Content

• Steps
• Advice
• What you need

Watching a clock is quite a hassle, especially for children. However, as a parent or teacher, you can turn this activity into a fun game by making a clock model with your child. Make sure your child understands the basics before making a clock. Once you have your own custom “clocks”, you can start teaching your child to read at different times.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Teach your kids the basics

1. 

   Practice counting to 60. To see the clock, children must know how to count to 60 (in the correct order). The first thing to do is have your child write the numbers 1 through 60 on paper. Have your child write and read each number. Stick this piece of paper on the wall and let your child read it regularly.
   • When taking your child to public places, such as at a supermarket, point to two-digit digital numbers and have them repeat after you.
   • Use songs to help your child learn to count. You can search for songs that teach counting numbers from 1 to 100 online.
   • To encourage your child to learn to count, be sure to reward your child with extra playtime or his favorite snack for a good job.

2. 

   
   
   Practice counting by 5. Your child will learn to watch the clock much more easily by counting 5. First, you will have your child write down 5-digit intervals up to 60. Have your child read the numbers as they write. Emphasize that each number must end with a 5 or 0.
   • Make a song “Count by 5” with catchy melodies that your child can sing along. You can even dance to the rhythm of the song; For example, for every 4 digits, you raise your hand or stomp your feet. Sing this song often with your child to help them easily count 5 in a smooth way.
   • You can also find songs count 5 online, for example on YouTube.

3. 

   
   
   Teach your child the general concept of time. The general concepts of time are morning, noon, evening, and night. Familiarize your child with these concepts by connecting them to certain activities. Then you can check back by asking your child about everyday events.
   • For example, “In the morning I have breakfast and brush my teeth. At noon, we have lunch and nap. At night, I read a book and go to bed ”.
   • Ask your child, "What's happening in the morning?" and "What do we do at night?"
   • Place a daily schedule on the wall so your child sees pictures of his or her activities for the day. Check against a timetable as you explain the different times during the day.
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Part 2 of 4: Modeling a clock with your child

1. 

   
   
   Find 2 paper plates and an analog clock. Paper plates will be used for clocks. A real clock is a reference to a paper clock. Put these on the table and sit with your child. Be excited to let your child know that you and your child will make their own watches.
   • For example, “What would my mother and daughter do today? I will make the watch myself! "

2. 

   Fold the paper plate in half. Have your child hold a paper plate and fold in half, then rotate the plate and fold again. The paper plate will now have two intersecting folds in the middle. You will use this fold as the reference point.

3. 

   Stick the stickers and write the numbers on the watch model. Have your child stick a sticker on the clock face at 12 o'clock. Next, check the analog clock and ask your child to write the number 12 below the picture that he has stuck with. Repeat this with the numbers 3, 6, and 9.

4. 

   Fill out the entire watch face. Once your child has stuck the stickers and wrote the numbers 12, 3, 6, and 9, ask them to write the remaining numbers on the clock face. Show your child the real clock to compare.
   • For example, ask your child to stick a sticker on the 1 o'clock position, then have him write the number 1 next to the sticker. Repeat this step for each number.

5. 

   Create "cake pieces" on the clock face. Have your child draw a line, starting from the center of the clock face to each number. Have your child color each "piece of cake" with different colors.
   • Try starting with red at 1 o'clock, following the rainbow color palette for each number. This way, it is easier for children to visualize than using random colors.

6. 

   Make a clock hand. Draw 2 clock hands on a piece of cardboard - one long for the minute hand and one short for the hour hand. Have your child cut two clock hands with scissors.
   • Clock-cutting helps children if your child is not old enough to use scissors safely.

7. 

   Attach a watch hand. Place the hour hand on top of the minute hand. Through a paperclip through the ends of two dials, then through the center of the dial. Turn the watch over and break the end of the paperclip to keep the hands in place.

8. 

   Place the paper clock next to the real clock. Show your child how similar the two watches are. Ask your child if they need to add anything to the clock before moving on to the next step. advertisement

Part 3 of 4: Teaching children to read time

1. 

   Distinguish between the hour and minute hands. Point to two hands on the dial. Ask your child what the difference between the two needles is. If your child seems confused, you might suggest, "Is one needle longer than the other?"

2. 

   Label the hands. Once your child has realized that the hands are different lengths, you can begin to explain their differences. Tell your child that the short hand is the hour hand and the long hand is the minute hand. Have your child label a clock by writing "hour" on the short hand, and "minute" on the long hand.

