If your child is learning to read a clock for the first time, then they are likely going to have a lot of questions. Whilst the majority of them will probably centre around how clocks work or how they demonstrate the passing of time, your child might start to look outside of their own experience and wonder how different cultures tell time. Different countries and languages can all measure and interact with time in very different ways, so if you or your child are interested in exploring how other cultures learn to tell the time, here is our guide.
Time-telling across the world
Different parts of the world have different, and often unique, ways of interacting with time, shaped by historical, geographical, and social factors. Modern timekeeping is largely uniform due to globalisation and technological advancements which have reduced modern time telling skills to a quick glance at a screen, and so it is easy for us to overlook the importance that time still holds for many cultures across the globe.
Exploring how different people learn to tell the time can reveal a great deal about their societies and the structure of their days, as many local time practices still reflect cultural identities. Whilst in Britain, our timekeeping is primarily used as a way to schedule our daily lives and has little cultural impact, in other areas the way people interact with time can vary depending upon the seasons, the time of day, and any religious holidays or festivals.
These rules, whether clearly displayed across societies or simply implied through practices that have been passed down through generations, nurture the timekeeping traditions of different areas and keep them from fading. So, before we get into a deeper exploration of how cultures across the world learn to tell the time, let’s take a look at how interactions with time differ from country to country.
Interactions with time
Cultural attitudes towards time vary significantly around the world, reflecting deeper values and revealing much about the numerous different ways of life. These diverse attitudes towards time and its passing not only influence daily schedules and social norms but also reflect broader cultural values and priorities, shaping how people interact, conduct business, and manage social relationships.
For example, in countries such as America and the UK, time is viewed as a way to keep track of the different stages of the day and informs which actions we take next, which has resulted in a structured approach to time management and a strong emphasis on punctuality, scheduling, and efficiency. Time in the West exists to keep us on track and manage our tasks, and this strict approach to time is also one shared by several East Asian societies, particularly across Japan and South Korea. These areas often have a considered and measured approach to time, valuing punctuality and structure highly and viewing time as a resource that must be managed wisely. However, it is important to remember that many of these attitudes are unwritten, and can only be observed through daily interactions, rather than through the study of time.
In contrast to these more rigid contexts, where time is money and lateness is seen as an insult or indicative of one’s commitments, many other societies have a more relaxed attitude towards time. Primarily found across Middle Eastern and Latin American cultures, these attitudes are informed more by social factors than strict schedules, and measurements of time are often event related, meaning that the conclusion of an activity is generally more reliant on the judgement of the participants rather than the amount of time allotted on a clock.
By taking the time to observe these different ways of scheduling, planning, and utilising our time, we can explore the different societal and environmental factors that inform our engagement with the concept of time. What may seem unusual, or sometimes rude or wasteful, to one culture is often informed by many centuries of societal development and cultural norms, illustrating the multifaceted nature of time across global cultures. Despite being seen as a universal concept that touches every area of humanity, the ways that we interact with time have been adapted to suit the requirements of different societies across the world: so, no matter where you come from, there is always something to be learned through exploring the different attitudes to time.
Telling the Time
As our understanding of time differs so much depending upon where we come from, it goes without saying that how we learn to tell the time differs greatly as well.
For as long as humanity has been able to observe the sun rising and going down, and the turn of the seasons as temperatures dropped and crops stopped growing, we have been developing ways of tracking it. Ancient cultures such as the Maya and Egyptians developed advanced calendar systems that integrated astronomy and seasonal cycles, which informed our understanding of time and eventually led to the development of a worldwide 12-month calendar based on our planets’ movement around the sun. This shows that the natural progression of time is inherently circular and relies upon continuous natural loops, but over the centuries, we have moved away from astrological ways of tracking time – although there are still cultures who use natural indicators for tracking religious or cultural events.
Time-telling methods vary globally, influenced by cultural, historical, and environmental factors, and these variations remind us that time’s perception is as much a cultural construct as a scientific measure. However, there is one universally accepted and utilised tool that helps us all measure time: the clock.
Clocks
Across the world, clocks are used as a visual representation of the passage of time, and whether we use it to create our schedules or track our time, they are always there to show the hours, minutes, and seconds as they pass.
Throughout the US and Europe, people predominantly use the 12-hour and 24-hour formats on digital or analogue clocks, with many of the historical ways of telling the time long forgotten by the advancement of time-telling resources. The timekeeping practises of many East Asian cultures is also similar to these methods, as they utilise both digital and analogue clocks and the timekeeping system divides the day into 12 two-hour periods, whilst Latin American cultures use the 12-hour format – although often without strict adherence to exact times and with a more flexible, relaxed approach to time.
Both the 24-hour clock and the 12-hour clock represent the same units of time, but the passage of time is displayed in different ways. The 24-hour clock, often referred to as “military time,” is a widely adopted format that eliminates the ambiguity present in the 12-hour clock system by making it immediately clear which part of the day is being referred to. For instance, 18:00 immediately indicates late afternoon or early evening, whereas 6:00 on the 12-hour clock could be early morning or evening and requires the additional specifier of “a.m.” or “p.m.” to clarify. Despite this, the 12-hour format has a long historical identity and is deeply embedded in the daily life and culture of the regions that use it.
Cultural methods
In many other areas of the world, the erasure of traditional methods is not as widespread, and many cultures utilise a blend of traditional and modern methods that reflect their cultural nuances. This is particularly evident in global Islamic cultures, as prayer times are crucial and Muslims are expected to pray up to five times a day. This schedule is maintained year-round, and the yearly calendar also contains numerous religious holidays depending upon the movement of celestial bodies, as the month begins with the new crescent moon in the Islamic calendar, and astrology remains a key focus of their festivals and celebrations.
Similarly, whilst the majority of the Indian subcontinent follows the standard 12-hour and 24-hour clock formats, the landmass still contains rural areas and cultures that utilise traditional time units as cultural measurements. Although they rarely depend upon them for modern-day timekeeping, these traditional and cultural attitudes towards time continue to coexist with contemporary methods despite the rapid global modernisation.
How to tell the time with EasyRead Time Teacher
The enduring popularity of cultural timekeeping methods alongside modern practices highlights the complexity of how humans perceive and manage time, and understanding these varied timekeeping approaches offers valuable insights into the social fabric of different cultures, reflecting each community’s values and routines.
The range of clocks offered by Easy Read Time Teacher reflects this widespread diversity, accommodating the different time-telling styles that shape our daily experiences and interactions. So, whether you are searching for an English, French, Spanish, or Welsh clock to learn to tell the time with, explore our full range today and find the best resources for your needs.
