How to Teach Subtraction to Kids: 12 Best Methods
reviewed by Camille Ira B. Mendoza
Updated on January 19, 2026
How to teach subtraction to kids is not rocket science, especially if you know how and when to apply fun strategies like games, aids, and hands-on activities.
As a Brighterly tutor working with kids myself, I’ve written this guide to explore the best methods of teaching subtraction to kids so that they can build a strong foundation while having fun.
Key points:
- Math visualization helps a lot with subtraction, along with including subtraction exercises in a daily routine and regularly talking about math with your kid.
- Mental math and memorization are the most effective subtraction tools, but reaching these skills requires constant practice with simpler subtraction strategies.
- Studying subtraction with a math tutor is the best way to teach subtraction, as your kid gets undivided attention from the teacher, learns under an individual plan, and enhances subtraction skills together with other core math skills.
How to teach a child to subtract?
- Learning subtraction with a math tutoring platform
- Borrowing method or regrouping method in subtraction
- Establishing a number sense
- Learning mathematical vocabulary
- Transition to abstract numbers
- Use math coursebooks
- Teach subtraction without fingers using mental math
- Teach subtraction using number lines
- Memorizing subtraction facts
- Visualize and strategize
- Using real-world scenarios
- Teach subtraction with math games
How to learn subtraction with a math tutoring platform
Collaboration with a math tutor is effective for subtraction made easy. On an online tutoring platform, a professional teacher will explain math concepts clearly and concisely so that kids can memorize them.
Another great advantage of math tutoring is providing guidance for the parents. So, if you are curious about questions like “How to teach 2nd grade subtraction?”, they help you to find the best approach to teach your kid.
Introducing subtraction is a fundamental step in a child’s journey, and Brighterly math tutors can make mastering it both effective and enjoyable.
What is Brighterly?
The Brighterly math and reading platform provides 1:1 personalized tutoring sessions that make math learning approachable and effective. On this school-supplemental math platform, you can get a personalized learning plan that will be fully aligned with the U.S. state standards and will teach subtraction, along with other core math skills, to your kid.
Each child is unique, but the expert-curated resources and intuitively clear tools used in the Brighterly math program can help every child thrive.
Ways learning subtraction with Brighterly
Tutor-curated, personalized learning plans
Brighterly math tutors bond with kids through fun, personalized lessons that help them build core math skills, including simple subtraction, and boost confidence at a pace that suits them best. Upon first meeting with your kid, they will learn about their learning style and goals to design the best-suited learning plan.
Free resources for parents
Brighterly has a huge library of math worksheets for kids with free access on their website. You can choose the topic, download it in the most convenient format for you from the website, and use it at home for dedicated practice.
Note: If your goal is teaching kids subtraction, download Brighterly subtraction worksheets.
Brighterly reading and math tests are also open to everyone for free. They are useful for evaluating your child’s strengths and weaknesses relative to grade standards. In your home practice, you can quickly identify gaps in your child’s knowledge and train them immediately with free worksheets dedicated to these topics.
Borrowing method or regrouping method in subtraction
Regrouping and borrowing are two fundamental concepts in basic subtraction for kids. They are used to solve more complex subtraction problems that cannot be solved using traditional methods.
Regrouping, also known as carrying, involves exchanging values between digits in a multi-digit number to facilitate problem-solving. For those who wonder how to teach subtraction with regrouping, it typically means moving a value from one place value to another, like transferring from the ones place to the tens place.
Borrowing, or renaming, is a process used in subtraction where a value is exchanged between digits. This involves borrowing from the next higher place value, such as borrowing from the tens place to address a problem in the ones place.
Subtraction with borrowing: Step-by-step example
Here is the basic example of how to teach subtraction with borrowing: let’s imagine you need to solve “52-27”:
- Write down this problem vertically to see how to put tens and ones in each number one above another:
- 52
- -27
- As 2 is less than 7, start by borrowing from the tens. Cross out the 5 (tens) so it becomes 4, and add 10 to the 2 to make 12.
- 4 12
- – 2 7
- Start subtracting from ones: 12 – 7 = 5. Then, complete subtraction in tens: 4 – 2 = 2:
- 4 12
- – 2 7
——-
2 5
As a result of such counting on for subtraction, 52-27 equals 25.
