6 year old obsessed with time/ clock watching

[Mrsmoo28]

My DS is 6. He is very bright, top of class for all subjects, above average reading age etc. Overall he's very happy, normal, sociable but can be a deep thinker at times.
He has become very obsessed with time increasingly so over the last few months. He's constantly asking the time and asking for clarification re if he's read the clock right. Obviously he's learning to tell the time and we're supporting this but there seems more to it. He clock watches from 7pm intently until 7.30 bedtime. If he's 'late' or getting near he stresses and can be known to abandon a book/TV etc not to be 'late'. He's concerned about being late for school and other appointments too. We've tried to be laissez-faire with him and encourage him not to worry and also discussed that nothing bad will happen if he was 'late'. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, how it played out and advice. Thanks.

My 10 year old sounds a bit similar overall. He had an issue over not being late for school a few years ago. I did as you are doing. It did pass and.now I am back to happily chivvying him at bedtime and in the morning!

It is for him part of a bigger picture. Just this weekend he did get concerned about mercury build up in the fish on his plate! His big sister had been talking about swordfish and tuna. Well we did as we always do: explain in reassuring tones and move on! More serious things have cropped up along the way. Fretting is a small part of the thoughtful person he is.

I will point out at times how I have made a mistake or miscalculation but it hasn't mattered or I have been able to fix things anyway. The hardest thing is my own occasional lack of patience.

Hi I know this post is old but can I ask how this played out for you as I am having the same issue with my 6 year old boy atm...

If you have a Google Home or Alexa you could teach him to set alarms. Then he won't have to worry about watching the clock to not be late, he can just listen for the alarm.

@Kellyd89 i have just come across your post and like you i am having a very similar problem with my just turned 7yo daughter. She has become completely obsessed with the time and of being late. She is now having issues at bedtime because if she is not asleep by her bedtime she gets completely worked up and starts getting very upset, often resulting in being awake right up until i go to bed. Even when im reading a bedtime story she is constantly clock watching incase i read over her bedtime. Every morning she asks if we are going to be late for school....shes never once been late for school. She also will say things like. "I woke up at 7.52 today mum" or "mum it is 8.03, im late for bed".
Anyway after almost a week of this, i have covered up the time on her clock so she cannot see the time but can still use the nightlight on it and get her to take off her watch and use the excuse i need to charge it so as it has battery for during the day. She has gone straight to sleep for the second night in a row just as she used to. Fingers crossed this will continue. We will continue to work on the late anxiety, however i need to work on myself first, as i believe i have made this an issue, constantly rushing around and, without realising till now, saying, "c'mon we are going to be late" like something terrible will happen if we are late.

Please feel free to share any tips you may have found that work also and good luck with finding a solution...hopefully just another "phase".

I have just seen this post & sounds very familiar to my daughter. How is your daughter now? @Camzy87

Hi, covering up the time worked wonders. I actually pushed her bedtime back a half hour and just took our time getting ready for bed, easing the pressure (which wasn't an issue because she could see the time) however if she did catch the time on another clock or watch and say it's past my bedtime and begin to become panicky, I would just reassure her that it was ok, she will fall asleep when she was ready and not to worry what the time was...once in her room she had no idea what the time was so would go off to sleep no problem. I've gradually put her bedtime back to 8, simply because she is so busy with after school activities she is needing her bed by this time, we now have our lovely bedtime routine back. Story, cuddles and sleep and a clock with the time showing 😅. I really hope your daughter gets through this phase soon.