How to help your child learn their times tables without the arguments
1 min read Published 18 Oct 2026
By Holly Keenan, Primary School TeacherTeaching Year 3, I see first-hand how much times tables matter, and I also know how quickly practising them at home can turn into a daily argument. My advice is to ditch the boring flashcards and make it low-stakes and habitual.
Three easy ways in
Rhythm and songs in the car: times tables stick much faster when there's a beat to them
Interactive games: try NumBots or Times Tables Rock Stars
Count on the walk to school: count your steps in 3s, 4s or 8s
About NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars
NumBots is aimed at younger children and builds addition and subtraction skills. Times Tables Rock Stars is for practising times tables. Many schools subscribe to both and give each child their own login, so check your child's book bag or ask their class teacher.
Why it matters
In the summer term of Year 4, children in England take the Multiplication Tables Check, a short government check on times tables up to 12 x 12. A few minutes of relaxed practice most days builds up the quick recall they'll need.
Little and often really does beat one big session. Two minutes of counting in 4s on the walk to school is worth far more than half an hour of arguing at the kitchen table!
This article is published by ParentBoost. It was written or reviewed for ParentBoost by the contributor below and edited by our team. It is general information for parents, not individual professional advice.
Holly Keenan
Primary School Teacher
Holly is a primary school teacher with experience across Reception, Year 1 and Year 3, and currently teaches Year 3. She holds a BA degree and a PGCE. Having taught children from their very first weeks at school through to the juniors, Holly shares the practical, everyday ways parents can support learning at home without it turning into a battle.
This article is general guidance for parents and carers, not medical, health, legal or other professional advice. Every child is different. If you're worried about your child's health or development, talk to your GP, health visitor or another suitable professional. In an emergency, call 999. For urgent advice, call NHS 111.
