...to expect everyone to be able to tell the time on an analogue clock?

[TamaraDeLempicky]

Over the weekend, DS's friend (13) told me that he can't tell the time by looking at an analogue clock. I was shocked! He said he doesn't need to because he has a digital clock on his phone.

I have various analogue clocks around the house and at work which I use all the time. Do you think everyone should have the ability to read an analogue clock?

My DS who has an MSC only ever looks at his phone

I really CBA getting my phone out every time I want to know the time. I just look at my wrist. The battery in my watch lasts for many years as opposed to the one in my phone.

What on earth is happening in the world when people can't tell the time on analogue clocks? I despair.

I expect map reading when we’ve all got sat navs is another skill going out of fashion.

We don't have any analogue clocks in our house, mainly because I don't like the clutter. The DCs all have analogue watches through choice but I just use my phone as I can't wear a watch.

Yeah i find it shocking to be honest, it's a basic thing no? It's like being able to count.

It is taught in key stage 1. I teach it in year 2. I have a teaching analogue clock on my wall in class and the children refer to it when they want to know the time.

My wrist watch actually has a winder on it. A kid asked me the other day what I was doing when I was winding it up. Couldn’t grasp the concept of no battery

My DD can't tell the time on analogue clocks. I tried and managed to teach her older brothers. We only had analogue clocks in the house, she had wristwatches but nope she just couldn't do it. She has a degree and a senior IT job know and she still can't tell the time properly (or read any sort of map!)

I find having an analogue clock on the wall in my classroom helps me to sort out the timings for the day.

I haven't seen an analogue clock for a long time!
Not seen any churches recently? Town halls?

Why can't you wear a watch maraschino?

I know someone who can’t do this. Some people just can’t do some things which seem completely basic. It’s a bit shocking when you first come across it but it’s just one of those things.

My children (7, 10 and 13) were all taught it in school and we have analogue clocks all round the house. Seems odd that a 13 year old hasn't been taught this!

Seems odd that a 13 year old hasn't been taught this!

He will have been. Being taught something and being able to do it are not the same thing.

I hate cluttered houses, but I have an analogue clock on my kitchen wall and an old fashioned carriage clock on my mantlepiece. It doesn't feel cluttered.

Goodness.

My dyslexic 17 year old has always been able to tell the time on an analogue clock, as it's a visual item, it's hard to explain but because she can see it she picked it up really quick.

My ds 14, cannot do it, he's a top of the class, extremely intelligent child but has never managed to grasp the concept!

My 16 year old with dyslexia can’t 🤷🏻‍♀️ He really can’t. He can’t even manage 24 hour clock - and he’s very bright, his brain just doesn’t not compute this!

My older 2 sons manage fine, I’m dyslexic and I can tell the time in analogue and 24 hour as a nurse I need to but my younger 2 sons really struggle and same with times tables I know some of them but really really struggle and so do my boys. I think everyone has the capability to learn it’s just finding the way to teach that takes time, hoping the boys will tell the time eventually and tables too but not knowing doesn’t make it easy to teach. I will get a new clock for my house though kitchen one works but the little next one I bought broke when we moved so will replace as people have said they need exposure to time/clocks at home and at school

I can do analogue (although had a moment earlier today lol) but I struggle with digital particularly 24 hour clock. I was diagnosed with adhd last year and it’s quite common apparently.

How can one clock be deemed clutter?

I agree with you.
One of my sons is fine the other struggles sometimes. I think they should know how to tell the time both ways. X

I think everyone should be able to read an analogue clock. DS1 could tell the time by the time he was 4.5.

DS2 still struggles. He does look at our analogue kitchen clock, I can see him struggle, then he checks the oven clock. He's 16yo and passed his maths GCSE - I suspect it's a dyslexia thing, and worry it might hold him up in the workplace in the future. He's also crap at reading timetables. At bus stops he asks strangers to read them out to him. He's found elderly ladies particularly helpful.

So yes, I think everybody should be able to tell the time and ride a bike and swim, and read, and know their times tables, be able to differentiate between Mozart and Beethoven, and sew on a button/name tape. But I also totally understand why someone might not be able to do any of those things.

Also, I find analogue easier than 24hr clock...and it would make no difference to me it the analogue clock was mirror image.

Surely it is a life skill which parents should teach their children before they go to school.

@Esspee not many pre-schoolers can tell the time past recognising the hour. It's a skill expected at age 6-7 for the average child. I've known parents of able children Reception become quite exasperated because their child hasn't mastered telling the time, despite their efforts.

Preschoolers can be taught what a quarter turn/ half turn is, and which way the hands move on a clock in but telling the time prosperous actually quite complex.

It's a bit like saying most parents should teach their child to read before they start school. It's certainly possible for some, but not all.