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 each subtraction technique can help your child 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.
2) Recognizing the ideas of “one more”/”one less”
“One more” and “one less” is one easy way to subtract for kids, as kids discover the step-by-step nature of numbers. Moreover, kids learn to describe adjacent numbers in the sequence — understanding that, for example, 8 is more than 7 but less than 9.
3) Ability to “make up” numbers
“Making up” numbers with items like counters, cards, or pencils is a great way how to teach subtraction. Connecting abstract concepts to tangible objects can facilitate completing more complex subtraction operations in the future.
Learning mathematical vocabulary
Teaching math vocabulary helps students understand complete subtraction operations with greater awareness. For example, when a student says, “I’ll break apart the 2nd number for easier subtraction, as the ones digit in the 2nd number is too big,” it shows depth of knowledge and great command of subtraction overall.
Subtraction vocabulary kids should know
The easy way to teach subtraction to grade 1 is to 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.
How to subtract step by step: From concrete to abstract
The CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) approach, developed by Jerome Bruner, is effective for teaching math as it fosters deep understanding through moving from concrete materials to abstract representations. As one of the subtraction methods, it helps children connect concepts with concrete real-life examples.
Using manipulatives before switching to numbers
Math manipulatives are physical objects (like counters, blocks, or cubes) that help learners develop number sense and understand math concepts through hands-on experience. They provide learners with a ‘window’ to understand the problem, as they can touch, play with, and explore patterns and relationships.
Moving from pictures to number sentences
Moving from pictures to a number sentence is among the most effective subtraction strategies grade 1. Students begin with drawings to visualize the act of taking away, seeing how it works on simple examples like apples or circles.
After completing the subtraction operations with the objects, kids can transition to a number sentence. With time, they won’t need to visualize the operation as they imagine it.
How to explain subtraction to a child with coursebooks
Using dedicated coursebooks is a practical and effective method for how to teach basic subtraction. Coursebooks are developed by professional teachers or math experts, which means every task or explanatory passage will perfectly fit your kids’ grade level and fluency in math.
One of the main perks of coursebooks is that they’re well-structured and offer a variety of similar tasks in one place. This helps kids understand the key subtraction concepts and apply them to various problems.
Note: If your kids are homeschooled and need to follow a study plan, you can rely on the best homeschool programs, as their coursebooks usually contain a comprehensive curriculum to reach the required level of knowledge at home.
How to teach a child subtraction without using fingers? Mental math
After several repetitions using fingers or physical objects, kids can develop mental math. It is a subtraction for kids strategy that helps children solve problems in their heads by building on known addition facts, patterns, and decomposition. It’s the result of continuous practice, not a method your kid can learn overnight.
Counting Back Strategies
In this easy way to subtract for kids, start at the larger number (minuend) and “count back” by the smaller number (subtrahend) using verbal jumps or mental images.
For example, for 13 – 4, you start counting back 4 steps: 12, 11, 10, 9.
Making Ten Strategy
In this strategy, you ask kids to rewrite subtraction as “add to ten then adjust”, leveraging complements to 10.
In the 13 – 4 example, you see that 13 is 10 + 3. In this case, 10 + 3 – 4 is one step back from 10, which is 9.
Doubles and Near-Doubles
This method is effective if your kids can easily perform double-digit subtraction, such as 2 + 2 = 4, 3 + 3 = 6, etc. Then, they’ll need to remove the twin and make just one step back or up to see the near-double.
In the 13 – 4 example, knowing that 4 + 4 + 4 = 12, they can make one step up and see that 5 + 4 = 9.
Teach subtraction using a number line
- 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 teaching subtraction to grade 2 worksheets. They help your child understand the specifics of this operation. Number line subtraction worksheets from Brighterly can help you practice on the go.
Number line subtraction for beginners
Number line subtraction for beginners visualizes “taking away” as hopping backward along a number line.
To practice this way how to teach basic subtraction, start with simple facts up to 10 or 20 using a printed or drawn line from 0 to 20.
- Write big hops for tens and small for ones with a dry erase marker.
