How to Teach Children to Watch the Clock

Watching the clock is a rather troublesome task, especially with 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 homemade “clocks”, you can start teaching your child to read at different intervals.

Table of Contents

Teach your kids the basics

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Practice counting to 60. To see the clock, children must be able to count to 60 (in the correct order). The first is to have your child write the numbers 1 to 60 on paper. Ask your child to write and read each number at the same time. Stick this sheet of paper on the wall and have your child read it often. ^{[1] X Research Source}

When taking your child to public places, such as the supermarket, point to two-digit electronic numbers and ask them to repeat after you.
Use songs to help children learn to count. You can find songs that teach counting from 1 to 100 online.
To encourage your child to learn to count, remember to reward him with extra playtime or his favorite snack for a job well done.

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Practice counting ways 5. Children will learn to watch the clock much more easily when they know how to count ways 5. First, you will have your child write out intervals of 5 numbers up to 60. Ask your child to read the numbers while writing. Emphasize that each number must end with the number 5 or 0. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Make up a song “Count 5 Ways” that has a catchy tune your child can sing along to. You can even dance to the beat of the song; for example every 4 numbers you raise your hand or stamp your foot. Sing this song often with your child to help him easily count 5 ways smoothly.
You can also find 5 count songs online, such as on YouTube.

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Teach children the general concept of time. The general concepts of time are morning, noon, evening, and night. Introduce your child to these concepts by associating them with certain activities. You can then double-check by asking your child about everyday events. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

For example, “In the morning I have breakfast and brush my teeth. At noon, I have lunch and take a nap. At night, I read books and go to sleep.”
You can ask your child, “What happened in the morning?” and “What do we do at night?”
Post a daily schedule on the wall so your child can see pictures of what they did for the day. Compare that with your schedule as you explain the timing of different activities during the day.

Make a clock model with your child

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Find 2 paper plates and an analog clock. Paper discs will be used to make clocks. The real clock is for comparison with the paper clock. Put these on the table and sit with your child. Excitedly let your child know that you and your child will be making your own clocks. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

For example, “What will my mother and I do today? I will make my own watch!”

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Fold the paper plate in half. Have your child hold a paper plate and fold it in half, then rotate the plate and fold it again. The paper plate will now have two intersecting folds in the middle. You will use this fold as a reference point. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Stick stickers and numbers on the clock model. Have your child stick a sticker on the clock face at the 12 o’clock position. Next, compare it with an analog clock and ask the child to use a marker to write the number 12 below the pasted picture. Repeat this operation with the numbers 3, 6 and 9. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Fill in the entire watch face. Once your child has pasted the stickers and written the numbers 12, 3, 6, 9, have him write the rest of the numbers on the clock face. Show your child real clocks to compare. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

For example, ask your child to put 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.

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Create “pieces of cake” on the watch face. Have your child draw a line starting from the center of the clock face to each number. Ask your child to color each “piece of cake” with different colors. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Try starting with red at the 1 o’clock position, painting each number in a rainbow of colors one at a time. This will make it easier for children to visualize than using random colors.

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Make clock hands. 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. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Cut the clock hands for your child if your child is not old enough to use scissors safely.

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Attach the clock hands. Place the hour hand on top of the minute hand. Thread a paper clip through the ends of the two hands, then through the center of the dial. Turn the watch upside down and break the end of the paper clip to hold the hands in place. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Place the paper clock next to the real clock. Show your child how similar two watches are. Ask your child if anything needs to be added to the clock before moving on to the next step. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Teach children to read time

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Distinguish between hour and minute hands. Point to the two hands on the dial. Ask your child where the two needles are most different. If your child seems confused, you can suggest, “Is one needle longer than the other?” ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Label the clock hands. Once your child has realized that clock hands are of 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 the clock hands by writing “hour” on the short hand, and “minute” on the long hand. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Teach children to read minutes

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Explain the double meaning of numbers. Children may get confused if you explain that the number 1 also means 5 minutes, and the number 2 means 10 minutes. To help your child understand this concept, assume that the numbers are spies with a secret identity, like Clark Kent and Superman. ^{[16] X Research Source}

For example, 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. Do the same with the rest of the numbers.
Emphasize that you are counting by 5. Take turns reading out the secret identity of each number by singing your song “count by 5”.

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Explain the role of the minute hand. Tell your child that the secret identities of each number will appear when the long hand – that is, the minute hand – points to it. Keeping the hour hand in place, turn the minute hand to each number and read out the corresponding number of minutes. Have your child repeat the same thing you did. ^{[17] X Research Source}

For example, you can turn the minute hand to point 2 and say “It is 10 minutes now”, then turn the hand to number 3 and say “It is 15 minutes now”.

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Explain how to read the hour and minute hands at the same time. Once your child understands the concept of the minute hand, you will need to teach them how to read the hour and minute hands simultaneously. Start with simple 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. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

For example, you could turn the hour hand to point 3 and the minute hand to number 8. Teach your child that the clock is showing 3:40 because the short hand shows 3 and the long hand points at 8. Emphasize the idea that, because the minute hand is a secret identifier so it will be read as 40 instead of 8. Repeat until the child is mature.

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Add small lines between 5 minutes. Once your child has mastered each 5-minute interval, draw 4 lines in the 5-minute intervals. Start by writing 1,2,3 and 4 next to the lines between 12 and 1. Encourage your child to fill in the rest of the lines, counting them out loud. When the child has finished drawing, point the minute hand to the center lines for about 5 minutes, and turn the hour hand to one o’clock. Read that hour. ^{[19] X Research Source}

For example, you can point the minute hand to the fourth and the hour hand to 3. Teach your child that it is 3 o’clock and 4 minutes. Repeat this until the child understands how to read the lines on the clock.

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Check to see if the child understands. With your child, list 5-7 activities associated with the times of the day. Have your child spin the hands of the clock to indicate the correct time for those activities. You can help at first, but remember to repeat this step until your child can turn the needle into the correct number without your help. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

Encourage your child by rewarding them for a job well done. Take your child to the park to play or to an ice cream parlor to celebrate because he or she has learned a rewarding skill.

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Challenge children with more difficult tasks. Once your child has mastered telling the time on a model clock, switch to an analog clock without the “secret identities” of the numbers. Repeat the steps with a real clock to see how well your child masters clock-watching skills. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Advice

Remember to teach your child to watch an analog clock before teaching him to read a digital clock.
Find songs that teach telling time online, such as “Tell Me the Time” on YouTube.

Things you need

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

Steps