Are your children having trouble telling the time? For many children, learning to tell time is one of the first academic concepts they are introduced to and it can be an overwhelming and complex challenge, which is why we offer a range of interactive games that take the pressure off learning. Whether your child prefers snap, bingo, or wants to try our TwinTime Cards, all of our games are teaching aids designed to walk you through the stages of reading the time and help children tell the time while providing hours of enjoyment. By incorporating elements of play and engagement, these time teaching games will ensure that your kids are excited to learn and practice telling the time, so whether your child is just starting out or needs a little extra practice, these games are here to lend a helping hand.
Learning through play
When it comes to teaching children new concepts, it is important to make the learning process interactive and engaging rather than stressing the importance of learning these core skills, as this can be overwhelming for young children. Time-telling is an abstract concept that can be difficult for children to grasp, but as an inherently visual activity, it is easy to incorporate games and activities into the learning process. By reframing this learning as a fun activity, particularly one that is shared with other children or loved ones, children are more likely to retain the information and develop a strong skill set whilst maintaining a positive attitude towards the subject.
At EasyRead, our core goal is to make learning as easy and accessible as possible for people of all ages and abilities. To this end, we have developed a range of time teaching games and teaching aids that are perfect for use at home, in school, or on the go to help children tell the time. Rather than confining learning to desks or the kitchen table, our games are intended to be used as a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy that reinforce our teaching system and make learning easy for all, so let’s explore our range of exciting games together.
1. Snap
Snap is a classic game that has long been one of the easiest games to play, and with our Tell the Time Cards, it is easily adapted to support children as they learn and engage with time. By blending the academic concepts with a fun, stimulating game, parents and children can enjoy a classic game with a twist that can be played by all.
Instead of matching numbers or images, the game revolves around matching cards that share the same time. Each pack of our cards contains 60 playing cards, which between them show 15 different times of the day, for a total number of 4 cards for each time, for a simple game of mix and match that is best played with 3 or more players.
Interested in learning how to play? Here are our instructions:
⦁ Shuffle the cards and deal them all out equally between players, face-down.
⦁ To begin the game, one player turns over the top card from their face-down pile and places it face-up in front of them, reading aloud the time on the card.
⦁ Players repeat this action, one after the other, going clockwise around the group.
⦁ If any two top cards on the players face-up piles read the same time this is a “snap”.
⦁ The first person to say “snap!” and put their hand on the table wins the round. The winner takes all the face-up cards on the table, shuffles them, puts them to the back of their pile and starts the next round.
⦁ The overall winner of the game is the player who is left with the most cards.
Finish up the game by counting up the cards and enjoy a simple yet educational game again and again with our Level 1, Level 2, and Level 1 & 2 sets.
2. Matching pairs
Matching Pairs is a popular memory game, and our Time Cards modify this classic game to teach children how to read the time. Instead of matching identical pictures, our games encourage children to match cards with the same time displayed on them.
This game can be played at home with one or more players, or at school with a classroom of players by following these instructions:
⦁ Shuffle all the cards and spread them across a table face-up.
⦁ Set a timer to three minutes. The player should find as many pairs of matching cards as they can within the time constraint. Two cards showing the same time makes a pair.
⦁ After the three minutes the players should read aloud the times on their matching pairs and count their pairs.
⦁ If there is more than one player, repeat this process for each player and create a league table. The overall winner is the player who finds the most pairs in three minutes.
As a straightforward visual game, this game and Snap are best played with our Level 1 cards, but if you are feeling more confident, then why not try playing with our Level 2 cards to match the time as either minutes past and to, or by how it would appear on the 12/24 hour clock.
3. Buddy-Up
Buddy-Up encourages collaborative learning and teamwork, and in this game, children are encouraged to develop their understanding of how time appears on a clock. The aim of this activity is for all players to find their “Time Buddy”, or whoever has a card that matches their own, and in order to play each participant must be able to clearly identify the time on their own card. This game is best played with a large group of players so try it today by following the instructions below:
⦁ Sort the cards so that each player has one card and a “Time Buddy” eg, with a class of 30 sort 15 pairs.
⦁ Hand a card to each player, players must not show each other their card.
⦁ To find their “Time Buddy”, players must ask each other, ‘what time are you?’
⦁ Players must reply with the time on their card.
⦁ Players who find their “Time Buddy” must form a pair. The game ends when all the players have paired up.
This game not only improves children’s time-reading skills, but it also helps them develop communication and social skills, so pick up a set of our cards today.
4. Bingo
For another time-teaching twist on a classic game, Bingo is easily adapted to help children read and understand time by playing with our cards. As a slightly more complicated game, this particular activity is best played with up to 6 players or groups, and instead of calling out numbers, the caller calls out a list of times and the players mark off the corresponding time on their bingo cards, like so:
⦁ Shuffle all the cards and deal out 9 to each player/ group, face-up on a table.
⦁ Choose who is going to be the ‘caller’. The caller must call out a time from the ‘times list’.
⦁ If any of the players/ groups have a card that matches the time the caller reads out, they should turn it face-down on the table.
⦁ The game is won by the player/ group who is the first to have all their cards face-down. When this happens, shout ‘bingo!’
⦁ The caller should check that the cards of the winning player/group match with the times that have been called out. If the cards do not match, the game should resume.
This game helps children practise reading and recognising different times in a fun and interactive way, and also encourages focus and attention to detail as the players must listen carefully to the caller and quickly locate the corresponding time on their bingo cards.
5. TwinTime Cards
Alongside our time-telling cards, we also offer our specialist TwinTime Student Cards for a hands-on approach to teaching time and introducing primary school numeracy. These innovative cards are double-sided and feature a Past & To dial on one side and a 24-hour time dial on the other, with independently movable hands. Made from high gloss write on wipe off PVC sheet, pupils are encouraged to write down the time displayed on the clock, fostering hands-on learning and putting pupils in control of all their learning.
Ideal for mastering time skills, these cards also facilitate learning to count forwards and backwards from 30, understanding fractions, and counting in 5s and 10s. Available in 15 x 20 cm for pupils and 32 x 39 cm for teachers or adults, they also facilitate classroom-wide demonstrations, as well as one-to-one sessions between parents and children, and are available individually or in boxes of 10 for group activities.
These cards not only help children tell the time and practise reading the time, but it also improves their ability to quickly calculate time intervals and understand the relationship between different times.
Games to help children tell the time
By incorporating these interactive and enjoyable time teaching games into their learning routine, you can make the learning process a fun and memorable experience for your child, so develop their social skills and reinforce their abilities by picking up a pack of our cards and start playing today!
