Multiplication Games for Kids

How Can I Help My Child Multiply Better?

Your third grader will begin learning how to multiply two whole numbers within 100. Your child will then use his or her knowledge of multiplication facts to solve 2-step word problems and interpret the products. It is important for your child to actually understand how multiplication works. For instance, it doesn't do your child any good to know that 3 x 2 = 6 without understanding why. The problem 3 x 2 represents three groups or two, which equals six items total.

Once your child understands the concept behind multiplication, you can use repetition and hands-on activities to reinforce the basic multiplication facts. Establishing solid multiplication skills now will help prepare your child for later math topics.

Multiplication Bounce

Take your child outside to practice multiplication facts in a more enjoyable way. Stand opposite each other and pass a ball back and forth. When you pass the ball to your child, ask her to give you the answer to a multiplication fact. When your child passes the ball back, she should provide the answer. For example, when you toss the ball you say, '5 x 8'. When your child passes the ball back she should say, '40'.

Crackers and Facts

For this activity, you will need a few boxes of graham crackers. Provide your child with a multiplication fact and have him model the fact by breaking graham crackers into sections and grouping the crackers accordingly. For example, if you provide your child with the fact 4 x 3, he should model the fact by creating four groups of three crackers each. This will help him see that the correct answer is 12. Feel free to also have your child write the number sentence after it is modeled.

Multiplication War

To play this game, you will need a deck of cards. Aces will represent one, jacks are 11, queens stand for 12 and kings are zero. Shuffle the deck and make one stack in the middle of the table. Players will take turns flipping over two cards at a time. The first player to shout out the correct product will take both cards. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.