 4 = ?
- 10 × 3 = ?
Intermediate: 4. 4 × 7 = ? 5. 6 × 8 = ? 6. 9 × 5 = ? 7. 3 × 9 = ?
Challenge: 8. 7 × 8 = ? 9. 6 × 7 = ? 10. 8 × 9 = ? 11. 12 × 7 = ? 12. 9 × 9 = ?
Answers:
- 12 | 2. 20 | 3. 30 | 4. 28 | 5. 48 | 6. 45 | 7. 27 | 8. 56 | 9. 42 | 10. 72 | 11. 84 | 12. 81
How did you do? Note which ones you got wrong — those are the ones to focus on next.
Expert Tips for Parents and Teachers
For Parents:
- Praise effort, not speed. Say “Well done for trying” not “You should know this by now.” Pressure kills confidence.
- Don’t do it all yourself. Point your child towards a game like Hit the Button so they practise independently. Ownership builds motivation.
- Check in without quizzing. Ask “What did you practise today?” rather than firing questions at dinner. Low-stakes conversations reduce anxiety.
- Celebrate milestones. Mastered the 6× table? Mark it on a chart, do a little celebration. Small wins build momentum.
For Teachers:
- Use diagnostic questioning. Don’t just ask “Do you know your 7s?” Ask “What is 7 × 6?” and observe the thinking process, not just the answer.
- Differentiate by table, not just difficulty. Some children know 2s to 5s well but skip to 9s. Identify precise gaps.
- Integrate times tables across subjects. Ask multiplication questions during PE (counting laps), DT (measuring materials), or PSHE (sharing resources fairly).
- Use the Hit the Button times tables game as a starter activity. Five minutes at the start of a maths lesson settles the class and builds automaticity without taking valuable teaching time.
Advanced Insight: Why Some Children “Can’t Remember” Times Tables
There’s a common belief that some children simply aren’t maths people. This isn’t true — but it does explain why traditional methods fail some learners.
Rote learning (pure repetition) works well for children with strong phonological memory — the ability to hear and remember sequences of sounds. But some children have weaker phonological memory. They struggle to retain chanted sequences even after many repetitions.
For these children, a visual and spatial approach works far better:
- Drawing arrays (rows and columns of dots)
- Colour-coding multiplication grids
- Using multiplication as repeated addition on a number line
This is why interactive games like Hit the Button work across different learning styles. The game combines visual prompts, instant feedback, and a sense of control — all of which support learners who struggle with pure repetition.
The goal isn’t to create parrots who can chant tables. It’s to build mathematicians who understand multiplication and can apply it. That deeper understanding is what separates confident maths learners from anxious ones.
You can also extend this by exploring related skills — number bonds, mental addition strategies, and place value — all of which reinforce multiplication understanding and make tables easier to recall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hit the Button and how does it help with times tables? Hit the Button is an interactive online maths game where children answer multiplication (and other) questions by clicking the correct answer quickly. It builds speed and accuracy in a fun, game-based environment — making it ideal for KS1 and KS2 times tables practice.
At what age should children start learning times tables? In the UK, children typically begin multiplication in Year 2 (age 6–7) with the 2s, 5s, and 10s. By the end of Year 4 (age 8–9), they’re expected to know all tables up to 12 × 12 for the Multiplication Tables Check.
How long does it take to learn all times tables? With daily practice of 10–15 minutes, most children can build solid recall across all tables within 6–12 months. Starting earlier and practising regularly shortens this considerably.
Is it better to chant times tables or use games like Hit the Button? Both have value. Chanting builds initial familiarity; games build speed, accuracy, and the ability to recall facts out of sequence. The best approach combines both, along with visual tools and real-life applications.
My child freezes under pressure during tests. What can I do? Reduce timed practice at home and focus on accuracy first. Use games with gentle time pressure rather than formal tests. As confidence grows, introduce more time-limited practice. Anxiety decreases when children feel competent.
What’s the hardest times table to learn? Most children find the 7s and 8s the hardest. The 7 × 8 = 56 fact is statistically the most commonly incorrect in the MTC. Focus extra practice here using the “5678” memory trick mentioned above.
Can Hit the Button be used for division too? Yes — the Hit the Button maths game includes division, number bonds, halving, doubling, and more. Once a child is confident in multiplication, using the division mode reinforces the inverse relationship between the two operations.
Conclusion: Confidence Beats Speed — Every Time
Teaching times tables doesn’t have to be a battle. The children who struggle most are usually those who’ve been pushed too fast, too soon, without proper understanding.
Start with meaning. Build slowly and systematically. Use tricks, patterns, and games to keep it engaging. Celebrate small wins. And never underestimate the power of consistent daily practice — even five minutes counts.
Tools like Hit the Button are powerful precisely because they take the pressure off the adult and put the motivation back in the child’s hands. When a child wants to beat their own score, they’ll practise more than any homework sheet could ever achieve.
Use this guide as your roadmap. Pick one table, work through it properly, then move to the next. Before long, your child won’t just know their times tables — they’ll feel capable in maths. And that confidence carries them much further than any single fact ever could.
Start with the game today. Pick one table. And press the button.