Are you struggling to support and encourage your child who can’t tell time? From the ages of 6 and 7, your child will be taught this life skill in schools, but if your little one is struggling or falling behind, then don’t worry – whilst this is likely a source of worry for your family, teaching children to independently read the time is often a challenging task and will probably require the use of additional resources and extra support. That’s why, at EasyRead Time Teacher, we are dedicated to making learning how to tell the time an accessible and engaging experience for any child or adult who can’t tell time. From engaging aids, to our EasyRead clocks, our resources and interactive tools make learning a fun and engaging experience and support parents and children alike to become confident in telling time.
The struggle of telling time
Learning how to read and understand the time is a crucial skill for any young child’s development. Not only is it important for their syllabus and academic development, but it also helps them understand the concept of the passing of time, manage their daily routines, and develop a sense of responsibility. However, some children may find it challenging to grasp this concept, leading to frustration, a sense of falling behind their peers, and concerns around their own capabilities. If your child can’t tell time or is struggling, then it’s important to identify the signs early on and understand the common reasons behind their difficulties.
The most obvious sign that your child is struggling with telling the time is their inability to read analogue clocks or understand the relationship between the hour and minute hands. For young children, many of the challenges come from low level confusion that arises in the moment, rather than a deep-rooted confusion around the passage of time and the overwhelming responsibility of learning to track this passage. However, if your child’s confusion comes from being unable to understand the relationship between numbers and time, or struggling with concepts like half past, quarter past, and quarter to, then their learning will greatly benefit from the inclusion of resources, games, or real-life examples into their daily routine. Additionally, if your child is consistently late or struggles to manage their personal time effectively, it could be an indication that they need additional support to develop their understanding of time.
Supportive strategies to help your child
If your child is having trouble developing this life skill, don’t worry – these difficulties are much more common than many parents realise, and there are several strategies you can employ to support their learning and help them become confident in this essential skill:
1. Use visual aids and resources: Visual aids, such as our EasyRead clocks, provide a tangible representation of time and make it easier for children to understand the relationship between the hour and minute hands. Our clocks and resources feature colour-coded circles for the different hands and clear labels for the 12/24 hour and past and to methods, making it easier for children to break down the overwhelming concept of time into smaller, actionable steps that make it easier to interpret the time.
2. Create a daily routine: Establishing a consistent daily routine is a quick and accessible way to help children develop their understanding of time progression and how it relates to their daily activities. Set regular times for meals, bedtime, and activities, and involve your child in following the schedule by encouraging them to remind you of the time, or by regularly asking them what time they perform a specific task and how much time they have left before then.
3. Break it down: Time is an overwhelming concept for small children, especially when faced with analogue clocks and complex concepts. In order to break down the learning process into smaller, manageable steps, start by teaching them to identify the hours, then move on to the half-hour, quarter-hour, and so on, backed up by consistently asking them to practise telling you the time. Gradually introduce more complex concepts as they become comfortable with the basics, including switching to the 12/24 hour method or introducing a digital clock.
4. Make it fun: Learning should be an enjoyable experience for children, particularly when learning an important skill that they will need to use for the rest of their lives. Incorporating games, activities, and resources into their time-telling practice will help your child come to see time as a puzzle to be solved, or an engaging activity, rather than a complex or overwhelming task, and will develop a positive relationship with managing their own time.
By employing these supportive strategies, you can help your child overcome their difficulties and develop a solid foundation in reading and understanding time. If you’re interested in exploring key educational resources to boost their understanding and practise reading the time, explore our recommendations below.
⦁ Using clocks for teaching and practising
Analogue and EasyRead clocks are invaluable tools when teaching children to understand and practise their time telling abilities. They provide a clear and easy-to-read display of the time, down to the minute, making it simpler for children to identify the current time quickly and with minimal confusion. Introducing clocks throughout your home creates a learning environment in which your child is constantly exposed to time-telling opportunities, without becoming overwhelmed by these new concepts, so here are some of our key recommendations.
- EasyRead Wall Clock: Hang this wall clock in your child’s bedroom or in their play area for the ideal introduction to reading the time. With their clear, easy-to-read designs and silent operation, our colourful clocks use either the past & to or 12/24 hour teaching methods and are perfect for the whole family to use to support your little ones’ time-telling skills.
- EasyRead Alarm Clock: Our alarm clocks feature a large, clear display with a simple design, silent sweeping movements, and an LED nightlight for a discreet and useful addition to your child’s bedside. They’re perfect for teaching children the basics of time-telling and means that they are able to read their clock if they wake up in the middle of the night, or if they wake up before it is time to get out of bed. They also feature a crescendo alarm and a built-in light sensor that matches the brightness of the room according to your child’s preferences.
- EasyRead Wrist Watch: A wristwatch is a portable and practical way for your child to practise reading the time on their own terms throughout the day. With their clear, colour-coded dials and simple teaching method, our watches make it easy for children to practise their time-telling abilities wherever they go, making it the ideal first watch for children aged 4 and above.
By incorporating our clocks into your home decor and your child’s daily routine, you can create a supportive environment for your child to practise and reinforce their time-telling skills.
⦁ Using games to practise and reinforce time-telling skills
Learning to read a clock doesn’t have to be a tedious task, particularly if your child is struggling more than their peers or is becoming overwhelmed by having to practise a skill that they don’t yet fully understand. To combat this, there are numerous fun activities and games you can incorporate into your child’s learning that will not only engage them, but also provide opportunities for them to practise and reinforce their time-telling capabilities whilst playing with friends or family.
If this sounds like the best course of action for you to take with your child who can’t tell time, then here is a rundown of our recommended activities and games from our range:
- Tell the Time Cards: Our cards feature engaging, interactive designs that support children to practise reading and interpreting the time at home. Our easy-to-use cards feature different times of the day and can be played in various ways, such as snap, matching pairs, buddy-up, and bingo, and are designed to cater to the abilities and needs of different age groups, ensuring that children of all ages can engage and learn at their own pace.
- TwinTime Cards: Our TwinTime Cards offer a unique and hands-on approach to interactive time telling practice. With a Past & To dial on one side and a 24-hour time dial on the other, our double-sided cards allow children to independently move the hands to display different times, and then quiz family members or friends on the displayed time. This game enhances children’s understanding of both methods of reading a clock and encourages critical thinking, but also supports other skills like counting forwards and backwards, learning fractions, and counting in 5s and 10s.
By incorporating these activities and games into your child’s learning routine, you can make the time-telling process an enjoyable and interactive experience.
