Flash cards can help a child who learns concepts visually. Seeing the numbers on a card can help your child understand the idea of putting two numbers together to form a third. Review the cards with your child on a nightly basis, since much of multiplication is memory-based.
Another tip for using flash cards or worksheets is to draw or print pictures. "Memorize in Minute: The Times Tables" is a book offered at Multiplication.com and has received positive reviews and recommendations by educators. The book's concept is to use pictures and rhymes associated with multiplication tables to strengthen a child's memory of each number set.
Kids love to play games, so parents and educators can take advantage of this enthusiasm to teach basic multiplication concepts. Using a deck of cards (numbers only) and teams of 2 to 3 children, have each child flip over two separate cards. The first child to yell out the correct answer (multiplying the two numbers) will keep the cards. The child will the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
Dice are another effective teaching tool. Have your child roll one dice and draw that number of circles on a board or piece of paper. Have your child roll the second dice and draw that number of dots inside each circle. Your child can now count the number of dots and learn basic multiplication principles.
Music, rhymes and other strategies can make learning multiplication tables simple for your child. Some easy tricks for your child can includes learning the "10" series -- simply add a "0" to the number you are multiplying 10 by. For the "9" series, teach your child the product of both numbers will add up to 9 when the answer is correct. The product of the "5" series will end in either a 5 or a 0, and the "2" series will always be an even number.
Other ideas include creating a song or poem your child can use to learn each series. Read or sing each night to help your child learn and memorize her multiplication tables.