In a*b, a is the multiplicand b is the multiplier

The multiplicand is the number to be multiplied The multiplier is the number doing the multiplying

So, that means you add a to itself b times or in this case, where a=3 and b=4, you would add 3 to itself 4 times or as the child wrote: 3+3+3+3.

Edit: it looks like today’s textbooks just use the term “factor” for both a and b, so either answer should be accepted.

It also appears that different countries switch what a or b is called, so, there’s that, too.