⦁ Collaborative learning
Working with your child’s teacher to support their learning and develop a coordinated approach to practising is a proactive way to ensure your child has all the support and resources that they need. Teachers have access to various resources and strategies that can complement your efforts at home, including playground clocks and classroom sets, so, take the time to discuss your child’s struggles with their teacher and work together to identify the best strategies and resources to support their learning. This collaboration between home and school will provide your child with a well-rounded and consistent approach to learning this important life skill, giving them the best possible opportunity to overcome their struggles.
Celebrating your child’s progress with EasyRead Time Teacher
Teaching and supporting your child may present challenges, but with patience, support, and the right resources, they can develop this essential skill. If your child currently can’t tell time, then be sure to celebrate their progress, no matter how small, and continue to utilise our range of resources and aids to make the learning process engaging and enjoyable for both you and your child.
Explore our full range today, and equip your child with the resources and confidence they need to develop valuable time-management skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Are you looking for the perfect educational gift to put under the Christmas tree this year? Whether your little one has recently begun learning how to tell the time, or if you are planning on teaching them in the new year, a children’s wall clock is a meaningful and practical gift that will give them the best introduction to telling the time. With age-appropriate designs and engaging visuals, our children’s clocks include all the information a young child needs to begin learning how to tell the time, so read on to explore why one of our specialist learning tools should be on your Christmas shopping list this year.
Educational Design
Combining the joy of learning to tell time with a fun and colourful design, our EasyRead children’s clock is the perfect addition to any child’s bedroom or playroom. Designed with children in mind, and specially created to simplify the time-teaching process, our clocks feature large, easy-to-read numbers, and big black hands that clearly stand out against the colourful background to precisely demonstrate the exact time.
This simple and intuitive design makes it easy for children to practise telling the time and functions as an excellent educational tool for this essential life skill. Depending upon the requirements of your little one, our clocks are available with the two simple teaching methods ‘minutes past & to’; and ’12/24 hour’, and the EasyRead 2 or 3-step teaching method clearly leads your child through the process of learning to tell the time. This clear educational design also carries all the information children need to learn how to tell the time, including every hour and minute of the day on the 12/24 hour clock, whilst the minutes past & to design is clearly divided into 4 quarter-hour sections. Both of these methods allow children to quickly and easily identify the minute and hour hand, and to understand how both hands work together to demonstrate the passage of time, rather than simply reading the hands without understanding how they represent a specific moment in time.
Our designs go deeper than surface level reading, and with our easy teaching methods and visually-engaging, clear clock faces, your child will be able to learn how to read the time quickly and easily this Christmas.
Excellent Decoration
Our children’s wall clocks are not just learning tools to help your child develop their time-telling skills; they also serve as visually appealing decorations for your child’s room. With their bright and colourful design, our clocks are designed to make learning to tell the time an enjoyable and engaging experience for kids of all ages whilst helping to add a touch of fun and child-friendly decor to the room.
The clock is available in a range of colours and designs, so you can choose the perfect one to match your child’s room or personality, as well as their preferred time-telling method. Whether they would prefer a subtle, simple white design, or our red & blue or rainbow faces, our colourful design brighten up any bedroom, and the large face size makes it easy to read from across the room, giving your child access to the exact time no matter where they are in the room.
With bright colours and age-appropriate educational designs, our children’s wall clocks make learning to tell the time an enjoyable and engaging experience for kids of all ages, whilst helping develop their cognitive and organisational skills.
Establish Routine
As we all know, a child’s routine is created for them, either by a parent or carer, or by their nursery or school. As the majority of their time is planned out for them, children often don’t have a clear understanding of the passage of time or the significance of allocating time to different tasks throughout the day until they come to learn how to tell the time. By investing in a wall clock for your child, you can introduce them to these wider concepts in their own time, allowing them to develop their own understanding.
By having a visual representation of the passing hours on their own bedroom or playroom wall, children can establish a sense of routine and structure in their day as they learn to read the time. They can observe how their different activities correspond with the movement of the hands on the clock face, which is also an excellent way to introduce them to the concept of time management. This introduction can be particularly beneficial during the Christmas holidays, as the children will not have their daily routine from school or nursery and may be off their usual schedule. They can instead make their own, by allocating time for reading, playing, or spending time with family, or simply by observing the passage of time during the activities and explaining how much time has passed during each event. Similarly, the Christmas holidays are an excellent opportunity to use their free time to practise learning how to tell the time and to arrange a variety of festive time-telling activities, such as counting down how many hours until Father Christmas visits, or until they visit family on Christmas day.
Investing in a durable, reliable, and engaging clock that has been specifically designed to support children’s learning and development is an excellent way to prioritise your child’s cognitive development and time-telling skills. By introducing them to these skills now, you can ensure that they have developed a familiarity with the passage of time, and are ready to hit the ground running with their new skills once they head back to school or nursery, ready to build on their knowledge and excel at telling the time.
Give the gift of time with an EasyRead children’s wall clock
With its simple design, bright colours, and easy-to-read numbers, our EasyRead children’s wall clock is the perfect Christmas gift to support your child in learning how to tell the time. Our children’s wall clocks are designed with children in mind, helping your little ones develop essential skills while adorning their room with style, so why not add this engaging and practical educational gift to your shopping list.
Explore our range of children’s clocks today, or check out our EasyRead watches and alarm clocks for more excellent stocking fillers.
Are you struggling with how to tell the time as an adult? Whether you have always struggled with telling time or you want to improve your time-telling abilities, then our resources are here to help you master this essential skill. We understand the importance of clear and simple time-telling methods, and our range of time-teaching watches, clocks, and innovative aids are designed specifically to help adults learn how to tell the time.
How to Tell the Time as An Adult
Learning to tell the time can be a daunting task, especially for adults who may have missed out on mastering this skill during their childhood years. Here at EasyRead Time Teacher, our team recognises this need and offers a range of specialist resources designed to support adult learners. Whether you prefer a traditional clock, a stylish watch, or interactive games and aids, EasyRead Time Teacher has you covered.
Clocks
Our EasyRead clocks are the perfect addition to any kitchen, office, or living room, and with their sleek design and range of colours, our clocks blend into any interior decor. So, whether you prefer a classic white clock or a vibrant red one, there is a clock to suit your personal taste, and with their silent sweep motion there is no distracting ticking sound, allowing you to focus on telling the time without any unnecessary noise.
The unique design of the clock contains all the information you need, ensuring that you can easily read the time at a glance. The large, clear numbers on the dial make it easy for adults to distinguish between the hours and minutes, eliminating any confusion that may arise from more complex clock designs, and our clocks are available with either the ‘minutes past and to’ or ’12 /24 hour’ method, depending upon which method you are most comfortable or familiar with.
