5 Easy Tips and Tricks to Teach Your Child How To Tell Time

Do you know how to read an analog clock? Back in my day (I sound so old saying this don't I), schools, homes, businesses - everywhere - had analog clocks so schools taught students how to tell time on an analog clock. With the birth of digital clocks and now Alexa who needs to know how to read an analog clock anymore? Right!

Digital clocks are everywhere (and so is Alexa!). Analog clocks are like an endangered species slowly decreasing in numbers year after year. So why should you teach your child to read an analog clock? Do they even need to know how?

Some may argue that we are now living in a digital age and kids don't need to be taught outdated skills like reading an analog clock. Or maybe you could argue that this is a skill that they won't ever use once they are taught it therefore it is a waste of time (like algebra). I can see the truth in these arguments however I think there is an underlying value in teaching children how to read an analog clock.

I am a visual learner which means I learn best when I can SEE what is happening. Analog clocks SHOW the user how time is passing just by watching the hands move. Looking at a traditional clock face and figuring out the time requires an application of mathematical skills - skills our kids need to practice. In addition, it gives children a real relation to time that they don't get reading a digital clock. We have analog clocks in our house and as a parent I have on many occasions said to one of my kids "We will eat lunch at noon when the big and little hands are on the 12". The child can watch those clock hands move teaching them the concept of the passage of time - valuable time management skills!

Through watching the clock and feeling time pass your child experiences the "feel" of time passing. They start to know what 10 minutes "feels" like.

Time management is also a skill you can teach a child with an analog clock. Many times I put time limits on electronic devices and TV viewing. By using an analog clock they can SEE exactly how much time has passed and how much they have left by watching the hands of the clock. It is kind of hard to get a good grasp of how time passes with a digital clock since it just shows the exact current time.

As a home school mom I have had the opportunity to teach 3 of my 4 kids how to tell time on an analog clock (the youngest is going to learn this year). I have a few tips and tricks I've picked up along the way I want to share with you as you consider or begin teaching your child how to tell time on an analog clock.

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Tips & Tricks to Teach Telling Time on an Analog Clock

1. Skip counting by 5's is IMPORTANT!

We make this lesson a game that we practice over and over and over!! Sometimes I write numbers by 5's through 60 on sticky notes or small squares of paper and put them on the floor and have the child jump from paper to paper following the trail and saying the numbers out loud (5, 10, 15...). I've also put the numbered papers down our stairway so they could practice skip counting by 5's as they go down (or up) the steps. Hop scotch skip counting by 5's is also super fun too!

2. Teach your child what time FEELS like:

How long is a second, a minute 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 1 hour? Until a child actually experiences (over and over) what these increments of time feel like then they won't be able to grasp what seconds, minutes and hours are. Telling your child what each hand on an analog clock is called then playing some games to help them remember and grasp the concept of time is a great way to reinforce what you just taught.

I start out with seconds. I have my child hold their breath and I count how many seconds they can hold it all while having them watch the second hand on the analog clock tick along. Since I know they can't hold their breath for very long I use a different game to teach minutes. I have them do a fun trick (stand on one foot, hold an ice cube, jump up and down) for one minute. Then we discuss the difference in how time feels comparing seconds and minutes.

Baking cookies together is a super way to teach a child about time. Having them watch the minutes tick by while their favorite cookies bake is very effective (and rewarding) tool.

3. Make your own clocks

Once my child starts to grasp the concept of time and understands the basics I love to pull out the craft supplies and make homemade clocks. Simple supplies like paper plates, brass fasteners and markers/crayons are all you really need. I found this great tutorial at Frugal Fun 4 Boys  I think you might enjoy!

from FrugalFun4Boys.com

4. Practice New Skills All The TIME

When my child seems reasonably comfortable using the analog clock we made or the plastic clock I have as a teaching tool it is time for them to move to the next level. (affiliate link)

Purchase on Amazon HERE

What is the next level you ask? I give my kid their very own analog wrist watch and let them pick out a cool analog wall clock for their room. Below is a big collection of wall clocks I found and wanted to share with you (there are a few fun digital ones in the mix too but mostly analog). (affiliate link)

buy on Amazon

Once they have their own watch I just start asking them all of the time "what time is it". This is great practice and since they are using their own watch to tell time they don't mind me asking over and over again.

5. Introduce Child to Advanced Time Vocabulary like half past, quarter till, quarter after and on the hour...

This is the last skill I teach my children and with an analog clock I think it just makes way more sense in their brains than if I used a digital clock to teach this exercise. I usually whip out the ole' plastic teaching clock and move the minute and hour hands around to show them what each term means. After they see me do it a few times I have them practice using the clock as I say a time like "quarter after 3" or "half past 5". This is a difficult concept to grasp and will take a lot of practice! Hang in there!!

Cool Collection of Clocks for Kids

Here is that cool collection of clocks I mentioned earlier that I wanted to share with you. My favorite is the sock money clock because it reminds me of my niece who loves monkeys! If you see one you love click on it and the link will take you to the site where you can purchase it. (affiliate link)

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What are some tips & tricks you use to teach your child to tell time? Do you still teach them how to read analog clocks? Leave a comment with your ideas and advice.