Buzz
Learning to tell time can be a complex task, particularly for young children. However, as a parent or teacher, you can transform this activity into an enjoyable game by creating a clock model together with the child. Ensure the child grasps the basics before making the clock. Once the handmade “clocks” are ready, you can start teaching the child to read different time intervals.
Steps
Teach Children the Basics
Practice counting to 60 with the child. To read the clock, the child must know how to count to 60 (in the correct order). Start by having your child write numbers from 1 to 60 on paper. Encourage them to read each number aloud as they write. Stick the paper on the wall and have the child read it frequently.
- When taking your child to public places, such as the supermarket, point out two-digit digital numbers and ask the child to repeat after you.
- Use songs to help the child learn counting. You can search for counting songs from 1 to 100 online.
- To motivate your child, reward them with extra playtime or their favorite snack for doing well.
Practice counting by 5s. Children will find it much easier to read the clock when they can count by 5s. Start by having the child write out every 5 numbers up to 60. Encourage them to read the numbers aloud as they write. Emphasize that each number should end with either 5 or 0.
- Create a catchy “Counting by 5s” song that your child can sing along to. You can even add dance moves to the rhythm; for example, raise your hands or stomp your feet after every 4 numbers. Sing this song regularly with your child to help them count by 5s smoothly.
- You can also find counting-by-5s songs online, such as on YouTube.
Teach children general time concepts. General time concepts include morning, noon, evening, and night. Familiarize your child with these concepts by associating them with specific activities. Later, you can test their understanding by asking about daily events.
- For example, “In the morning, we eat breakfast and brush our teeth. At noon, we have lunch and take a nap. At night, we read books and go to sleep.”
- You can ask your child, “What happens in the morning?” or “What do we do at night?”
- Post a daily schedule on the wall so your child can visualize their daily activities. Refer to the schedule while explaining the timing of different activities throughout the day.
Create a clock model with your child
Find 2 paper plates and an analog clock. The paper plates will be used to make the clock. The real clock is for reference. Place these items on the table and sit with your child. Excite them by explaining that you’ll be making your own clocks together.
- For example, “Guess what we’re doing today? We’re making our very own clocks!”
Fold the paper plate in half. Have your child take one paper plate and fold it in half, then rotate it and fold it in half again. The plate will now have two creases intersecting in the middle. Use these creases as reference points.
Attach stickers and write numbers on the clock model. Have your child place a sticker at the 12 o’clock position on the clock face. Then, using the analog clock as a reference, ask them to write the number 12 below the sticker. Repeat this process for the numbers 3, 6, and 9.
Complete the clock face. Once your child has placed the stickers and written the numbers 12, 3, 6, and 9, instruct them to fill in the remaining numbers. Use the real clock as a guide for comparison.
- For example, ask your child to place a sticker at the 1 o’clock position and then write the number 1 next to it. Repeat this step for each number.
Create “slices” on the clock face. Have your child draw a line from the center of the clock to each number. Encourage them to color each “slice” with different colors.
- Try starting with red at the 1 o’clock position and following the rainbow color sequence for each number. This approach helps the child visualize better than using random colors.
Make the clock hands. Draw two clock hands on a piece of cardboard – one long for the minute hand and one short for the hour hand. Let your child cut out the shapes using scissors.
- Assist your child with cutting if they are too young to use scissors safely.
Attach the clock hands. Place the hour hand on top of the minute hand. Push a paper fastener through the ends of both hands and then through the center of the clock face. Flip the clock over and bend the fastener to secure the hands in place.
Place the paper clock next to the real clock. Show your child how similar the two clocks are. Ask if anything needs to be added to the paper clock before moving on to the next step.
Teach your child to tell time
Distinguish between the hour and minute hands. Point to the two hands on the clock face. Ask your child what differences they notice between the two hands. If they seem confused, you can hint, “Is one hand longer than the other?”
Label the clock hands. Once your child recognizes that the clock hands are different lengths, explain their functions. Tell them the short hand indicates the hour, and the long hand shows the minutes. Have your child label the hands by writing “hour” on the short hand and “minute” on the long hand.
