Time For Kids – Teaching Kids How To Tell Time

Teaching time to kids can be a really fun and interactive process. One way to start this transition of how to tell the time in English is by using visual aids such as a clock with movable hands, or a timer with numbers. Introduce the concept of minutes and hours in English and help them understand how the hands on a clock move to indicate the passage of time.

Another approach is to use everyday activities such as meal times or bedtimes to teach the concept of time. You can also use games and songs to make learning about time more engaging. As they progress, you can introduce more advanced concepts, such as telling the time to the nearest minute, hours of the day or even time that has gone by. It is important to be patient and to provide plenty of opportunities for practice for kids to learn the 12 and 24 hour time chart.

What Is Time?

Time is a concept that can be difficult for kids to understand. It is a measure of the duration of events and the way we keep track of how long things take. Time can be divided into different units such as seconds, minutes, hours, and days. We use clocks and watches to measure time and keep track of when to do things like go to school or have dinner.

Time is always moving forward, and it can’t be stopped or reversed. It’s also important to understand that time can vary in different parts of the world, and in different situations like the time of daylight saving changes. Teaching kids about time can help them learn to be more responsible and punctual and to understand the importance of managing their time effectively.

At What Age Should Kids Learn To Tell Time?

Children typically begin to understand the concept of time around the age of 4 or 5, although some may develop this understanding earlier or later. Around this age, they can begin to understand the difference between short and long periods of time and can match time words such as “morning”, “afternoon”, and “night” with the appropriate parts of the day. They also can also begin to understand the concept of time in relation to daily routines, such as knowing that it’s time for breakfast or time to go to bed.

As children get older, usually between the ages of 5 and 7, they can begin to understand more advanced concepts of time, such as the difference between minutes and hours, and can start to tell time on a clock with numbers. Every child develops at their own pace, so it’s essential to be patient and provide plenty of opportunities for practice.

Preschooler/Kindergarten Kids (Age 3-5 Years)

Telling time can be a challenging concept for preschoolers and kindergarten-aged children (ages 3-5), but it is an important skill for kids to pick up as they grow older. Here are a few ways to teach telling time for this specific age group:

1. Use visual aids such as a clock with movable hands or a timer with numbers. Introduce the concept of hours and minutes and help them understand how the hands on a clock move to indicate the passage of time.
2. Use everyday activities such as meal times or bedtimes to teach the concept of time. For example, you can say, “It’s time for lunch” or “It’s time for bed” to help them understand that time is related to specific events.
3. Use games and songs to make learning about time more engaging. For example, you can sing songs that include time-related lyrics, such as “The clock ticks, the clock tocks, it’s time for bed.”
4. Use simple words and phrases, such as “o’clock” or “half past”, when teaching the time.
5. Keep it simple, start with the big hand pointing at the number 12 and the little hand pointing at the number 3 and tell that it’s 3 o’clock. Then gradually introduce more numbers and different ways of telling time (half past, quarter to).

1st, 2nd And 3rd Graders (Age 5-8 Years)

Telling time can be a bit more complex for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders (ages 5-8) as they are introduced to more advanced concepts of time. Here are a few ways to teach telling time for class 1,2 and 3 kids:

1. Use hands-on activities such as building a clock with blocks or using a clock with movable hands to help them understand how the hands on a clock move to indicate the passage of time.
2. Introduce the concept of time intervals. For example, you can explain that 15 minutes is a quarter of an hour and 30 minutes is half an hour.
3. Practice telling time to the nearest 5 minutes. This will help them understand that not all times are exact, and that it’s okay to estimate.
4. Use real-world examples to help them understand how time is used in everyday life. For example, you can discuss how long it takes to get ready for school in the morning or how long it takes to cook dinner.
5. Use games and worksheets to make learning about time more engaging and interactive. For example, show them what the time is in other countries.
6. Introduce different ways of telling time, such as digital and analog clocks, and explain the differences between them.

Why Is It Important To Teach Your Child About Time?

