Telling the time is an essential skill that every child will need as an adult. Learning how to tell the time in the early years can be difficult, but children can easily understand the dynamics of time telling with these tips.
Although digital everything has taken over, and children will see more of digital clocks these days, this does not mean they shouldn’t be able to tell what the analog clock hands say.
Lately, more countries and states have included time telling in their curriculum. This is great news for parents and children, as kids have a better opportunity to learn how to tell the time faster and better.
Your child’s introduction to time telling should start off slow, and you can find good resources on learning websites for kids. Once they have developed a reasonable idea of time, you can begin teaching them how to differentiate between the hour hand and the minute hand and what their positions on the clock mean.
The first thing you should have is an endless supply of patience, as you will need it when teaching children how to tell time. Children will learn at their own pace – which may be slow, but the most important thing is that they are absorbing the things you are teaching them.
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Introduce them to the concept of time by using the words which represent time. For example, say things like ‘the cookies will be baked in 20 minutes, or ‘we will leave for the park in the next 5 minutes. Use an analog clock as they watch the time and the hour and minute hand move.
Time Telling Activities for Kids
1. Start With the General Idea
First, teach your kids the general idea of time – morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Use different activities to remind them of the time. They wake up in the morning and get ready for school, the afternoon is time for lunch, and night is time for bed. Test how well they understand by asking them what happens at certain times of the day.
2. Use worksheets
Sometimes, you should simply resort to the oldest and most tested method – teaching children with worksheets. Children learn best with repetitive lessons, and free worksheets for every grade will give kids all the practice they need. An endless supply of learning materials will come in handy in your quest to teach your kids to tell the time.
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3. Use a Time App
Technology exists so that we can take advantage of it and perform tasks faster and easier. The assistance that technology provides is not exempt in education, and in fact, time apps exist that can help children learn better. Quizzes and time-telling games will keep your child’s brain sharp and help them practice what they have learned so far.
4. Use Different Types of Clocks
Talk about different ways you can measure time to add some fun to your children’s learning. While they brush their teeth or lay their beds, use an hourglass to measure time. A kitchen timer while they help you in the kitchen also gives them an idea of how much time has elapsed. An alarm clock on their bed stand shows them what time they wake up and what time they go to bed.
Every child learns at their own pace, and it is important that you do not rush them until they thoroughly understand what you are teaching. Keep the exercises fun, and motivate them with rewards. In no time, children will build confidence in telling the time.
