How to Teach Subtraction to Kids: 12 Best Methods
reviewed by Camille Ira B. Mendoza
Updated on January 29, 2025
Teaching subtraction to kids is both exciting and challenging. By using strategies from Brighterly math tutors, such as games, aids, and hands-on activities, you can make studying an enjoyable experience.
This guide explores the best methods of how to teach a child to subtract and build a strong foundation while having fun.
Key Points:
- Visualize math wherever it’s possible
- Make subtraction exercises a daily routine
- Talk about math with a kid
How to teach a child to subtract? 12 best strategies
- Learning subtraction with a math tutoring platform
- “Borrowing” method or “regrouping” method in subtraction
- Building number sense
- Learning mathematical vocabulary
- Transition to abstract numbers
- Use interesting coursebooks
- Teach subtraction without fingers using mental math technique
- Teach subtraction using number lines
- Memorizing subtraction facts
- Visualize and strategize
- Using real-world scenarios
- Teach subtraction with math games
How to teach subtraction to kids? The best ways
The best way to teach subtraction to kids is to practice this skill daily with palpable objects such as a chart, interactive lessons, or real-life questions on your own and with a tutor.
#1: Learning subtraction with a math tutoring platform
The easiest way of learning subtraction is to collaborate with experts on the online tutoring platform, such as Brighterly. A professional tutor knows how to explain math concepts, so kids will memorize them easily.
They also provide guidance to the parents. So, if you are curious about questions like “How do you explain subtraction to a child?”, they help you to find the best approach to teach your kid. Look for a service with interactive lessons that grab children’s attention. Ensure that a tutor provides step-by-step guidance and creates a mental bond with the student. Mastering subtraction is a fundamental milestone in a child’s journey, and Brighterly math tutors make this process both effective and enjoyable.
What is Brighterly?
Brighterly is your partner in making math learning approachable and effective. Brighterly math tutors guide kids through fun, personalized lessons that help them build skills and confidence at a pace that suits them best.
Their expert-curated resources and intuitively clear tools can help every child thrive in math. To make studying even more enjoyable, let’s explore the ways the Brighterly math tutoring platform enhances your child’s learning experience.
Ways learning subtraction with Brighterly
Personalized STEM-focused learning plans
Every child learns differently, and Brighterly’s top-notch math tutors create personalized plans for each child. Our tutors adapt their math programs to suit each student’s strengths and weaknesses.
1:1 math tutoring is beneficial even in the online setting, as here, tutors can focus all efforts on the particular student. Brighterly’s elementary math tutors make subtraction and other math concepts relevant and exciting.
A Brighterly math program is based on the Common Core to ensure that students will know all required for their current grade.
Free resources for parents
Brighterly not only offers one-on-one tutoring but also provides free resources for parents to support learning outside of sessions. Their free subtraction worksheets are designed that way so you can easily download and print them to study on the go.
Meanwhile, Brighterly’s interactive math tests, which are part of the knowledge base articles, allow your child to test their expertise while reading theme-related articles. For instance, free subtraction math tests examine your child’s knowledge of a chosen topic with simple questions.
#2: “Borrowing” method or “regrouping” method in subtraction
- Write the Numbers in Columns: Let’s imagine that you need to solve “23-9”. Arrange the numbers vertically, ensuring the ones and tens lines are aligned. Write 23 in the top column and 9 in the bottom column.
- Start from the Ones Column and Borrow from the Tens: Subtract 9 from 3. However, since it results in a negative number, it may be too hard for a youngster. So you borrow the tenth, converting 3 to 13.
- Subtract the Ones Column: Subtract 9 from 13, which equals 4.
- Subtract the Tens Column: Since you already “borrow” 1 from the tens column, you’ll get a “1-0” equation, as there is no 2 here. It means the equation in the tens column states that you have a 10 as the answer to this task.
- Get the final answer: Once you draw together numbers from the tens and ones blocks, you’ll get the answer, which is “10 + 4” or 14.
The borrowing method, also known as regrouping, is one of the fundamental subtraction methods. It ensures accuracy while teaching students the concept of place value. This subtraction technique is easy to understand and fits all natural numbers.
How to teach subtraction with borrowing?
Asking yourself “How to teach a child subtraction with borrowing?” and “How to teach subtraction with regrouping?” are the two most burning questions for parents, so they need to lay a proper math foundation in other simpler aspects.
Just like Marshall from HIMYM doesn’t understand a Chinese girl, your child doesn’t understand complex math concepts
Keep in mind that math feels like a foreign language to a child. It’s counterintuitive and sometimes drives them crazy. Those who are interested in how to teach subtraction with borrowing should focus on the child’s current skills and explore educational platforms that offer age-specific resources.
#3: Establishing a number sense
- Count to 20 & count back
- Recognizing the ideas of “one more”/”one less”
- Ability to “make up” numbers
Let’s examine how exactly those techniques can help your child to establish a number sense while playing.
1) Count to 20 & count back
Start by ensuring your kid can count to 20 and back without missing any numbers.
