10 Times Table Games for Kids
The 10 times table is one of the most accessible in the curriculum, and it connects naturally to place value — a concept that runs throughout primary maths. Learning it well involves more than just "adding a zero": understanding why 10 × 7 = 70 builds genuine number sense. Playing 10 times table games helps children automate these facts quickly while building a deeper understanding of how multiplication works.
SpeedSum provides free, game-based practice that makes the 10 times table an enjoyable starting point or warm-up alongside harder tables.
What Is the 10 Times Table?
The 10 times table produces round tens: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50... Multiplying any whole number by 10 shifts its digits one place to the left in the place value system. The 10 times table is introduced in Year 2 alongside the 2 and 5 times tables and forms the foundation for understanding multiplication by powers of 10 throughout KS2 and beyond.
| Equation | Answer |
|---|---|
| 10 × 2 | 20 |
| 10 × 3 | 30 |
| 10 × 5 | 50 |
| 10 × 6 | 60 |
| 10 × 7 | 70 |
| 10 × 8 | 80 |
| 10 × 9 | 90 |
| 10 × 12 | 120 |
A selection of 10 times table facts children practise on SpeedSum.
Why Children Find the 10 Times Table Difficult
The 10 times table is rarely difficult in itself, but some common misconceptions arise when children apply the "add a zero" rule carelessly.
- The "add a zero" rule breaks down with decimals — children who learn 10 × n = append a zero may make errors with 10 × 4.5 = 45 in later maths
- Careless errors under timed conditions — because the 10× table seems trivial, children sometimes rush and misread questions
- Confusion with 100× in KS2 — children who apply "add a zero" to both ×10 and ×100 can confuse 10 × 7 = 70 with 100 × 7 = 700
Tips for Learning the 10 Times Table
- 1Teach it as a place value shift, not just "add a zero": 10 × 7 means 7 tens, which is 70
- 2Use a place value chart to show the digit moving one column to the left
- 3Practise the 10 times table as a quick warm-up before harder tables in each session
- 4Include 10× facts in mixed timed sessions so they remain automatic when they appear alongside harder tables
- 5Use real-world connections: 10p coins, 10 fingers, counting in decades
Common Mistakes with the 10 Times Table
Writing 7 instead of 70 for 10 × 7
Some children confuse multiplying by 10 with multiplying by 1 and write the original number unchanged. A place value chart or Dienes apparatus helps make the digit shift visual.
Applying "add a zero" to non-integer multiplication
While appending a zero works for whole numbers, children who apply this rule mechanically can struggle with 10 × 4.5 = 45 in later maths. Understanding why — place value shift — prevents this.
Confusing ×10 and ×100
Children working on both simultaneously sometimes append two zeros for ×10. A place value chart showing the difference between one and two column shifts resolves this.
How SpeedSum Helps with 10 Times Table Practice
SpeedSum is a free maths practice platform built by parents. Its four game modes target different aspects of multiplication fluency — from timed speed challenges to inverse-operation practice — so children can practise the 10 times table in several formats.
90 Second Challenge
Answer as many 10 times table questions as possible in 90 seconds. The time pressure drives rapid retrieval and helps build automatic recall.
Get to 100 Challenge
Answer 100 questions correctly at your own pace — ideal for building accuracy and confidence with the 10 times table without time pressure.
Missing Piece Challenge
Questions appear with a missing factor, for example: 10 × ? = 70. This develops inverse-operation thinking tested in the Year 4 MTC.
Traffic Light Challenge
Answer 10 times table questions before the timer runs out. The traffic light format builds fast-recall habits under rising time pressure.
Start Practising the 10 Times Table Today
SpeedSum is free to use. Create an account, add your child, and they can begin their first 10 times table session in under two minutes — on any device, with no download needed.
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