If your child is in Year 4, they will take a Multiplication Tables Check in June. The check is so teachers can identify any gaps in children’s learning and address them promptly.
But no matter what year your child is in at school, learning times tables is a very useful skill. Here we share why times tables are important, and how learning them can really be lots of fun!
Why is learning times tables useful?
The ability to recall times tables enables children to solve maths calculations faster and with greater ease.
Times tables lay the groundwork for understanding more advanced maths concepts because multiplication is interconnected with algebra, division, geometry, fractions, ratios and proportions.
Mastering times tables gives children a deeper understanding of mathematical patterns, so they understand the relationships between numbers. It means they can move on to solving more advanced mathematical problems without being slowed down by simple calculations.
Most importantly, times tables are relevant in everyday life. This includes calculating measurements, working out costs, discounts, and percentages. Whether we are cooking, doing DIY or working in science, engineering, finance or another field, being able to recall times tables at speed will always be helpful.
When helping your child to learn times tables, we suggest mixing things up with a variety of online games, offline games, songs and physical movement to keep them motivated.
Multiplication Tables Check online games
On the Maths Frame website, you will find a selection of online games to help your child prepare for the Multiplication Tables Check. It goes without saying that they’re great no matter what your child’s school year.
Timestables.co.uk is another fantastic website for online games. There are single-player games, multi-player games, and all the tables are covered. You could play against your child and try to beat them – good luck!
Topmarks has lots of free maths games to keep children aged 7-11 busy. This website has been around for a long time and it’s brilliant!
Learn times tables through songs
Singing times tables is a great way to learn them! Here are some free resources your child could choose from, depending on their musical taste:
BBC Teach Times Table Collection
Times Table Pop Songs from Bosbury C of E Primary School
Print your own board games
These are some free, printable board games. All you need is a dice and a few counters (which you can make from pieces of card):
Games to get children moving
Multiplication hopscotch
Draw a hopscotch grid on the ground with chalk or tape, with 12 squares in total. If you can’t remember what a hopscotch grid looks like do a quick search with Google Images.
Choose a times table to focus on and write the answers in random places in the squares. For instance, if you choose the five times table, the randomly dispersed numbers will be 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60.
To play, call out a times table question and ask your child to alternately hop and jump and then hop onto the correct answer. For example, if you call out 2 x 5, they must finish by standing on one leg on the number 10. If they succeed, they get a point!
If you are playing with one child, they can aim to get as many points as they can in a set time, and perhaps try to beat their personal best. If there’s more than one child playing, they could compete against each other, if appropriate.
Multiplication relay
This game works well if you have an even number of players. You don’t need a large group – you can play with just two people running. To prepare the game, make times table flashcards with answers on the back.
The first person in each team runs to a marker and answers a question you show them on a flashcard. If they don’t give the correct answer, show them the right answer on the reverse of the card. Once they’ve given the correct answer they run back to their team and sit down. Then the next person is their team runs.
The first team with everybody sitting down wins.
Multiplication scavenger hunt
Choose a times table to focus on and write the answers on stickers which you affix to different objects. For example, if you’ve chosen the two times table you might stick 2 on a teddy bear, 4 on a toy car, 6 on a teaspoon and so on.
Hide the objects in different places around the house or garden.
Give your child a grid with times table questions written on it and a space next to the equals signs where they can draw the correct object. If you’ve chosen the two times table, the grid will say 1×2=, 2×2=, 3×2= etc.
Your child then finds each object and draws it next to the right question. So, if they find a teddy bear with 4 on it, they draw the teddy bear next to 2×2=
Multiplication target practice
Draw a target board on the ground with chalk (if you’re not sure, type ‘chalk target board’ into Google Images). You could either write answers to times tables in each section on the target board or questions.
Give your child a beanbag or a small stone which they can throw onto the correct target. For example, if you call out ‘4’ they throw the stone onto ‘2×2’ (or you might call out ‘2×2’ and they throw the stone on to the number 4).
You could award points for each correct answer and make the game competitive.
Would your child benefit from extra maths support?
Whether your child will be taking part in the Multiplication Tables Check this year or not, we hope they enjoy these times table games.
If your child lacks confidence in maths, our experienced, skilled maths tutors can help. Our tutors adjust their teaching strategies to suit each child’s interests and abilities to accelerate their progress.
To discuss how we can help, please email hello@tutormykids.co.uk