One of the most important skills to have in everyday life is knowing how to tell the time. It’s the best way to always be on time for school, for a party, or for a game. However, telling the time on a clock is not something that comes easily for every child. It can be a bit tricky. Young children have a hard time understanding the concept of time, so this is a lesson that must be taught gradually, starting with increasing a child’s awareness of time as he or she grows up. These activities to practice the hours will help your little one tell the time in an entertaining manner.
1. It’s time! This fun activity will work perfectly for the little ones that enjoy music. You will need to have an analog clock at hand. One of those big wall clocks would be perfect for this activity. You will need several music songs or videos for kids. The idea is that your child starts learning about the concept of time with these songs and videos. Prepare a song to play, and have your time tell you the time right before the music starts. Your child can even write the time, or if he or she is too young, you can do it yourself. Then, play the song, and just as it finishes, ask your little one to tell you the time again. Write this down. Then, you can discuss with your little one how much time did the song last. This will help your little one manage the concept of time and get more acquainted with the hours. Try this also with longer activities, such as watching a movie or going out shopping.
2. A day in the life. Learning about time is also helpful to help the little ones establish daily routines. This activity will help you show your child the different tasks that should be done in one day. For this, you will need a blank sheet of paper and some colors. Divide each side of the sheet in twelve spaces, and write the numbers from one to twelve on each one. One side will be “am” and the other one will be “pm”. Now, ask your little one to draw an activity that he or she does at the different times of the day, and encourage him or her to write down the time as well. For example: “7:00 am – wake up”, next to a drawing of your child waking up. If your child is clueless about what to draw, tell him or her to pay close attention of what he or she does in a day, and then put that into the sheet. This is a perfect long-term project for a child, that will also help with time management.
3. DIY Sundial Clock. One of the most exciting facts about telling time is that it can be done sunlight and some simple materials. To do this clock you will need a paper plate, paint, a pencil, scissors or a nail, and a white sheet of paper. First, tell your child to paint the paper however she or he likes, with a solid color or some patterns. While the paint dries, tell your little one to draw a circle as big as the bottom of the paper plate. Cut the circle, and draw a clock in it. Your little can also decorate the clock to his or her liking. Once the paper plate is dry, glue the circle to the bottom part of the plate, on the back of it. Then, using the scissors or a nail, open a hole in the center of the plate. Finally, for the dial, stick the pencil through the hole. The tip of the pencil should go out the back of the plate. Now, it’s time to go outside!
Place your plate on the floor, with the number twelve of the sundial clock pointing north, and have your child check the shadow that the pencil casts over the plate. This will be the time of the day!
