Should we learn the multiplication table in first grade, or wait until the school assigns it? Our da…

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Should we learn the multiplication table in first grade, or wait until the school assigns it? Our daughter got interested on her own, and we've already learned the table up to two in a playful way. I say: let's learn it slowly, step by step, so we don't rush, and by the time the school assigns it all at once, we'll have it down. But she's already starting to slack off, she doesn't want to. We've looked a bit at the table up to three, and now she's even getting a bit confused with the table up to two. What do you think is better: falling behind the pace, or still learning it slowly now, rather than all at once later? Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Need some advice 🙄 Since she was 8 months old, she fell asleep on her own. We'd put her in her crib…
Comments
Kristina Krasnova
I think it's better in advance
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Elizaveta
They didn't teach me. My daughter learned quickly when it started. But it was a bit harder for my son. He's also very lazy. I should have started with him earlier. But not in the summer, he would have forgotten it by then too in the summer🤣
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Valeriya
You should learn either when there's interest, or when it's already assigned in school. Otherwise, there's no motivation. If they don't want to anymore, just put it off. You have time.
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Tanya
We started teaching my son in the first grade. I generally teach him math a little ahead of schedule. And he's interested.
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yankovskaya yuliya
Understanding multiplication is needed in advance. In school, they just memorize it with columns, which isn't what's needed.
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Yulya
We learned the multiplication table at the end of 1st grade and during summer break. Everyone was assigned this.
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Lora
Is she just memorizing it, or does she understand the concept? I'd suggest tackling more tasks first, practicing within the hundreds range, and then moving on to multiplication.
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Svetlana D.
From my experience teaching my daughter math, I've learned a valuable lesson. If a child is capable of learning a topic now and is ready and willing (counting, multiplication), that's only one important factor. You can teach everything with your child and assume they've already mastered it. Then, for a month or two, you forget about the lessons and practice... and then? You might discover with horror that the child has forgotten everything and is even mixing up the simplest things.

Key takeaway: Memorizing the multiplication table isn't enough. It needs to be reviewed and applied consistently; I believe repetition is crucial here.

I'm also curious about how this is taught nowadays. There are comments below saying that by the time children reach multiplication, they should have already learned it. That certainly raises concerns. But if you dedicate time to your child's education, you'll surely manage if needed.
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Olga
I also thought about teaching her in advance, but I discarded that idea because I knew which teacher my daughter would have and I knew her methods. In the end, the whole class learned the multiplication table in second grade within just two months. And it wasn't rote memorization—first with 2, then 3, then 4. We broke down 2×3, 3×2, 6÷3, 6÷2, and so on. The parents didn't even touch on this topic.
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Svetlana D.
Svetlana D. My daughter and I are exploring 'what multiplication is' and where it comes from. We're not memorizing yet, just focusing on understanding. By the way, I recently found an interesting workbook for reinforcing counting skills and achieving automaticity. My daughter has been enthusiastically working on it herself every day since the start of the holidays. The author is S.V. Boldovskaya, 'Mathematics, Counting'. If you're interested, check it out on marketplaces. I also saw her multiplication workbooks there.
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Svetlana D.
Svetlana D. And I'll add that counting, among other things, needs to be automated and done faster. First graders can count, but when it comes to speed, they often falter.
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Anastasiya
Her older child was assigned to learn it over the summer after 1st grade. A friend's son only had to learn it after 2nd grade. So, don't rush. If it's the "School of Russian Language" program and a regular class, she'll have enough time to learn it.
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Anastasiya
Svetlana D. Thank you so much! I'll check it out.
And you're absolutely right about the repetition. We started practicing problems last year, and it was going quite well, but then we stopped for a while (we bought an apartment, moved, had our own worries, and just didn't have time for practice 😏). When we decided to get back to it, I realized with horror that she had started getting confused and lazy...
She learned the multiplication table for 2, and I ask her periodically every day so she doesn't forget it.
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