Count Back from 20 with the Count Back Cat
2) Recognizing the ideas of «one more»/«one less»
Turn numbers into a fun adventure by teaching children to spot what’s “one more” or “one less.” This engaging activity introduces them to the step-by-step nature of numbers, making subtraction and addition feel natural.
3) Ability to «make up» numbers
Here is a crucial way of number sense and one of the best “how to teach subtraction” ways – the ability to «make up» numbers with items like counters, cards, or pencils. This allows kids to connect the abstract concept of numbers to tangible objects.
#4: Learning mathematical vocabulary
Another way how to learn subtraction is to simply have conversations using mathematical vocabulary. Scientists often use various words to talk about subtraction, and understanding each word in a sentence is a vital skill for a child.
How to teach subtraction via learning mathematical vocabulary?
You, as a parent, should simply talk with your children about non-school topics while using mathematical vocabulary. Some children may feel too shy to ask for help in class, so they may unintentionally fall behind in their journey.
By introducing subtraction early, you make it easier for your child to feel confident while talking about math.
#5: How to teach a child to subtract via transition to abstract numbers?
Teaching your kids how to subtract with abstract numbers helps them understand more complex concepts. This step includes your kid keeping a large number in their mind and counting backward via the large number, using subtraction ‘how to’ methods, and reducing it gradually until they find the answer.
While this transition of subtraction for kids may be hard with relatively large numbers, it is a critical step in fostering deep math expertise. If your kid now and again loses count with mental calculating, they can use their palms or dry marker notes as a counting aid.
#6: How to explain subtraction to a child with coursebooks?
Using pre-made coursebooks is a great way to explain subtraction to a child. Those resources can offer guidance in teaching methods.
They are made by experts, so they will not only benefit students but also guide you on how to teach subtraction methods to a child. For example «Subtraction Facts That Stick» – a coursebook that offers complete lesson plans, engaging games, and worksheets.
This book simplifies the teaching process, saving both time and effort in lesson planning. It’s an ideal solution for busy parents who want to support their kids’ success in math.
#7: How to teach a child subtraction without using fingers? Mental math
You can teach a child subtraction without fingers by using other tools that can count as visual aids. Encourage mental math strategies for long subtraction, like breaking numbers into parts or using subtraction facts.
Mastering subtraction with experienced Brighterly math tutors, as they help your child to understand the logic behind math!
#8: Teach subtraction using number lines
- Draw and separate a line with 20 equal segments. Number them from 1 to 20.
- Explain that your kid can subtract by counting backward on the number line.
- Let’s take 8 – 5 = 3 as an example. Find 8 on the number line. Then, jump five times back: 8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4 → 3. Consequently, 8 – 5 = 3. To ease the understanding, you can erase all other numbers in the line.
To save you some time, let’s check a series of Brighterly subtraction worksheets. They help your child understand the specifics of this operation. Number line subtraction worksheets from Brighterly can help you practice on the go.
#9: How to teach basic subtraction via memorizing subtraction facts?
It’s easy to teach simple subtraction by memorizing vital subtraction facts. With regular practice, they can solve problems like 10 – 5 or 6 – 3 instantly without taking a pause and thinking about a solution.
To strengthen a child’s memorization, incorporate engaging activities like flashcards, games, or timed quizzes. Those are great approaches to how to teach kids subtraction. To ensure that you root this knowledge into your child’s mind, implement Brighterly’s subtraction facts worksheets into your daily routine.
#10: Subtraction math strategies: visualize and strategize
Parents who aim to master basic subtraction for kids should turn to the visualization method and strategic approach. That way, they’ll focus on in-depth comprehension, not just memorization.
Note: It’s essential to teach your child the subtraction facts with comprehension instead of sole memorization.
By visualizing numbers as organized groups, children can move away from counting individual items. For instance, instead of manually removing counters when subtracting 12 from 4, they can simply think about it. The best way to teach subtraction is to show your kid the power of visualization.
#11: Using real-world scenarios
Using real-world scenarios is a wonderful way of how to teach a child to subtract. By crafting examples that involve subtraction, you allow your kid to visualize the process.
Real-life examples bring mathematical principles to life, making them relatable and easier to understand. These scenarios may be as simple as calculating the number of apples left after lunch or how much change will remain after purchasing a supermarket.
Groceries. A timeless classic of teaching kids the importance of math in daily life
There are countless ways how to explain subtraction to a child. Choose those scenarios that reflect your kid’s interests.
#12: Kids to master subtraction via games
Using interesting games is an exceptionally great and easy way to subtract for kids. Studies show that repetitive drills yield the best results. This approach helps kids memorize math concepts. However, the problem is that students can’t stand solving exhausting math drills for a couple of hours three times a week.
The good news is that you can give them enough practice with subtraction math games. Entertaining characters, smooth animations, and built-in math drills make math learning fun and simple.
Now, let’s explore some practical strategies and engaging activities on how to explain subtraction and make it enjoyable both for you and your child.
How to teach subtraction to kindergarten?
The best methods to teach subtraction to kindergarteners are hands-on activities and fun games that incorporate their current knowledge. Math is too abstractive for such young kids, so the easiest way how to do simple subtraction is to make it palpable with everyday examples and regular practice.
How to teach subtraction to Grade 1?