Explore our range of wall clocks and alarm clocks and pick the best option for your unique requirements.
Watches
For adults who prefer a more portable time-telling solution, our EasyRead watches are the perfect choice. Available in a wide range of colours, with the option of a fully waterproof model, EasyRead has a practical and stylish watch to suit every individual’s taste and requirements. With easy-to-use, adjustable straps, you can adjust the strap to fit your wrist comfortably, and swap them for different colours depending upon your outfit. The straps are also easily changed, allowing you to switch between different colours and patterns to match your mood or outfit, and with up to medium adult size, these watches provide a comfortable fit for most individuals.
The watch face itself is designed with simplicity and clarity in mind. The large, bold numbers make it easy to distinguish between the hours and minutes, ensuring that you can accurately read the time, and the clear labelling of “past” and “to” also helps adults understand the concept of time progression, making it easier to interpret the exact time displayed on the watch.
Master this essential life skill with our range of EasyRead watches.
Games & Aids
Sometimes, a little extra practice and reinforcement can go a long way in learning how to tell the time as an adult. We offer a range of interactive resources, games and aids, that are specifically designed to make the learning process fun and engaging to help reinforce your understanding of time-telling concepts and improve your overall proficiency.
One of our most popular games is the Tell The Time Card Game, which combines the fun of a traditional card game with the educational aspect of learning to tell the time. These cards can be used to play various games including snap, matching pairs, and bingo, so you can get the whole family involved. Each pack contains 60 playing cards showing the different times of day and by matching the digital and analogue times on the cards, players can improve their ability to read and interpret different time formats, making them a versatile tool for adult learners.
In addition to our Tell The Time Card Games, we also offer TwinTime Cards to support adults in their time-telling journey. These aids are a hands-on, double-sided teaching resource that features a Past & To dial on one side and a 24-hour time dial on the other side, with moveable hands on both sides. These cards are made from wipeable PVC and have a space below to write the time displayed on the clock, designed to provide additional practice and reinforcement and are also a great tool for practising fractions and counting backwards if this is an area in which you could benefit from additional practice or support.
We understand that every individual learns how to tell the time differently, which is why our games and aids cater to various learning styles. The visual nature of these aids helps adults develop a stronger understanding of time-telling concepts and enhances their ability to read and interpret different clock formats, so no matter your preferred method of learning, there is an EasyRead game or aid that can help you on your time-telling journey.
Explore our range of games, aids, and resources today.
Learn How to Tell the Time with EasyRead Time Teacher
Learning how to tell the time as an adult does not have to be a complex or daunting task. With our range of specialist resources, you can confidently improve your time-telling abilities and master this essential skill with the tools you need to succeed, so embrace the simplicity and clarity of our innovative solutions today.
It has been recently revealed that many primary school children are behind in terms of maths ability and learning, with young children often being weeks behind pre-lockdown norms. So, what can we do to support teachers and children in the classroom? Our innovative and effective time teaching resources are specifically designed to engage and empower students and support their maths learning. We aim to make the learning process both enjoyable and easy-to-understand, and with our comprehensive collection of materials, primary school children can easily explore important maths concepts and develop a clear understanding of maths. From interactive games and worksheets to engaging activities and real-life examples, our time teaching resources provide a well-rounded approach to maths learning, so read on to explore our time teaching resources.
The Importance of Maths
A good, working understanding of key mathematical concepts, and their relevance to day-to-day life is a crucial aspect of a child’s education. This understanding is not just important for academic success and basic addition – it also helps them develop problem-solving skills and enhances their critical thinking abilities. From managing finances to interpreting data, maths is an integral part of everyday life, and it is essential for children to have a solid understanding of maths from an early age.
From a young age, children are exposed to numbers and basic mathematical concepts, such as telling the time – but as they progress through primary school, the complexity of maths increases and it becomes necessary to provide them with additional tools, resources, and clear demonstrations to support their learning. However, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the subsequent lockdowns, children of all ages have not had access to the hands-on learning process, and the resources that they need to develop their maths abilities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted education in various ways, and one of the areas that has been the most affected is maths learning. A recent report by the Education Policy Institute has highlighted how much primary school pupils are struggling with maths post-COVID. The report reveals a growing mathematical skills gap in the wake of the pandemic, with primary school children being 5 weeks behind in their learning when compared to expectations prior to the outbreak.
This report, hailed as a ‘wakeup call’ for politicians and policymakers alike, demonstrates that education recovery after the pandemic is not achieving the results that it needs to ensure every child is learning at the required level. The lack of in-person interaction over lockdown has greatly impacted this, as maths often requires hands-on activities and collaborative learning, and the absence of regular classroom routines and face-to-face teaching has made it difficult for children to grasp new concepts and receive immediate feedback. Finally, even if all of these factors weren’t an issue, many children lacked access to technology or struggled with the transition to virtual learning environments, putting them at even more of a disadvantage.
How Our Time Teaching Resources Can Help
At EasyRead, we understand the importance of providing effective tools to support maths learning, particularly with the nationwide push to get primary school learning back on track.
Our time teaching resources are designed to engage students and facilitate their understanding of important mathematical concepts. With a range of interactive games, worksheets, activities, and real-life examples, our resources offer a comprehensive approach to teaching maths. So, let’s explore our range of time teaching resources.
EasyRead Classroom Clocks
One of our key time teaching resources is the EasyRead Classroom Clock. This specially designed clock incorporates unique features that make it easier for children to learn and understand the concept of time, including:
⦁ A large, clear face that divides the hour into simple segments, allowing children to easily distinguish between minutes and hours.
⦁ The minute hand is longer and thinner, while the hour hand is shorter and thicker, and both hands move within a clearly designated ring, making it easy for children to read the time accurately.
⦁ Available with either the 12/24 Hour or Past & Two teaching method, depending upon the requirements of each school.
By using the Easy Read clock in the classroom, teachers can actively engage students in learning about time. The clock’s design encourages hands-on interaction and enables children to practise reading analogue time independently, as well as making it much easier for them to confidently recognise numbers. This resource not only enhances their mathematical skills but also cultivates a sense of time management and punctuality, and helps pupils to apply their new skills to their day to day lives by using the clock to observe the passage of time during a lesson or to see for themselves how much time is left until the end of the day.
EasyRead TwinTime Cards
In addition to the classroom clock, our EasyRead TwinTime Cards provide another valuable resource for supporting maths learning. These cards feature a unique double-sided design that allows children to practise both analogue and digital time and helps them make connections between the two.