Explain the hour hand. Move the hour hand to each number while keeping the minute hand at 12. Teach your child that whenever the hour hand points to a number and the minute hand is at 12, it’s ___ o’clock. Go through each number, saying, “Now it’s 1 o’clock. Now it’s 2 o’clock. Now it’s 3 o’clock…” Have your child repeat after you.
- Use the “slices” and colors on the clock face to your advantage. Emphasize that whenever the hour hand points to a specific “slice,” it’s ___ o’clock.
- You can even associate activities with each number to reinforce the concept of time. For example, “Now it’s 3 o’clock, time to watch your favorite cartoon,” or “Now it’s 5 o’clock, time to go to soccer practice.”
Check if your child understands. Have your child pick a day of the week and list 5-7 activities along with their corresponding times. Call out an activity and its associated time, then ask your child to move the hour hand to the correct number. Gently correct them if they make a mistake.
- For example, you could say, “Your class ends at 3 o’clock. Now, show me where 3 o’clock is on the clock,” or “It’s 8 o’clock, which means bedtime. Move the hour hand to 8 for me.”
- Play a game where your child matches the paper clock to the times of daily activities. Use the analog clock as a reference tool.
Teach your child to read minutes
Explain the dual meaning of the numbers. Your child might get confused if you explain that the number 1 also means 5 minutes, and the number 2 means 10 minutes. To help them grasp this concept, frame the numbers as secret agents with hidden identities, like Clark Kent and Superman.
- For instance, tell your child that the secret identity of the number 1 is 5, then have them write a small 5 next to the number 1. Repeat this for the remaining numbers.
- Emphasize that you’re counting by 5s. Go through each number’s secret identity by singing your “counting by 5s” song.
Explain the role of the minute hand. Tell your child that the secret identities of the numbers are revealed when the long hand—the minute hand—points to them. Keep the hour hand steady, move the minute hand to each number, and say the corresponding minutes. Have your child repeat the process after you.
- For example, point the minute hand to the number 2 and say, “It’s 10 minutes,” then move it to the number 3 and say, “It’s 15 minutes.”
Teach how to read the hour and minute hands together. Once your child understands the concept of the minute hand, teach them how to read both hands simultaneously. Start with simple times like 1:30, 2:15, 5:45, and so on. Point the hour hand to one number and the minute hand to another, then read the time aloud.
- For instance, point the hour hand to the number 3 and the minute hand to the number 8. Explain that the clock shows 3:40 because the short hand points to 3 and the long hand points to 8. Emphasize that since the minute hand reveals the secret identity, it’s read as 40 instead of 8. Repeat this until your child masters it.
Add small marks between 5-minute intervals. Once your child understands 5-minute increments, draw 4 small lines between each 5-minute mark. Start by writing 1, 2, 3, and 4 next to the lines between the numbers 12 and 1. Encourage your child to fill in the remaining marks while counting aloud. Once completed, point the minute hand to the small marks and the hour hand to a specific hour. Read the time aloud.
- For example, point the minute hand to the fourth mark and the hour hand to the number 3. Teach your child that this represents 3:04. Repeat this process until they understand how to read the smaller increments.
Check if your child has grasped the concept. Together, list 5-7 daily activities with their corresponding times. Have your child move the clock hands to match the times of these activities. Assist them initially, but ensure they can do it independently over time.
- Encourage your child by rewarding them for their progress. Celebrate their achievement by taking them to the park or treating them to ice cream for learning a valuable skill.
Challenge your child with more difficult tasks. Once your child is comfortable reading the model clock, switch to an analog clock without the “secret identities” of the numbers. Repeat the steps with a real clock to assess how well they’ve mastered telling time.
Tips
- Always teach your child to read analog clocks before introducing digital clocks.
- Look for online songs about telling time, such as “Tell Me the Time” on YouTube.
What You'll Need
- Paper plates (2)
- Marker
- Crayons
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Paper fastener
