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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

when do children learn the basics of telling the time?

15 replies

MaureenMLove · 16/08/2007 10:38

I may have done my mindee a complete unjustice, but he's 7, just going into yr 3 and he asked me how long til he goes to his friends. So I said well, its a nice easy time for you to work out, so you try. I asked him how many hours between 10.30 and 11.30 and he claims he has no idea? Is that right, could he really not know or is he having me over?

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saffymum · 16/08/2007 10:40

I only learnt time at 8 or 9 years eek, was I slow?

I have a clock for my ds of 3 that has a thomas tank engine character next to each number so he knows that 1 = thomas time 3= percy time etc which I am starting him on quite young, see how you go and make a game of it and try and get him to learn

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aloha · 16/08/2007 10:40

My stepdaughter was like this at seven. Took her ages to get the hang of it. No problems now at 15! Also, I suspect he's being a bit lazy and just wants you tell him

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stealthsquiggle · 16/08/2007 10:41

I would have thought he should know but really wouldn't know when they get taught it at school. DS is going into Yr 1 and I would expect him to be able to work it out - although he might have a go at claiming he couldn't to get me to do it for him

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MaureenMLove · 16/08/2007 10:47

Thats what i thought aloha! I just thought he might be able to work out how many hours between 10 and 11 - its not rocket science is it! Well, I suppose it may as well be if you're 7 and haven't learnt it yet! Bad childminder, I will slap my own wrists!

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cluelessnchaos · 16/08/2007 10:51

Asked my ten year old something similar the other day, was horrified when she souldnt tell me the time an hour later, and equally horrified when i discovered my 6 year old couldnt tell me the days of the week, we need to get one of those rubber stampers that does a clock

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AttilaTheMum · 16/08/2007 10:54

My DS learnt at 4, before he went to school, but lots of others in his class couldn't do it. His teacher said she'd found that children tend to either learn at about 4, or not until around 8-9. Sure enough, DD didn't have a clue at 4 & didn't learn until she was in Y4 and nearly 9.
I got her a watch like this, which helped a lot

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MaureenMLove · 16/08/2007 10:55

I'm struggling with tables with my nearly 12 year old atm She's starting senior school in 3 weeks and she's still not as fluent as she should be with them.

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stealthsquiggle · 16/08/2007 10:57

that reminds me - must go and get DS one of those times tables posters - he keeps nagging me (and yes I know I could make one but I have neither the time nor the energy!) He knows how to tell the time, and the days of the week - but seems to forget again on a scarily regular basis!

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AttilaTheMum · 16/08/2007 11:00

We use this program at the junior school I work at - it's useful for teaching + 1 hour, +5 mins etc.
There are a lot of other good programs there too, which you can use on line (with the 'Evaluation' banner or buy to use at home.
They have tables games too.

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stealthsquiggle · 16/08/2007 11:02

God I love MN - thanks Attila!

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MaureenMLove · 16/08/2007 11:05

Just spoke to mindees mum on a different matter and I told her and she said OMG! He needs to go back to school I think! So I think we can safely say he was pulling my leg!!
The thing with tables is, you need to work out which type of learning you lo works best with. I can't remember what they all are, but some kids learn better by repeatedly reading them, some are better writing them and some listening. So far, I'm not convinced any of these methods are working for DD!

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Carbonel · 16/08/2007 21:12

My dd (6) has just finished Year 1 and it is definitley an objective for them to learn it that year. She has prety much grasped it but still struggles with digital to analogue 'translation'.

Ds (4) just finished reception has no real concept, altho i do think he would have been able to do the simple sum of 11 minus 10!

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rapunzelle · 17/08/2007 21:18

It is taught in every year from year 1 (O'clock) to y6 (timetables, word problems etc.) It is taught every year because there is a HUGE difference in when individual children 'get it' (Money is the other concept that causes similar problems)

It really needs to be taught at home because it benefits from a little and often drip-drip approach rather than a 2 week block.

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Nemo2007 · 17/08/2007 21:29

Ds is 3 and has been able to tell the time for 6mths or at least the oclock,half past 1/4 to and 1/4 past

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MaureenMLove · 17/08/2007 21:34

I thought that was the case rapunzell! So he was definately having me on, wasn't he! He's going into year 3 and he's a bright lad. He could have worked out the difference between 10.30 and 11.30 without a problem!
BTW, in the end it was pointless anyway, he was picked up at 11.10!