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How to Introduce Multiplication to Kids in a Fun Way
The short story of Why I would Expose my Three-Year Old Son to Multiplication In order to introduce multiplication to kids, you have to make it fun! My son was playing with numbers in our math set and saw the times tables sign(x). He held up the x and wanted to know what it meant. I challenged myself to explain it in a manner he could understand and I succeeded!! A Great Children’s Book to Introduce Multiplication to Kids About three weeks later, I went to the library and saw in the children’s section the title, 3 x 4 a Toon Book by Ivan Brunetti. I thought this comic book would be an excellent tool to further explain how multiplication works to my son.*Bonus Tip
Go to the bottom of this post to Access 2 Hands-On Art Activities that will Explain Multiplication
The author provides colorful pictures, diverse characters, and a great storyline to introduce multiplication. A Brief Summary It is about a teacher who gives his students a homework assignment of drawing 12 things but in sets. A few students raise their hands and ask the teacher about various options to completing their homework. For example, one student asks, “Can I draw 3 sets of 4?”, the teacher replies, “It’s up to you!” The story goes on to show the reader the process that each student executes to complete their homework assignment. One student likes baseball, so he draws three of each item: baseball, gloves, bats, and hats. There is one student that needs more time to process her homework assignment. Her mom, dad, and even little brother are there to help her undertake this project. She comes up with a great idea at the end; however, you will have to read the book in order to find out what it is! Tips for Parents and Teachers At the end of the book, you will find tips for parents and teachers on How to Read Comics with Kids. The author explains how kids are naturally drawn to the detailed pictures in comics, which makes them want to read the words! Read this book and provide your child with an entertaining explanation to the importance of multiplication! What are other ways to teach multiplication tables to children? One common way is to have children study their times tables a certain amount of time each day. This is how I learned. However, there are creative ways through play that children can learn as well.- Build a number city of multiples with Legos.
- My son saw a YOUTUBE video about counting by 3s. We built the following numbers with legos: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24,
- We created a role play where his toy elephant’s mission was to destroy the city.
- Every time elephant knocked down and destroyed a number, my son had to build the number up.
- This role play provided familiarity with multiples of three.
- Plus, my son was the city’s hero because he kept building the numbers up.
- He did not realize he was learning while doing this activity.

- Songs– Many people know the words to a lot of songs not because someone taught them but through hearing it repeatedly. Use this same concept with learning multiplication.
- We love the Mark D. Pencil Multiplication Album.
- Try playing and dancing to these catchy multiplication songs.
- Rock to this Multiplication Rap song in the car or at home.
- Help the child create a song about their times tables and perform it for the family.
- Get the whole family involved by having different members play household instruments to the song.
- Multiples of 10 – just add a 0 to the number
- 3 x 10 = 30 (Add 0 to 3 to make 30)
- 4 x 10 = 40 (Add 0 to 4 to make 40)
- Multiples of 11 – (double the number for number 1-9)
- 3 x 11 = 33 (write the number 3 twice)
- 5 x 11 = 55 (write the number 5 twice)
- Multiplies of 9 – (use your fingers)
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I remember when I was a kid we’d make up little songs for the times tables. Any way to get kids engaged in learning is great x
Yes! Kids love learning in fun and engaging ways! Thank you for the comment!
These are great ways to teach your kids multiplication. I will have to do some of this with the kids at the library. It should help.
Thank you for your comment. Please let us know how it goes with your students at the library! You can contact us on the website. You can also email at amills@SimplyOutrageousYouth.com.
I will try this with the kids. It is a great tip. They are currently addition and subtraction.
Thank you for the comment. Let me know how it goes with the kids. Please contact me on the website or my email at amills@SimplyOutrageousYouth.com
Thanks for sharing this article…I have a student who has a problem with forgetting multiples I’ll try these methods.
Let us know how it goes with your student.
Yeah sure.. 😇
I hated Math when I was a child. Fortunately, my kids did not have that same fear and did well with their Math subjects. I will share this post with my cousin. She has 3 young daughters who would benefit from this.
Thank you so much for the comment, Kristine! Please let us know how your cousin’s daughters do with the tactics given in this post.
I growing up learning multiplications by sing the times song as well, but I will put different melodies to make it more entertaining.
Yes music is a great way to learn new things! Thank you for your comment!