Teaching a preschool child to tell time using an analog clock can be rather confusing to them if they do not understand the "workings" of the clock. Since a child can not understand why an 8 and a 10 make "8:50", they must first understand basic counting. Take your time with teaching this confusing concept and follow these simple steps to telling time.
Instructions
Teach A Preschooler To Tell Time
1. Count. Teach your child to count by using a counting chart with numbers 1-100. Sure, they can count by memory, but they must learn to recognize the numbers. Then, teach them to count by 5's and 10's.
2. Learn facts. On index cards, write the time facts on one side and the answers on the other side. "60 seconds = 1 minute", "60 minutes = 1 hour", "24 hours = 1 day". Review these facts over and over again on a daily basis until your preschool child has them memorized.
3. Recognize the hours. Teach them that "the short hand is the hour hand" and "the long hand is the minute hand". Turn the hands of the clock to the hours only. Example: "8:00", 12:00", "5:00", etc. While teaching the analog clock, show the time on a digital clock as well.
4. Recognize the minutes. Teach your child that the "dashes" on the analog clock are the minutes. Count all 60 "dashes" going around the clock. Teach them to ignore the "big numbers" on the clock when counting the minutes. Point out that the "dashes" also mean seconds, but the second hand helps us to keep track of those. Seconds are not used in time telling.
5. Teach "AM" and "PM". Teach your child the difference of AM and PM. Most digital clocks have a light that distinguishes between "AM" and "PM". Let your child set the clock according to morning and afternoon activities.
6. Play a game. There are several games to play with your child while teaching them to tell time. Set a time with the analog clock and ask your child to create the same time using the digital clock, then switch clocks. Ask your child what time certain events occur. Example: "What time do you eat breakfast?", "What time do you go to bed?", etc.
7. Do not confuse your preschooler by teaching them "a quarter till" or "half past". They will learn those short cuts later on in elementary school. Remember to keep things simple.
Tags: your child, analog clock, Teach your, Teach your child, digital clock, preschool child