How to help your child learn the times tables

Times tables feel like a wall of facts, but they are much smaller than they look. Many facts repeat in reverse, and some tables follow patterns a child can spot. Short daily practice beats long sessions, and games beat drills. The trick is to spend time on the facts your child still gets wrong, not the ones they already know.

A practical approach for parents, then times tables apps, with a section for times tables apps rising by visits on the Censuus ranking.

Times tables apps rising by visits and sponsorship on Censuus

A younger Android app from an independent developer:

Ranked by visit traffic and sponsorship on Censuus, not editorial opinion. The list changes as new apps appear and gain traffic.

Begin with patterns

Start with the tables where patterns are easiest to see, such as ones, twos, fives and tens. Show that multiplying works both ways, so learning one fact gives two. Children who see patterns tend to feel the rest is manageable.

Practise a little every day

Short daily practice works better than a long session at the weekend. A few questions at breakfast, in the car or before bed keeps facts fresh without turning them into a chore.

Turn it into play

Card games, quick-fire races against a timer, and everyday questions such as “how many legs do three dogs have?” make practice feel like a game. Apps with mini-games and short daily sessions do the same on a phone or tablet.

Focus on what is still hard

Note which facts your child keeps getting wrong and practise those more. Praise effort and progress rather than speed. Compare apps in times tables apps.

Compared from each developer’s own store description.
Step	What you do	Why
1. Start easy	the tables with clear patterns first	early wins build confidence
2. Show the swap	a times b is the same as b times a	far fewer facts to learn
3. Little and often	a few minutes a day	sticks better than one long session
4. Make it a game	cards, races, apps, everyday questions	practice without the groan
5. Target the gaps	repeat the facts they miss	time goes where it is needed

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to learn the times tables?

Start with the easiest tables, show that multiplication works both ways, practise a little every day through games and spend more time on the facts your child still gets wrong.

Which times tables should my child learn first?

Usually the ones with clear patterns, such as ones, twos, fives and tens, before moving to the harder ones.

Do times tables apps help?

They help with short, regular practice and make it feel like a game, which suits many children.