Every evening, a dad and his young son sat at the kitchen table, multiplication flashcards spread between them. At first, it felt like a chore. But one night, the boy’s eyes lit up as he shouted, “Dad! Multiplying by 5 always ends with a 0 or a 5!” His dad smiled. “Exactly! And there are more patterns like that if you keep looking.” That night, the chore turned into a treasure hunt for patterns, sparking curiosity instead of frustration.
That’s the magic of multiplication when it’s approached with curiosity and fun—it transforms from memorization into meaningful learning. In this post, we’ll dive into Tip #1: Look for Patterns First and explore how these patterns can make multiplication fun and easier for your child to understand.
Why Patterns Matter in Multiplication
Patterns are everywhere in math, and multiplication is no exception. Recognizing these patterns helps your child see the bigger picture, making memorization easier and building number sense. This foundation makes it easier to tackle tough concepts later.
How to Spot Patterns
Start with multiplication tables that naturally reveal patterns:
- The 2s Table (Doubling Numbers):
Multiplying by 2 is just like doubling the number. For example:- 2 × 4 = 8 (or 4 + 4 = 8)
- 2 × 7 = 14 (or 7 + 7 = 14)
- The 5s Table (End Digits):
Products in the 5s table always end in 0 or 5. For example:- 5 × 2 = 10 (ends with 0)
- 5 × 3 = 15 (ends with 5)
- The 9s Trick:
Products in the 9s table have digits that add up to 9. For example:- 9 × 3 = 27 (2 + 7 = 9)
- 9 × 5 = 45 (4 + 5 = 9)
Encourage your child to look for patterns in other tables too, like the 10s, where every product ends in a zero.
Turning Patterns into a Game
Learning patterns doesn’t have to feel like homework! Make it a game:
- Challenge your child to find as many patterns as possible in a single table.
- Turn it into a puzzle: Write out part of a multiplication table and leave blanks for your child to fill in using the patterns they’ve discovered.
- Celebrate their discoveries to keep their excitement alive.
Free Pattern Worksheets
To help your child practice, we’ve created a free worksheet designed to make finding and practicing multiplication patterns simple and fun.
Takeaway
Mastering multiplication starts with recognizing patterns. By turning this discovery process into a fun activity, you’re not just helping your child learn math, you’re encouraging curiosity and confidence that will carry over into other areas of learning.
When your child is ready for the next step, check out our blog post: Tip #2: Practice Number Bonds, where we explore how breaking numbers into smaller parts can make multiplication even easier!