In this section, let us look at why telling time is important –

1. Helps with planning and organisation: Teaching children about time helps them understand how to plan and organise their day. They will learn to manage their time more effectively and be able to prioritise tasks.
2. Improves punctuality: Understanding time helps children develop a sense of responsibility and punctuality. They will learn to be on time for school, appointments, and other activities.
3. Enhances social skills: Knowing how to tell time allows children to participate in group activities such as sports and games, where time management is important.
4. Encourages independence: As children learn to tell time, they become more independent and are able to manage their own time.
5. Supports academic development: Telling time is a fundamental math skill and is important for understanding more complex concepts such as fractions, decimals, and measurements.
6. Enhances cognitive development: The ability to understand and manage time is a cognitive skill and helps children understand the concept of past, present and future.
7. Helps to develop a sense of responsibility: Understanding time is an important aspect of personal responsibility. As children learn to tell time, they learn to be more responsible for their own actions and how they use their time.

Time Chart For Kids

Here’s a time chart for kids to help them understand what every hour of the day looks like.

How To Measure Time Using A Clock?

Telling the time in English using a clock is a simple process that involves reading the position of the clock’s hands, typically an hour hand and a minute hand, against the numbers or markers on the clock face. The hour hand points to the hour, while the minute hand points to the minute. To determine the time, first, locate the hour hand and note the number that it is pointing to. Then, locate the minute hand and note the number that it is pointing to. The time is read as the hour followed by the minute. For example, if the hour hand is pointing to 8 and the minute hand is pointing to 15, the time would be read as “8:15” or telling the time in words – “eight fifteen.” It’s important to note that digital clocks display the time in a numerical format and don’t need this process. Additionally, some clocks might have a second hand, but it’s not necessary to measure time, it’s used just to measure the seconds.

Analog Clock

Telling time using an analog clock can be a bit more complex for children, especially for those who are just learning how to tell time. Here are a few tips to help children learn how to tell time using an analog clock:

1. Start by teaching the child the numbers on the clock face. Point to each number and say it out loud.
2. Explain the difference between the hour hand and the minute hand. The hour hand is shorter and points to the hour, while the minute hand is longer and points to the minutes.
3. Use the clock to teach the child the concepts of time such as half-hour, quarter-hour, and five-minute intervals.
4. Practice telling time with the child. Set the clock to different times and have the child tell you what time it is.
5. Use games and activities to make learning about time more fun and engaging. For example, you can play a game where the child must set the clock to a certain time or match digital and analog times.
6. Encourage them to use the clock to know when certain events happen like lunchtime, playtime, bedtime, etc.
7. Be patient and provide plenty of opportunities for practice. Remember that each child develops at their own pace, so it’s essential to be patient and provide plenty of opportunities for practice.

Digital Clock

Telling time using a digital clock is a bit easier for children than an analog clock, especially for those who are just learning how to tell time in English. Here are a few tips to help children learn how to tell time using a digital clock:

1. Start by teaching the child how to read numbers. Point to each number and say it out loud.
2. Explain that a digital clock displays the time in numerical format, typically hours and minutes. For example, “8:15” or “eight-fifteen”.
3. Encourage them to pay attention to the clock throughout the day, and ask them what time it is.
4. Use games and activities to make learning about time more fun and engaging. For example, you can play a game where the child must set the clock to a certain time or match digital and analog times.
5. Practice telling time with the child. Set the clock to different times and have the child tell you what time it is.
6. Encourage them to use the clock to know when certain events happen, like lunchtime, playtime, bedtime, etc.
7. Be patient and provide plenty of opportunities for practice. Remember that each child develops at their own pace, so it’s essential to be patient and provide plenty of opportunities for practice.

How to Teach Your Child About Time Of The Day?

In this section, we look at how different times of the day can be taught to kids and different clock times are specified in English.

1 . Morning Time

• Explanation: The time of the day when the sun rises and starts to light up the sky.
• Example: “Good morning! It’s 7 o’clock, time to wake up and have breakfast.”

2. Mid-Morning Time

• Explanation: The time of the day after breakfast, but before lunch.
• Example: “It’s 9 o’clock now, time to brush our teeth and get ready for school.”

3. Lunchtime

• Explanation: The time of the day when we eat lunch.
• Example: “It’s 12 o’clock, time for lunch. Let’s go eat our food.”

4. Afternoon Time

• Explanation: The time of the day after lunch and before dinner.
• Example: “It’s 2 o’clock now, time for our nap or quiet time.”

5. Evening Time

• Explanation: The time of the day when the sun sets, and the sky turns dark.
• Example: “It’s 6 o’clock now, time for dinner and family time.”

6. Night time

• Explanation: The time of the day when it’s dark outside, and most people are asleep.
• Example: “It’s 8 o’clock, time for bed and sweet dreams.”

