My daughters used to say the cutest things when announcing the “time.” That was before they understood how digital clocks worked. I still chuckle at shouts like, “Mom! It’s noon-o’clock!” and “It’s four dot dot oh-nine!” While digital clocks are easy for kids to recognize, learning to tell time on an analog clock is a whole different challenge.
Even though fewer people wear watches today and many rely on phones to check the time, analog clocks are still everywhere. Learning how to read them helps kids better understand how time works in daily life. With the right approach, teaching kids to tell time can be engaging, fun, and much less overwhelming.
When to Teach Kids How to Tell Time
“In my experience, children are ready to learn about clocks and telling time when they understand that their days are structured by events that center around time, such as meal times, bedtimes, and birthday parties,” says Rachel Guritz, an Outschool educator who teaches a “Time Telling” virtual camp for kids ages five to eight. “A general understanding of number sense is needed, including counting to 12, naming the numerals to 59, and comparing numbers.”
Guritz says in the online clock camp class, “the learners learn that telling time is not as tricky as they might believe.”
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Learning to Tell Time Is Like Other Skills
It can seem overwhelming for young children, but Guritz says, “Telling time is like any other activity that children learn to do, such as riding a bike or writing their full name.”
She advises parents and educators to practice with an enthusiastic and encouraging grown-up who can help them review mastered skills before moving on to more advanced skills. This allows students to build on what they already know.
Creative Ways to Help Kids Learn to Tell Time
Here are some creative ways educators suggest using to help kids tell time.
Social media personality and educator Spencer Russell, founder of Toddlers CAN Read, suggests that if kids struggle to learn analog clocks, start by teaching the hour first, then the five, and then the middle. … “Loads of counting by five games and loads of adding up. So, being able to count to 5, 10, 15,” he says.
Russell says making time telling an interactive game is key. “If you’re enthusiastic, spin that big yellow clock to a specific time and have kids call it out. There are also ways to do it with a whiteboard and marker.”
For example, using toy hands, you can show on a toy clock that it’s 10:30 a.m. Have your child write down 10:30 a.m. (numerically) on the whiteboard. Or, Russell suggests, shout out a time, like 11:15, and draw a large circle on the whiteboard. Then, have them draw the hands pointing to the numbers depicting 11:15.
Related: How to Help Your Children Avoid Math Anxiety
6 Clock Toys and Games to Help Kids Learn to Tell Time
Learning to tell time is easier when kids can touch, move, and interact with clocks. These toys and games help make abstract concepts more concrete and engaging.
1. Judy Clocks
Manufactured by Carson Dellosa, Judy Clocks are bright yellow wooden clocks with big numbers that have been around for over 40 years. This set comes in a collection and is perfect for little hands to manipulate. On Amazon, you can find Judy clocks of all sizes, with large, printed numbers and sturdy hands that move easily to show various times.
2. Time Activity Set
The Learning Resources Time Activity Set includes a Judy clock. This engaging set helps kids learn the difference between analog and digital time and identify time to the hour, half-hour, and minute. Additionally, illustrated cards teach youngsters how to write down time and problem-solve. This activity set includes a plastic clock with movable hands, 24 double-sided analog and digital puzzle cards, 12 double-sided write-and-wipe daily activity cards, and an activity guide—all great ways to help kids understand clocks.
Related: How To Encourage Purposeful Play With Your Kids
3. Telling Time Play-Doh Mats
These Play-Doh mats help your child “roll out” the long hand for minutes and the shorter hand for hours. You can add number cookie cutters to create the corresponding time to match the hands on each clock. An illustration in the upper right corner of each clock page lets you write out the corresponding digital time.
4. The Baby Penguin My Activity Clock
If you’re looking for something cutesy and niche for your child, you’ll love this charming wooden toy, which promotes fine motor skills and introduces children to sequential thinking. It’s handmade from hardwood plywood in Vermont and teaches educational concepts, including numbers, time, weather, and the days of the week.
5. Janod Learn to Tell Time Magnet Book
The epitome of clocks, this one is one of the prettiest educational toys available. This unique Janod clock is a game in disguise, and it comes with a yellow carrying handle that can also serve as a clock stand. It offers a clear visual explanation of both analog and digital clocks. The set includes 13 cards your child can duplicate, with one side numerical and the other analog. Red and blue markers, included with the erasable cards, help enhance time-telling skills.
6. Eeboo Time Telling Game
This time-telling game combines digital and analog clocks to teach children how to read time in both formats. Cards can be varied by difficulty level, and random cards help teach kids odd times, like 1:17. They include wording like “half past” and “quarter to.” Recommended for two to four players, the game is manufactured by a woman-owned business and consists of a scorepad, four clocks with movable hands, and 50 game cards.
Telling time does not come easily to all kids, and that is okay. With hands-on clocks, games, and practice, children can build confidence over time. While educational apps can be helpful, non-screen activities often lead to those memorable “aha” moments. With patience and creativity, learning to tell time can become an enjoyable milestone for kids and parents alike.
