Is there any harm in a child learning muliplication early?

[SixthSenseofEntitlement]

Is there any reason why a child would need to be firm on doing addition and subtraction in their head before starting to work out "lots of" and so on?

I started teaching DD the two times table, but now I am worried I have somehow made things not work properly by doing it wrong.

She can do addition and subtraction under five in her head by memory and up to ten in her head or on her fingers, then up to 20 using objects, and recognises sums, eg " 2 + 2 = ", so to me " 2 + 2 + 2 or 3 x 2" is fine, then on to rhymes like "2,4,6,8, who do we appreciate?" but I'm not a teacher, and she goes to school so I suppose I have to do what they do.

No real problems at all, I think as long as she is enjoying the learning. You will probably sense the point where you are losing her or she is getting resistant and I wouldn't push past this. I'd try and make sure she is getting the concepts too though, not just rote learning - but it sounds like you are doing this!!

To my mind, teaching them things ahead of when the school gets to them is only a problem if you teach them one specific method of doing it and then they don't understand the underlying concepts but try to stick with that mechanism, as they'll get confused when the teacher covers it.

But what you're talking about sounds fine - the idea that you have 2+2, and then 2+2+2 etc, and that there's an easier way to think about it and write it out, shouldn't confuse her. If she doesn't get it, then don't push of course.

No harm at all if she's interested. I hate this idea that you have to do maths in a certain order and must memorise a lot of facts before being allowed to do what you find interesting. That kills any natural interest in maths for all but the most robust children.

When your child asks you where rain comes from or where Africa is, you probably don't put her off and wait for the school to teach her. All of these ideas come together in time, and can be explained in different ways by different people in a different order at various times.

I agree with Sarah and A Mum that teaching things to your child yourself will confuse her only if it's a rote method without the child having grasped the concepts, or if she isn't actually interested at the moment.

Sounds like a good idea. We're still struggling to get Yr5s to learn tables. Wish I'd started when they were so young they just absorbed it effortlessly!

if she is interested fine. your approach of 2+2+2 is good. lots of practical work first and ther should be no problem.

I found dc2 learned all the times tables when dc1 was learning them. The constant repetition was very effective and made life much easier.

So much better if they can get this cracked earlier rather than later.