For children, the summer holidays are often full of fun, laughter and ice cream. But when September comes, many will find it tricky to get back into the swing of things at school.
In addition, The American organisation, The National Summer Learning Association, found that teachers spend a significant amount of time reteaching the information that has been forgotten thanks to summer learning loss.
So how can this be tackled?
There are many classes and clubs that you can take your child to over the summer, from play and stay classes at the local library to crafty classes and sports camps. But one of the most beneficial things we think you can do to help your child during the holidays is to help them learn how to tell the time.
As Dave Allen’s comedy sketch on teaching your kid time shows, learning how to do it can fox the smartest of kids and take lots of hard work and dedication. Consequently, the school holidays offer the perfect chance to make a start or sharpen existing skills.
At EasyRead Time Teacher, we have devised the Rainbow Past and To Wall Clock, which uses a three-step system to teach the ‘past and to’ method. Children follow three easy steps:
- Read the number at the end of the long hand
- Say ‘minutes to’ if it’s pointing to the red side of the clock, or say ‘minutes past’ if it’s pointing to the green side
- Read the number at the end of the short hand. Like this: 8…minutes past/to…4.
We have also brought out a range of Past and To Watches that are available in a wide range of colours and sure to catch the attention of your child. If you would like to find out more about our approach to teaching children to tell the time, please contact us, or to buy a time teaching clock, please see here.
Being able to tell the time comes so naturally to most of us, that we’ve probably forgotten ever learning how to do it. But the truth is that it can be a confusing thing for children to master, that takes time and dedication.
At EasyRead Time Teacher, we believe that learning to tell the time should be fun and as straightforward as possible. Here, we share our top tips for helping youngsters on their way to success:
Invest in a learning resource
Our expertly developed Rainbow Past and To Wall Clock is the perfect way to help children learn to tell the time, thanks to a three-step system that teaches the ‘past and to’ method, which is common in the UK. Unlike other noisy clocks on the market, it has a silent hand that glides around the clock rather than ticking, perfect for quiet environments such as classrooms and bedrooms.
Children can use this time teaching clock to tell the time by following three simple steps:
- Read the number at the end of the long hand
- Say ‘minutes to’ if it’s pointing to the red side of the clock, or say ‘minutes past’ if it’s pointing to the green side
- Read the number at the end of the short hand. Like this: 8…minutes…2.
Voila!
Reinforce that time is chronological
In order to be able to tell the time, it is important for children to understand how doing it relates to the past, present and future. By helping a child link events in their lives to the times they take place, it reinforces the notion of time as a linear and structured measurement.
You can do this by using time related vocabulary such as ‘minutes’ or ‘o’clock’ when you are talking to your child about their schedule as this can help them begin to understand what they are doing and at what time that normally happens.
Use songs and art
Songs and rhymes are used to help children remember lots of things, and telling the time is no different. Sing songs about time, like ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ and make up rhymes that may help them remember ways of telling the time.
Art can also be an effective educational tool for children, so making a clock and decorating it with things that happen at different times can be a fun and engaging activity that aids the learning process.
Check out our range of expertly designed products that can help you teach telling the time in a clear and easy way. If you would like any further information on our range, you can call: 01684 566832. We also sell our products in Australia and the USA, for contact details, please see here.