The best method to teach subtraction to first graders is using visual aids and concrete objects to represent numbers. Subtraction strategies for Grade 1 are similar to kindergarten, as they still need palpable solutions. Speaking about how to teach subtraction to Grade 1, start with simple tasks and gradually introduce fact memorization.
How to teach subtraction to Grade 2?
The best method to teach subtraction to second graders is to start making math more abstract by introducing regrouping (borrowing) alongside visual aids. How to teach subtraction to grade 2? Just continue using real-world problems encouraging more advanced methods like subtraction facts.
How to explain subtraction? Insights from a math educator parent (Case)
To help your child tackle challenging subtraction problems, use a combination of strategies, including number lines, visualization techniques, strategic thinking, and real-world examples.
Ways to teach subtraction
There are various ways to teach subtraction, but all of them share the common thing: they do their best to make math palpable. Geillan Aly, founder, and CEO at Compassionate Math, uses the methods of «Learning with Number Lines», «Visualization and Strategizing», and «Using Real-Life Scenarios» when working with her own child because of their effectiveness.
Geillan told us how she practices subtraction with her 5-year-old child, who is about to start kindergarten. Also, she shared with us her “no-nos” when teaching subtraction:
“My husband and I spend a lot of time supporting our child through games and play.”
Geillan Aly supports the approach where students develop associations tied to math concepts. While sole memorization can be easy to forget, a child is most likely to remember some inside joke for decades.
“As a math educator and former college professor, I’m also conscious of teaching him ideas that will NOT adversely affect him later.”
I’ve worked with a lot of developmental algebra college students and when speaking to them, it seems that they picked up ideas that they hold onto later.
What does college-level math have to do with the challenges kids face when they learn subtraction?
Many learning problems can be rooted in childhood, from the wrong approach to learning math or any other academic subject in the early years.
“This can be in the form of a «math rule» that only applies in one case, but that nuance gets lost, and then the student applies this «rule» incorrectly moving forward.”
So, how to teach subtraction to your child?
Here are some subtraction math strategies that Geillan employs with her own child, based on her extensive experience as a college professor and a parent.
“When counting, or when we're talking about numbers, I ask him «What is the number before 23?». The «number before» gets him to start thinking about the number line and that he can go in different directions. We don't use a formal number line, this is just part of our conversation.”
Geillan and her husband don’t push these ideas in ways that conflict with other, more complex concepts while teaching subtraction. For example, they don’t ask their son what comes before 30 because it may not be age-appropriate.
“For now, I want him to understand the idea and gain confidence. I will say that when I think he's getting there. We’ve started asking «What is 2 numbers before, or 3 numbers before another?”
At this point, we're just trying to convey ideas and don't press or push once he starts to get tired. Mistakes are corrected, and we don't revisit them for a bit in our conversations, so his confidence isn't shot. We don't contradict other rules in math. Finally, we tie all of this to play or something tangible happening at the moment.
How to teach basic subtraction? Example #1:
To demonstrate a real-life example of how to teach subtraction methods in math, Geillan shared with us a recent dialog with her son where they practiced subtraction. Teaching 2-3 digit strategies for subtraction:
Mom: Honey, what number comes before 23?
Kid: 24.
Mom: One number before.
Kid: (lots of thought) 22!
Mom: Great. So what number comes before 20?
Kid: (thinking) 19!
Mom: GOOD JOB! Do you want a super hard number?
Kid: YES!
Mom: OK. What comes before 40.
Kid: (LOTS OF THINKING TIME) I don’t know.
Mom: OK. Let’s figure it out together. What’s a number that can help you?
Kid: 1
Mom: Bigger than 1.
Kid: 10
Mom: Bigger than 10
Kid: 20
Mom: Bigger than 20
Kid: 40
Mom: Between 20 and 40
Kid: Ummmm… (gets distracted and starts doing other stuff and playing with something else.)
Additions from Geillan Aly on teaching 2-3 digit strategies for subtraction:
“I just moved on from there. His attention span reached its limit and he tuned out when his cognitive load was overwhelmed. I didn't make a big deal of it but pushed him just enough.”
An example of subtraction practice #2:
Answering “What is the easiest way to learn subtraction?”, it’s safe to say that it’s simply paying attention to a child’s math struggles. There is no one-fits-all answer, as you need to adjust a study plan to the personal needs of your kid.
For instance, Geillan Aly found that her son liked to find patterns, so she used it as a strategy for how to do simple subtraction with a child:
“At one point, when counting down to zero, I asked him if there was a number before it, and he thought about it.”
Which is the best method of teaching subtractions? Conclusion
The best method of teaching subtraction depends on a child’s age, learning style, and current knowledge level. Those who are interested in how to teach subtraction to kindergarten should focus on foundational techniques like using physical objects, number lines, and visual aids. The elementary school students can use more complex concepts, such as regrouping or mental math strategies.
To simplify this process and provide your child with the best learning experience, explore the Brighterly math tutoring platform. With one-on-one online tutoring, a personalized curriculum, and engaging resources, Brighterly offers the tools and support your child needs to master subtraction and beyond. Book the first free session to get a customized learning plan.
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