- Practice with frogs/toads hopping backward on a DIY line for a more realistic association.
- Always check your answers: add back the subtracted amount to return to start (8 + 3 = 11) to see if the answer is correct. Let the kid recount if not.
Common mistakes kids make with number lines
Children often struggle with number lines because they need time to adjust to them. Common pitfalls include misjudging distances and directions during subtraction tasks, especially while counting back.
Other frequent errors kids stumble upon while working with number lines while learning subtraction for grade 1 include:
- Uneven spacing: Placing numbers closer together as they increase (e.g., 0, 1 ,2 far apart but 8, 9, 10 squeezed), leading to inaccurate jumps for problems like 10-3.
- Wrong direction: Jumping forward instead of backward for subtraction (e.g., from 12 to 15 for 15 – 3), confusing “take away” with addition.
- Assuming fixed start at zero: Ignoring scaled lines (e.g., starting at 5 for 12 – 4), or treating intervals as always 1s rather than 2s/5s.
Memorizing basic 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 pausing to think about a solution.
To strengthen a child’s memorization, incorporate engaging activities like flashcards, games, or timed quizzes. To ensure this knowledge is rooted in your child’s mind, integrate Brighterly’s subtraction facts worksheets into your daily routine.
When memorization helps
Memorizing basic subtraction facts can significantly increase the speed, math confidence, and the way how to learn subtraction for kids. Similar to mental math, it’s the result of constant practice and deeper awareness.
It is especially useful in timed tests, multi-step problems, and everyday situations like handling money, along with other benefits:
Quick daily practice ideas
Quick daily practice builds automaticity in subtraction facts (0-10 or up to 20) through fun, repeatable routines that take 5-10 minutes. Here are some ways how to do subtraction this way:
- Manipulative match: Set out counters or blocks for 10 facts (e.g., 7 – 2). The kid subtracts physically, then writes the answer on a mat.
- Sing and chant: Sing each word in one of the subtraction-focused counting songs for kids (like Five Little Ducks) and chant to pay your kid’s attention to them.
- Online math game blitz: Set a time limit for one of the educational math games to entertain your kid and encourage them to make progress.
Subtraction math strategies: Visualize and strategize
Strategic subtraction visualization using a chart, lines, or objects should start from small numbers like 2 or 4 to help your kid gain initial confidence before moving to advanced math concepts.
Here is how to teach grade 1 subtraction strategically:
- Let the kid take a good look at the visualized groups. Let them memorize and do some calculations on paper.
- Remove the visualization means and let them complete the same operation on paper only (you can give several examples and mix them to increase the difficulty).
- After several days, give kids the same example and let them come up with new combinations and operations.
Using real-world scenarios
To make a better connection between math and real-world problems, make use of items your kids like. Once applied as a strategy for how to teach kids subtraction, it raises their interest and makes the practice more enjoyable and relatable.
Help kids master subtraction through games
Games are an extremely helpful way to teach how to do basic subtraction. You can try playing games like Subtraction Bowling, which makes mastering subtraction engaging by turning “take away” into physical play.
You can also use visuals like a score sheet with problems (e.g., 7 – 2) and add rewards for completing specific tasks. These measures can engage kids to play with math more.
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 abstract for such young kids, so the easiest way 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 for teaching subtraction to grade 2 is to start making math more abstract by introducing regrouping (borrowing) alongside visual aids. 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 how to teach subtraction, but all of them share a 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 memorizing solely can be easy to forget, a child is most likely to remember an 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.”
Such as «You always subtract the little number from the big number.
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 teaching 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, Geillan shared with us a recent dialogue with her son where they practiced 2-3 digit 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.)
Here are extra thoughts from Geillan Aly on teaching subtraction made easy:
“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 easy way to teach subtraction to grade 1?”, 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.”
Conclusion
All in all, the best method for teaching subtraction is based on the individual preferences of parents and the skills of your child. Some kids learn better with visualization tools, while others memorize math facts from counting songs.
Not matter which method you choose, it’s always better to enhance their home practice with a math tutor who can guide and support your child. Brighterly math teachers are there to help — just book free lesson and get started now!
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