By using these cards in the classroom, teachers can create engaging activities and games that promote active participation and consolidate pupils’ understanding of time. Either use the cards with the classroom clock, or Teacher Cards, by asking them to write the time down on their cards, or pair the pupils up and encourage them to interact with each other and support each other’s learning through play.
Our cards are also excellent for introducing further mathematical concepts, such as addition, subtraction, and fractions: simply use our cards to count forwards and backwards from 30, count in multiples of 5s and 10s, and discuss how the clock face can be divided into fractions in the form of half an hour, a quarter of an hour, and 10 minutes.
EasyRead Tell the Time Card Games
Our Tell the Time Cards build upon the skills learnt through our clocks and games, and focus in more detail on specific time concepts, such as quarter past, half past, and quarter to the hour.
Each card presents a visual representation of the time, allowing children to practise reading and interpreting different times through familiar games such as snap, matching pairs, buddy-up, and bingo. By incorporating these cards into classroom activities, teachers can create hands-on opportunities for students to explore different time scenarios and strengthen their time-telling skills.
Easy Read Classroom Sets
To provide a comprehensive maths learning experience, we also offer EasyRead Classroom Sets. These sets include a combination of classroom clocks, TwinTime cards, and tell the time cards, providing teachers with a complete toolkit for supporting students’ mathematical development.
By using the classroom sets, teachers can create a dynamic learning environment that caters to different learning styles and abilities. The combination of visual and interactive resources in the sets ensures that all children have access to effective tools for understanding and mastering time concepts, and creates a collaborative learning environment for all pupils to develop their own skills and support their classmates.
Choosing the Right Time Teaching Resources
Selecting the right time teaching resources for your students is crucial to their maths learning journey. When choosing from our range of resources, it is essential to consider the specific needs and abilities of your students by assessing their current level of understanding and identifying any areas where they require additional support. This is more important than ever in light of the recent reporting around the current mathematical skills gap in UK primary schools.
If your students are just beginning to learn about time, then our Classroom Clock is an excellent introduction to telling time. The clock provides a visual and interactive approach to time learning, and is always available on the wall for pupils to engage with and practise their new skills.
Once the students have built up a familiarity with the core concept of time and a basic understanding of how to tell time on their own, then our cards are an excellent way to consolidate their skills. They are also an excellent choice for students who are more advanced and need reinforcement in specific time concepts, and cater to different learning styles and abilities, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed in learning how to tell the time.
Supporting Pupils and Teachers with Our Time Teaching Resources
The challenges in maths learning post-COVID highlight the need for effective resources to support students in their mathematical development, and our time teaching resources offer a range of innovative and engaging materials designed to create a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning.
Explore our full range today to find the perfect resources to bridge the gap in maths ability and promote a hands-on approach to telling time in your classroom.
Are you or your little ones having trouble with how to tell the time on a clock with hands? With screens and digital devices dominating our daily lives, it’s no surprise that analogue clocks can be confusing in the digital age. It’s not uncommon for children to feel confused and frustrated by analogue clocks, and for learning how to tell the time to become a daunting task. That’s why, at EasyRead Time Teacher, we offer a range of clocks, watches, and fun games designed to make learning to read analogue clocks much easier for children and adults alike.
Analogue time-telling challenges
In today’s digital age, children and adults are surrounded by screens and digital devices that display time in a digital format. The unfamiliarity with analogue clocks can lead to confusion and frustration, making it difficult for children to grasp the concept of time once they begin to learn how to tell the time in nursery or primary school. Any confusion or challenges children face can be made worse if their parents experience confusion when using an analogue clock. As many adults rely solely on their phones to tell the time, and don’t often use analogue clocks, it can be confusing for them to return to analogue clocks to support their children’s learning. As a result, the concept of reading time on a traditional clock with hands can be a challenge, but it remains an essential life skill.
The most common, and potentially the most confusing, challenge that children face when learning how to tell time is the use of numbers and divisions on the clock face. Unlike digital clocks that display the time in a clear, straightforward manner, analogue clocks require children to tell the time themselves. Digital clocks show only the time, and don’t contain any additional numbers that can cause confusion, whereas analogue clocks require children to interpret the position of the hands in relation to the numbers on the clock face. This can be a cognitive hurdle for many children, as it requires spatial reasoning and the ability to mentally divide the clock face into segments.
Another complex challenge children face when reading the time is understanding the relationship between the hour and minute hands. The varying lengths of the hands and their distinct movements can be confusing, especially for young children. It can also be hard for them to identify which hand is which, as the majority of clock designs contain hands of the same colour which can cause the hands to appear as similar lengths to each other. Additionally, the minute hand’s continuous movement can be overwhelming, making it hard for children to determine the exact time, particularly if the hand moves gradually rather than jumping between the minutes.
The digital age has undoubtedly played a role in exacerbating these challenges. Children are constantly exposed to digital clocks on their electronic devices, which provide an instant and precise representation of time. However, this reduces an understanding of time to four simple numbers on a screen, rather than requiring a working understanding of the passage of time and how the key components of a clock work together to demonstrate the time. This stark contrast to analogue clocks can make it difficult for children to understand why analogue clocks are still relevant and necessary to learn.
Overcoming time-telling struggles with our clocks
We offer a range of innovative clocks specifically designed to help children and adults overcome their struggles with reading analogue time, and these are useful resources that can be used by the whole family. Our wall clocks and alarm clocks feature a unique design and a combination of design elements that simplify the process of telling time, making it more accessible and less daunting to learn how to tell the time.
Clear numbers
One of the key features of our clocks is the clear and distinct labelling of the hour and minute sections of the clock. There are two key sections of the clock, with an inner ring showing the hours, with the hour hand clearly embedded within this ring to clearly show the time. The second, larger ring runs around the edge of the clock, and breaks up each minute into clear sections. This separation between the different hands helps children and adults differentiate between the two and makes it easy to visualise and understand their respective functions.
Past and to design
Our EasyRead clocks also feature a unique “minutes past” and “minutes to” design at the centre of the clock face. Instead of relying solely on numbers, these clocks use the phrases “minutes past” and “minutes to” to indicate the time. This approach helps children understand the concept of time progression and the relationship between hours and minutes. Subtle markers for the quarter hours, as well as an “o’clock” reminder at the top of the face, complete this comprehensively scaffolded design.
By using phrases rather than numbers, children can develop a more intuitive understanding of time and its progression, making it easier for them to articulate the passage of time rather than simply reading numbers that they may not fully understand. As well as the “minutes past & to” method, our clocks are available with the “12/24” hour option as well, depending on the preferences of your child, yourself, or the whole household. These designs include all 60 minutes of each hour, and the 24 hours of the day rather than the initial 12 on our “past & to” designs.
