Fast Multiplication Tricks for Primary School Kids

Why multiplication tricks matter early for primary school kids

Multiplication is the doorway to division, fractions, and word problems in later grades. When a child recalls multiplication facts smoothly, mental space opens up to follow longer problem steps. Learning scientists describe this smoothness as freeing working memory, so a child can focus on planning a solution instead of stalling on basic arithmetic. In the national curriculum, multiplication is first introduced in Fase A, around Grade 2, through the idea of repeated addition. That understanding then deepens in Fase B, in Grades 3 and 4. This span from Grade 2 to Grade 4 is an important time to plant the right patterns early, so a child avoids recomputing from scratch every time a problem appears. Fast multiplication tricks work because they lean on consistent rules. A child who understands that multiplying by 5 always ends in 0 or 5 stays calm when memory slips. There is always a way to rebuild the answer. This grasp of pattern is what makes multiplication feel light and easy to practise again and again without pressure.

Steps to teach fast multiplication tricks to primary school kids

The order below starts with the friendliest numbers and climbs toward more challenging patterns. Teach one key at a time and leave room for play in between.

1. Step 1

   Start with the friendliest numbers: 2, 5, and 10

   The numbers 2, 5, and 10 are the first footholds because their patterns are the clearest. For multiplying by 2, the child simply doubles the number: two times 6 equals 6 plus 6. Link it to everyday things, such as a pair of shoes or two bicycle wheels. Multiplying by 10 has the simplest rule of all, just add a zero at the end: 10 times 7 becomes 70. Multiplying by 5 has a units pattern that alternates between 5 and 0, much like the numbers on a wall clock. Invite the child to watch the minute hand move from 5, 10, 15, up to 60. Once these three numbers feel comfortable, the child already covers a large part of the times table without feeling like they are memorising. Give it a few days to settle before moving to the next key.

   Tips

   • Stick a table of multiples of 5 near the wall clock at home
   • Use paired objects around the house to practise multiplying by 2
2. Step 2

   Use the finger method for multiplying by 9

   Multiplying by 9 often feels challenging, yet it has a delightful finger trick. Ask the child to open both hands with ten fingers facing up. To work out 9 times 3, the child folds down the third finger from the left. The fingers to the left of the folded one become the tens, in this case 2 fingers, and the fingers to the right become the units, that is 7 fingers. The answer is 27. This trick works for 9 times 1 through 9 times 10. Beyond the finger method, show the lovely pattern in the nine times results: the tens digit rises one by one while the units digit falls one by one, and the two digits always add up to 9. Take 18, 27, 36, and 45, which all add to 9. Children usually enjoy spotting this regularity because it feels like a puzzle. Practise it calmly through play so the child remembers it through movement in a relaxed setting.

   Tips

   • Practise the finger method while sitting calmly at home
   • Have the child check the digit sum of a nine result to confirm the answer
   This finger method is only for multiplying by 9. Avoid forcing it onto other numbers so the child does not get confused.
3. Step 3

   Use the swap rule so the table shrinks to about half

   One reassuring fact for a child is the swap rule of multiplication, known as the commutative property. The rule is simple: 7 times 8 gives the same answer as 8 times 7. This means that every time a child learns one pair, they automatically own its twin pair. The 1 to 10 times table that looks like a hundred boxes shrinks to about half once the repeated pairs are removed. A good way to introduce it is through arranged objects. Lay out 3 rows of 4 marbles, then turn the arrangement into 4 rows of 3 marbles. The child will see the total stays 12. Seeing this directly plants the belief that the order of numbers can be swapped. So a child who already knows 6 times 2 has no need to relearn 2 times 6. Highlight this whenever the child feels the table is too big, because the truly new facts are far fewer.

   Tips

   • Use marbles or buttons to show an arrangement being turned
   • Mark the pairs already mastered on the table so the child sees how few remain
4. Step 4

   Break hard problems into two easy parts

   Some products such as 7 times 8 do need an extra step. This is where the breaking trick helps. Teach the child to split one of the numbers into a part they already know well. To compute 7 times 6, the child can use 7 times 5, which is 35, then add one more group of 7 to reach 42. Another way, 8 times 7 can be found as 8 times 5 equals 40, plus 8 times 2 equals 16, giving 56. A child strong in the fives will find this natural because it leans on comfortable numbers. Introduce the square numbers as anchors too, for example 6 times 6 equals 36. From that anchor, 6 times 7 simply adds 6 to make 42. Practise this breaking trick with varied problems so the child gets used to choosing the easiest part as a stepping stone.

   Tips

   • Always split into numbers the child already knows, such as multiples of 5
   • Write the breaking steps on paper so the child sees the flow
5. Step 5

   Practise with short daily games, without time pressure

   Tricks stick through enjoyable repetition. Set aside a short session of about ten minutes each day, which works better than one long tiring session. Use simple games such as multiplication cards, dice, or small challenges on a journey. Learning research shows that excessive time pressure can trigger arithmetic anxiety in some children, so practice results drop. For that reason, put calm and curiosity first. Praise the child when they discover a pattern on their own, since that discovery signals understanding is growing. Vary the games so the child stays fresh, for example taking turns rolling dice and multiplying the two numbers that appear. Small consistency each day builds lasting smoothness. When the child starts answering calmly with a relaxed face, that is a sign the tricks have taken root and are ready for higher material.

   Tips

   • Keep one session to about ten minutes so the child stays eager
   • Celebrate pattern discoveries alongside correct answers

Quick trick summary by number

Memorising the table and understanding the pattern

A blend of the two usually helps most: pattern to understand, routine practice to gain fluency.

Home multiplication practice checklist

Questions parents often ask