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Original poster

When should a child be able to tell the time?

49 replies

taylorsmummy2004 · 30/07/2009 20:48

I am currently teaching my 4yr old DD to tell the time before she starts school this year, how far should i go??

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slowreadingprogress · 30/07/2009 20:58

Cease. Desist.

Leave it. You want to be able to say "It's bedtime" at 5pm for as long as possible

Original poster
taylorsmummy2004 · 30/07/2009 21:07

Haha, she is a really good kid, sticks to a good routine and is no trouble going to bed, she sits there and waits til i'm up in the mornings!

I have only taught her the o'clocks, she had a workbook and eantedto do the whole thing (!) but i am pacing her!

OP posts:
danthe4th · 30/07/2009 23:33

Oh great now I feel guilty, my 7 year old ds can't tell the time with a proper clock yet, he can just about manage a digital, I haven't even bothered with my 4 year old ds. I'm sure I had done by now with my 2 dd's.
Ok so thats another job for the holidays!!!!

OrangeFish · 30/07/2009 23:39

DS is 6 and can't, yet he reads at a level of a 9 year old and is 2 years advanced in maths. All that totally useless as he is not competing for a place in a prestigious university yet and someway distances him from his peers in a not very positive way.

Let her enjoy that lovely ignorant time, it goes so fast!

cat64 · 30/07/2009 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

hmc · 31/07/2009 00:03

My dd is still vvvv unreliable with the time (vague idea, bit inaccurate). Literacy and numeracy more important. It's not like she has to rush off for a meeting or something

hmc · 31/07/2009 00:03

She has just turned 7 btw

cornsillk · 31/07/2009 00:21

4 years old is very young.

hmc · 31/07/2009 00:22

Hello c**t

Ahem, sorry about that t'other night

cornsillk · 31/07/2009 00:24

lol hmc - is that to me?

hmc · 31/07/2009 00:25

Yes!

alypaly · 31/07/2009 00:28

go as far as you want, childrens brains are like sponges, the more you throw at them the more the absorb. Their capacity for learning new things is beter than yours or mine. She will only take in was she is capable of...but go easy ..dont force it... i did flash cards and my son was able to read simple things at 3 when he went to school.He learnt parrot fashion and almost photographic recognition but he learnt things ever so quickly. Make it a game and get her to choose the flash cards or pictures of clocks..

cornsillk · 31/07/2009 00:29

It was funny - I hadn't spoken to you before (I don't think!) Always nice to make a new acquaintance!

FAQtothefuture · 31/07/2009 00:30

DS1 is 8 (nearly 9) - has just finished YR3 and has just grasped 1/4 to/past this year

DS1 is 5 (6 in November) and has been doing the o'clocks since he was at nursery, learned the 1/2's before Christmas and has now almost mastered the 1/4's as well. !

hmc · 31/07/2009 00:30

Yes, and whilst you are at it, what about a bit of cantonese

Let her play with megablocs and toy food, for heavens sake.

hmc · 31/07/2009 00:31

Indeed cornsillk, indeed. And didn't we get off to a flying start

FAQtothefuture · 31/07/2009 00:33

oh and we've only had a visible clock with "numbers" on it - (as opposed to roman numerals) for a few months - so DS2 taught himself (wasn't anything to do with me ) the "o'clocks" and "half pasts" without the actual numbers to look at.

Mind he's a bit of an oddity with "maths" related things............I had him in a strop earlier today because I wouldn't let him start on the KS2 Bitesize maths......

FAQtothefuture · 31/07/2009 00:34

I think DS1 is more "normal" in terms of telling the time age

hmc · 31/07/2009 00:34

Lol FAQ!

cornsillk · 31/07/2009 00:35

hmc - I 'll remember you anyway!

BolshyInsomniacCow · 31/07/2009 00:38

How could you not - I'm the one with the hairy mangina!

See you around

BolshyInsomniacCow · 31/07/2009 00:39

(Do you like new name? - think it suits me, back to hmc tomorrow though when I've got day time rationality back in place)

FAQtothefuture · 31/07/2009 00:40

hmc is true

(actually DS2 could probably do some of the KS2 maths but I don't want DS1 to get upset when DS2 is doing better at him on some of them. He (DS2) already frequently looks over DS1's shoulder and tells him the answer....and DS1 isn't bad at Maths )

cornsillk · 31/07/2009 00:41

I prefer hairymangina actually
What is time rationality and should I know this?

HairyMangina · 31/07/2009 09:26

'day time rationality' - its the rationality that kicks in the next morning when you have had a refreshing sleep and haven't just drunk half a bottle of wine