Time teaching
Our clocks come with a step-by-step teaching method that gradually introduces children to different aspects of reading time. The clocks include a detailed instruction manual that guides parents and teachers on how to tell the time, helping parents to effectively teach children to read analogue time. The step-by-step approach ensures that users of our clocks can build their time-telling skills progressively, leading to improved confidence and accuracy.
Improving time-telling skills with our watches
In addition to our wall clocks and alarm clocks, we also offer watches designed to further enhance users’ time-telling skills by serving as an opportunity, and a constant reminder, to practise reading analogue time in real-life situations. Available with either the “minutes to & past” method or our 24-hour clock designs, our watches are designed to accommodate the method that your child, or yourself if you are keen to improve your analogue time-telling abilities, prefers.
Our watches, like our clocks, are designed with clarity and simplicity in mind, and our watches feature the same innovative design elements as our clocks, making it easier for children to transfer their time-telling skills. This consistency in learning and practising makes it easier to implement long-term recall and for users to practise their new skills wherever they are. By regularly using their watch to track the passing time, children can learn to manage their daily activities and develop their time management skills. This skill becomes especially valuable as they grow older and face more structured schedules and time-bound tasks.
Whatever your child’s style preferences or lifestyle requirements, our range of watches will have the perfect solution. As well as offering the time-telling method that best suits your requirements, our watches also come water-resistant as standard with the option for a fully waterproof watch for users who spend the majority of their time outdoors or engaging in physical activity. Choose the time-telling method of their choice and pair with a watch strap in their favourite colour, or our camo option, for a personalised, stylish daily accessory that encourages your child to actively read analogue time.
Making time-telling fun with our games and resources
Here at EasyRead Time Teacher, we believe that learning should be a fun and interactive experience. That’s why we offer specially-designed time teaching games and resources that go hand in hand with our clocks and watches, making time-telling an enjoyable activity for users of all ages.
As well as the EasyRead leaflet that comes with our clocks to introduce the time-telling methods we offer, our tell-the-time card games are one of our most useful and engaging resources. The card games allow children, and members of the whole family, to practise their time-telling skills at their own pace at home. The concept of the games is to reinforce understanding through repetition, and the game can be repeated as many times as needed thanks to the 60 playing cards showing 15 different times of day.
By creating an association with family time and an engaging game, our cards keep children motivated and interested in learning, as well as making telling the time an interesting challenge, rather than a tedious lesson. We take the outdated methods of teaching children how to tell the time and remodel them to suit the requirements of 21st century learning, as well as framing the concept of time in an accessible, easy-to-follow way. By bridging the gap between school, home, and free time, our resources ensure a comprehensive approach to telling time, and encourage users of all ages to develop their time-telling skills and gain a deeper understanding of time and its relevance in our daily lives.
Overcome how to tell the time struggles with EasyRead
Learning to tell the time on a clock with hands may seem like a challenging task in today’s digital age, but with the help of our clocks, watches and games, children and users of all ages can overcome these struggles with how to tell the time and develop a strong understanding of an analogue clock.
By simplifying the process and making it enjoyable and accessible, our resources empower our users to confidently read time and develop essential time management skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. So, explore our full range today and find the perfect EasyRead support system for your little ones’ learning.
As students up and down the country return to school after Easter, now is the perfect time to stock up on the latest and best teaching materials for your classroom. As an educator, you know how important it is to have the right tools to help your students learn and stay on track, and with a variety of specialist designs and colours to choose from, our teaching time clocks are perfect for any classroom or teaching style. Our classroom resources, including playground clocks and card game resources, are perfect for daily use in a classroom and ensure that you have a consistent approach to teaching time. So, get ready for the new term with confidence and ease, and let our range of time-teaching products do the hard work for you.
Time Teaching Clocks
If you are planning on introducing your pupils to the concept of time this term, or building on their existing time-telling skills, then our time teaching clocks are an excellent resource for your classroom wall. Our clocks are specially designed to contain all the information that a child needs to learn how to tell the time, with easy-to-read numbers and colour-coded segments to ensure every student can access the resource from any part of the room.
View our full range of teaching time clocks here.
“The children found it so helpful to learn about which half of the clock shows past and quarter, including all the different intervals, because it is colour-coded! They also have these really cool children’s watches, which have the exact same face as the teaching clock, so I will definitely be putting this up in my classroom!”
@ nrashid_x
Twin Time Cards
Our TwinTime Student Cards offer an excellent and engaging opportunity for pupils to practise telling the time. Each card can be used individually, for a more formal test, or in groups to encourage pupils to support each other and are also an effective resource for introducing students to elements of the primary school numeracy curriculum. The cards are designed to be durable and long-lasting, as well as easy to maintain, with a high-gloss, write-on wipe-off PVC sheet, and ample room for the students to fill in the time displayed on the clock.
View our TwinTime Student Cards here.
“Easy Read Time Teacher has this amazing wall clock which I just absolutely love: it splits up the concept of time really simply and it’s a great visual for children to use. And I just love the student teaching aid that they can write on with whiteboard pens. I love the durability of this and it’s great for working through problems with children one-to-one.”
@ missvanbeck
Watches
Our EasyRead wrist watches come with the same clear face designs and teaching methods as our clocks, for a consistent and comprehensive approach to teaching time. Whilst many of your pupils will no doubt already have their own watches, having a designated classroom watch offers many opportunities for pupils to practise their time-telling abilities. For example, the pupils can take it in turns to be the class Time Monitor, who keeps track of their daily routine, or who the other students can ask to tell them the time, creating an engaging and practical time-telling environment that encourages all pupils to participate.
“Telling the time is a fundamental skill, and it’s so important to get the teaching of time right (..) I can’t wait to teach time, so I can use some of the great resources provided by EasyReadTimeTeacher. I can’t wait to have a time monitor, so that the children can all have a turn wearing the watch. I think they will love using it to tell the time.”
@ misscsclassroom92
Playground Clocks
Our range of Playground Clocks feature similar face designs to our classroom clocks and watches, reinforcing their learning with uniform designs that contain all the information they need to practise telling the time during breaks. The durable and reliable weatherproof clock can be used anywhere in the school, including outdoor spaces such as playgrounds, gardens and school entrances. The powder-coated steel frame with toughened glass ensures durability and longevity and is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, making our playground clocks a worthwhile investment in your students as they learn to tell the time themselves.
Stock up on Classroom Resources for this term
Now is the perfect time to stock up on the latest and best classroom resources for your class. Our range of classroom resources, including clocks and card games, are perfect for daily use in a classroom and ensure that you have a consistent approach to teaching time.
