Explain to the child that multiplication is actually a form of addition. Four times four, for example, represents the total when you simply add four groups of four. Because children learning multiplication probably already understand addition, this helps to demystify multiplication.
Hold your hands out in front of you with two fingers held up on each hand. Ask the child to count how many fingers you've held up. When the child says, "four," explain that he's just performed a multiplication operation because you have held up two groups of two, which equals four. Explain that this is the answer for 2 x 2. Then ask the child what 2 x 2 is.
Repeat this exercise for 2 x 3, 2 x 4 and 2 x 5. This is a simple way for children to understand the two times tables. Once a child understands the concept of multiplying one number by two, she will be prepared to multiply larger numbers.
Teach the child multiplication tricks using her fingers. You can use your fingers to understand all times tables up to nine. Hold both hands out in front of you. Counting from the left to right, hold down the finger number correlated with the number you are multiplying by nine. For example, if you are multiplying 4 x 9, count four fingers from the left hand and hold down your left index finger.
Count how many fingers are still up on the left side of the finger you held down. That number is the first digit, which in this example, is three. Next, count the number of fingers held up on the right side, which will provide you with the second digit, which is six. Thus the answer to 4 x 9 is 36. This approach works for every operation up to 10 x 9.