3. 

   Explanation about the hour hand. Turn the hour hand into each number and keep the minute hand at 12. Teach your child that each time the hour hand points to a certain number and the minute hand indicates 12 then it is ___ hour. Pointing to each number one by one, just saying “It's 1 o'clock now. It is 2 o'clock. It's 3 o'clock now… ”Have your child repeat what you just did.
   • Take advantage of the "cake" and colors on the dial. Emphasize the idea that every time the hour hand points to a certain "piece of cake" then it is ___ hour.
   • You can even link activities to each number to help your child reinforce notions of time. For example, "It's 3 o'clock now, it's time to watch your favorite cartoon", or "It's 5 o'clock, which means it's time to practice football field."

4. 

   Check to see if your child understands. Have your child choose a day of the week and make a list of 5-7 activities and related times. Name an activity and the time associated with it. Have your child turn the hour hand to the correct number. Gently correct it if your child is confused.
   • Suppose, you could say “Your child's class ends at 3 o'clock. Now the dial clock shows you where 3 o'clock is ”, or“ It's 8 o'clock, meaning it's time to go to bed. I spun the needle until 8 o'clock show me. "
   • Play the clock dial to match the timing of everyday activities. Use an analog clock as a reference tool.
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Part 4 of 4: Teach children to read minutes

1. 

   
   
   Explain the double meaning of numbers. Your child may get confused if you explain that 1 also means 5 minutes, and 2 means 10 minutes. To help your child understand this concept, make the assumption that the numbers are spies with a secret identity, like Clark Kent and Superman.
   • For example, tell your child that the secret identity for number 1 is 5, then have them write a small 5 next to the number 1. Do the same with the rest of the numbers.
   • Emphasize that you are counting by 5. Take turns reading out the secret identities of each number by singing your song “count by 5”.

2. 

   
   
   Explain the role of the minute hand. Tell your child that the secret identities of each number appear when the long hand - the minute hand - is pointed there. Keeping the hour hand, turn the minute hand into each number and read out the corresponding number of minutes. Have your child repeat like you did.
   • For example, you could dial the minute hand and point to 2 and say "It's 10 minutes now", then turn the hand to 3 and say "It's 15 minutes now".

3. 

   
   
   Explain how to read the hour and minute hands at the same time. Once your child has understood the concept of the minute hand, you will need to teach them how to read the hour and minute hands at the same time. Start with simple timelines like 1:30, 2:15, 5:45, and so on. Point the hour hand to a number, point the minute hand to a number, and read the hour.
   • For example, you could turn the hour hand to 3 and the minute hand to 8. Teach your child that the clock is pointing 3:40 because the hand is short of index 3 and the hand is long 8. Emphasize the idea that, because The minute hand is the secret identity, so it should be read as 40 instead of 8. Repeat until the child comes of age.

4. 

   Add small streaks between 5 minutes. When your child has mastered each 5 minute interval, draw 4 lines in the middle of 5 minutes. Start by writing 1,2,3 and 4 next to the lines between 12 and 1. Encourage your child to fill in all the remaining lines, both line and counting aloud. When the child is finished, point the minute hand to the center lines for about 5 minutes, and turn the hour hand to just one hour. Read that hour.
   • For example, you could point the minute hand to the fourth line and the third hour hand. Teach your child that it is 3 hours 4 minutes. Repeat this process until your child understands how to read the bars on the clock.

5. 

   Check to see if the child understands. With your child, make a list of 5-7 activities associated with the time of day. Have your child spin clock hands to show the correct timing of the activities. You can help in the beginning, but remember to repeat this step until your child can turn the needle into the correct number without your help.
   • Encourage your children by rewarding them for doing well. Take your child to the park to play or to an ice cream shop to celebrate because he has learned a useful skill.

6. 

   Challenge children with more difficult tasks. Once your child has mastered the time on a model watch, switch to an analog clock that does not have “secret identities” of the numbers. Repeat steps with the real watch to see how well your child has mastered watch watch skills. advertisement

Advice

• Remember to teach your child to watch analogue clocks before teaching them to read electronic clocks.
• Find songs that teach timekeeping online, such as "Tell me the time" on YouTube.

What you need

• Paper plate (2 pcs)
• Markers
• Wax crayons
• Hardcover
• Drag
• Metal paper clips