Find the right resource for your pupils and your classroom, or explore our range of resources for use at home, in our full range of time teaching products.
Whether you are introducing time as a concept to young children, or making sure that your students can understand time through real-world examples, learning clocks are an excellent time-teaching tool. Learning clocks not only help children tell the time, but are also an effective way to introduce maths concepts such as fractions, addition and subtraction.
If you are searching for useful resources and practical tips to make the most of the learning clocks in your classroom, read on.
Time teaching
Our colourful, engaging classroom learning clocks are an excellent tool for introducing the concept of time to students. These clocks are designed to include all the information that a child needs to learn to tell time, including clearly-marked minutes, ten-minute blocks, and ‘past/to’ indicators. These straightforward visuals make it easier for children to understand and engage with the concept of time, and these time-telling skills can subsequently be applied to many mathematical activities. This can include addition and subtraction, as pupils can use the clock to add and subtract by counting minutes and hours. For example, if it is currently 10 past the hour, you can ask the children to add five minutes, which is easily achieved on our clocks.
Link to the curriculum
Our learning clocks come with curriculum notes printed on the back, making it easier for you to deliver a detailed and accessible time-telling demonstration that is linked to the curriculum. This ensures that you are teaching your students time in a way that is consistent with the expectations of their education.
The school day
Another effective way to use our learning clocks in the classroom is to link time-telling activities to the school day. Young children are more likely to engage with a concept if they can see how it relates to their own experiences, and using the clock to demonstrate their own timetable is an effective time-teaching strategy. This can be done by demonstrating when lunchtime, breaktime, or lessons begin and end, as well as encouraging them to tell the time of these scheduled activities themselves.
Pair with games
Using learning clocks as part of an educational game is another effective way to engage your students and in learning to tell time. Our TwinTime cards are perfect for this, as you set a time and ask your pupils to replicate it on their own cards, with space for them to also write in the analogue or digital time.
There are several different ways to make this game more engaging and challenging, including having the pupils work in pairs or small groups to see who can replicate the time the fastest, or who can get the most correct answers in a set amount of time. This makes the challenge of learning to tell the time a collaborative and engaging activity that can be shared with friends.
Support students with dyscalculia
For students with dyscalculia, learning to tell the time can be particularly challenging. If you have pupils with dyscalculia in your classroom, then our learning clocks are an excellent resource to support these students with minimal differentiation. The colourful, clear designs of our clocks break down the concept of time into a straightforward pattern that makes it much easier for children with dyspraxia to engage with time and numbers.
Once your students are comfortable with the basics, you can start to introduce more complex concepts, such as fractions and time zones, with our accessible designs. To support students with dyscalculia, it’s important to be patient and to provide plenty of opportunities for practice and reinforcement, which is made easy with our range of classroom resources.
Conclusion
By linking the clock to the curriculum, incorporating the students timetables, pairing it with games, and supporting students with dyscalculia, you can ensure that your students learn to tell the time in a fun and interactive way. By utilising a learning clock in your classroom, your students can develop their time-telling skills while also engaging in teamwork, friendly competition, physical activity, and memory improvement.
Why not try using learning clocks in your classroom today and see the difference they can make for your students.
Learning how to tell the time can be a challenge for any child, or adult for that matter. As well as being a requirement as part of the primary curriculum, being able to identify time and understand time as a concept is an important part of a child’s development and growth. For those who have dyscalculia, learning how to tell the time is even more challenging, and often requires special accommodations or teaching techniques. It is often hard for parents and caregivers to know how to help a child with dyscalculia learn to tell the time, as the child will engage with clocks and numbers in a different way. Time teaching resources, such as our clocks, games and aids, can make a real difference to their learning, as well as supporting adults with dyscalculia.
What is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is often referred to as ‘mathematical dyslexia’, and is a condition that involves difficulty with numbers or mathematics. The most common symptoms of dyscalculia include difficulty performing calculations, counting backwards and understanding place value, as well as weak overall mental arithmetic skills and difficulty remembering basic mathematical facts.
For those with dyscalculia, many daily activities involving numbers become difficult, such as addition and subtraction, paying for goods with cash, and telling the time. There are several practical ways that parents can help a child who struggles to tell the time due to dyscalculia, and one of the most effective is to invest in teaching products and techniques to use at home and in the classroom.
Many of these products can also support adults with dyscalculia who may struggle to tell time, as they are designed to simplify the timetelling process for people of all ages.
How to help a child with dyscalculia
If your child has dyscalculia, or is demonstrating symptoms of dyscalculia, or you yourself require assistance, then our time telling range offers fun and useful assistance in learning how to tell the time.
Clocks
For many children with dyscalculia, the hand placement and basic design of analogue clocks can be very confusing. On almost every clock, there are only 12 numbers, meaning that up to 80% of the information needed to learn how to tell the time is missing. This places those with dyscalculia at an extreme disadvantage and makes telling time a difficult task for people of all ages. Our EasyRead clocks include a clear breakdown of all 60 minutes and can be read in 3 simple steps that can be learnt quickly and memorised for a lifetime, supporting those with dyscalculia from childhood to adulthood.
This will be particularly effective when teaching your child how to recognise numbers that are close to the hour. For many children with dyscalculia, 7:55 and 8:05 will be almost identical to 8:00, so our clocks reduce the confusion around these numbers and will make learning digital time much easier later on.
Our clocks also feature bold and colourful designs and easy to read numbers to encourage engagement. Visual models, as well as engaging designs, break down the wider concept of time and make it much more accessible and easier for people with dyspraxia to tell time by combining numbers and colours in straightforward systems.
Games and Aids
Educational and fun activities are always an effective learning tool, and children with dyscalculia respond particularly well to objects and games that make time telling simple and engaging rather than complicated. Our games encourage children to interact with time and numbers outside of the clock and makes learning time fun and engaging for anyone at any age!
Our games make the challenge of telling time rewarding, rather than daunting, and can be enjoyed during family time or playtime. Many children with dyscalculia often feel confused or embarrassed when learning to tell the time, particularly in school, and our games are a low-stakes alternative to tests or worksheets. If you yourself have dyscalculia, then these games will be an effective and fun way to improve your own time telling abilities whilst supporting your child.
Finding the perfect clock
When teaching young children with dyscalculia to tell the time, or interacting with an adult with dyscalculia, the best resource you can use is a positive and patient mindset. Finding a strategy and resources that work for your child will encourage them to tackle new challenges and boost their confidence when it comes to completing other number-related activities.
To find out more about the features and benefits of our EasyRead clocks, or to discover your preferred time teaching method, please click here.
