First of all, make sure that your child understands what multiplication means. It will make learning the facts much, much easier!
You don't need to use every strategy. Use the strategies that make sense for your child.
With constant practice these strategies should become routine.
Eventually, your child won't need the strategies anymore! The facts will be automatic.
Multiplying by 0 or 1
Any number times 0 is 0.
Any number times 1 is the number.
Multiplying by 2
Double it.
7 x 2
*Think: Double 7 means 7 + 7.
Multiplying by 5 or 10
Skip-count.
5 x 8
*Think: I need to count by fives, 8 times.
5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40. The answer is 40.
10 x 9
*Think: I need to count by tens, 9 times.
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90. The answer is 90.
Multiplying by 9
Use this finger trick.
Multiplying by 4
Double the 2x facts.
4 x 7
*Think: 2 x 7 is 14.
Double 14 is 28.
The answer is 28.
Multiplying by 8
Double the 4x facts.
8 x 7*Think: 4 x 7 is 28.
Double 28 is 56.
The answer is 56.
Multiplying by 3
Double plus another.
3 x 7
*Think: Double 7 is 14.
Another 7 makes 21.
Multiplying by 6
Multiply by 3, then double it.
6 x 8
*Think: 3 x 8 is 24.
Double 24 is 48.
Multiplying by 7
If you can multiply by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9, then you have already mastered most of the 7x facts! Just use the turn-arounds.
For example, 7 x 4 is the same as 4 x 7. 7 x 8 is the same as 8 x 7. There is only one fact left... 7 x 7 = 49! This is the only fact you have to simply memorize.
Skip-counting
Skip-counting will always work, but it can be very tedious! Also, it's easy to make mistakes. Try not to rely on this strategy.
4 x 7
*Think: I need to count by fours, 7 times.
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28