7. Late Night Time

• Explanation: The time of the day when it’s very late, and most people are asleep.
• Example: “It’s 10 o’clock, time for the house to be quiet and get some rest.”

8. Early Morning Time

• Explanation: The time of the day before the sun rises and it’s still dark outside.
• Example: “It’s 4 o’clock, time for the early birds to start their day, or for the night shift to finish.”

9. Midnight Time

• Explanation: The time of the day when the clock shows 12:00 am.
• Example: “It’s midnight, time for whoever is awake to sleep, and for the new day to begin.”

Activities That Will Help Your Child Learn About Time

In this section, we look at different types of activities that will help your child learn how to read time –

1. Using a visual schedule

Create a daily schedule for your child that includes pictures of the activities they will be doing, and the time they will be doing them. This will help them understand the concept of time and how it relates to their daily routine.

2. Telling time with a clock

Teach your child how to read a clock by using a real clock or a clock app on a tablet. Start with the basics, such as identifying the hour and minute hands, and gradually progress to telling time to the nearest minute.

3. Using a timer

Set a timer for different activities, such as a five-minute warning before it’s time to leave for school or a 20-minute timer for homework. This will help your child understand the concept of time limits and how to manage their time effectively.

4. Planning activities

Have your child plan out their day, week or even a month, including what they want to do, when they want to do it and for how long. This will help them understand how to manage their time and prioritise their activities.

5. Play time-related games

Play games such as “What time is it Mr Wolf?” or “Red Light, Green Light” to help your child understand the concept of time in a fun and interactive way.

Simple Exercises That Will Help Your Kids To Understand Time

Here, let us look at some simple examples of exercises to make your child know the concept of time and how to read it.

1. What is the time?

The table below denotes the position of the hour hand and minute hand on a clock. Can you tell the time that the clock shows?

Answers:

1. 12.15
2. 3.45
3. 6.00

2. Counting minutes

What position would the minute hand be, to denote the following minutes:

| 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 60 |

Answer:

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |

3. Is it AM or PM?

The following is the time as per a 24 hour clock. Can you identify whether it is am or pm on a 12 hour clock?

4. Elapsed Time

Calculate the time that has passed between the start and end times given below. You must use your subtraction skills, along with your alertness to understand AM and PM to solve these.

Answers:

5. Fill In The Blanks

1. A new day starts at ____: 01 am. (1/ 12)
2. 12.00 pm is also known as ____. (noon / midnight)
3. I go to sleep at 9.00 _____. (am / pm)
4. When the time is three thirty, the minute hand is at ____ (3 / 6).

Answers:

1. 12
2. noon
3. pm
4. 6

Some Good Books For Teaching Time To Your Child

While learning time can be tough for little ones, here’s something that can make it easier – books on time! We’ve curated a list of books that can be used to read to kids and improve their understanding of time and its different aspects. Let’s look at some interesting books  –

1. “What Time Is It, Mr. Crocodile?” By Judy Sierra

This book uses fun and colourful illustrations to help children learn how to tell time on a clock.

2. “The Grouchy Ladybug” By Eric Carle

This classic children’s book teaches the concept of time through the story of a ladybug’s search for a friend at different times of the day.

3. “Tick Tock, Clock!” By Paul Meisel

This book uses simple text and illustrations to introduce children to the concept of time and how to read a clock.

4. “The Clock Struck One: A Time-Telling Tale” By Trudy Harris

This book uses a rhyming story to teach children about telling time and the different units of time, such as minutes, hours and days.

5. “Time for Bed” By Mem Fox

This bedtime story introduces children to the concept of time through the daily routine of getting ready for bed.

6. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” By Eric Carle

This classic book uses the story of a caterpillar’s growth to introduce the concept of time and the days of the week.

7. “The Complete Book of Time” By Lynne Gibbs

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the concept of time, including how to read a clock, understanding the units of time, and the history of timekeeping.

8. “One Minute Until Bedtime” By Patrick McDonnell

This illustrated book uses a countdown format to teach children about time and the importance of bedtime routines.

We hope that this article has helped you as a parent to explain the concept of time to your child, and has also made it a fun process for your child to understand time and everything around it.

Also Read:

Why Your Child Needs to Learn Prime Numbers
How to Teach Backward Counting to Preschoolers
Teaching Tally Marks to Children with Examples