what age should you start to teach kids to tell the time?

[juicychops]

out of curiosity. my ds is 2.9

I don't think I would unless they start showing an interest in time.

No harm at any age, if they show an interest. I would start just with o'clock.
Can he recognise any numbers yet?

DD (5) can tell the time but has no concept of time

DS1 (9) could tell the time at 7 using 24 hour clock and also using roman numerals but has only just started to get the concept of time

HTH

Well, you can start when you want but I wouldn't expect them to take it in much till they are at least 6 or 7.

they can't do it properly till they understand halves and quarters.

So unless DS is very G&T, don't bother with the sweet little wristwatches yet awhile, other than as purely decorative!

Then theres another question, which is when on earth does their theoretical ability to tell the time translate into any sort of reality ... no sign of it yet in my dreamy 8yr old

We started teaching DS1 some basics a few months ago. He is 3.4.

We started teaching him because he asked us. He's retaining a fair bit of what we say.

apparently it's developmental and they 'get' it at around six. However... my DS2 has been interested in it since about the same age as your DS, and at just 4yrs old is doing a pretty good job of figuring out what the clock says.

does no harm to have a go if he's interested, there are some great jigsaw/matching type puzzles showing pics of getting up, mealtimes, activities and clock illustrations to match with them. that's where my DS started (albeit nicking his big brother's stuff)

DD2 at 4yo can do the o'clocks.

my dd (5) knew how to tell time at just turned 4
she is very numerate and very interested in clocks and time...
she had 1/4 past 1/2 past and 1/4 to very easily, she learned the minutes in the last few mths and tells time to the dot now

I was led by her she knew numbers very early
My DS1 was a very clever child but had no concept of time til age 6-7 infatc at age 13 I'd still argue that he has any clue at all

DS is 3.6, for a while he has been interested in clocks (have to get the kitchen one down for him to look at etc), and he loves those clock jigsaws.

But he hasn;t got a clue about actually telling the time, and I don;t suppose he will for a good year or two yet.

He thinks he can tell the time, though!