When do children learn the concept of time? What are some helpful techniques to help children learn the passage of time before they begin school?
Children typically view time as some random thing that occurs but doesn’t really apply to their world. They have an easier time understanding time if related to their television show or the order of their daily routine. It is uncommon for a child to truly understand the passage of time prior to first grade. There are some tools that can be found online that will help you begin to teach your child these valuable concepts.
If your child struggles with transitions, try some of the suggestions in this article Helping ADHD children master time. Having a system where the child feels in control of their time, often helps alleviate anxiety or negative behaviors.
If you are motivated and somewhat crafty you’ll enjoy these two websites: Confessions of a homeschooler and MamaJenn both moms who have come up with some creative techniques. There are many websites and ideas that can inspire you to personalize a visual clock, schedule or calendar for your child.
These are ideas for your child to visualize their daily schedule and interact with it. It should be in a prominent place that your child is easily able to use it. You will need to offer assistance with it to make sure it is successful and understood. You’ll also need to be flexible since we all know, schedules change.
Here is an example of a “morning board” where there would be sections on the wall to show the weather, special activities, feelings, the date, season etc. This is great for teaching and can be constructed to fit your child’s needs.
Here is a very unique, DIY project that can be completely personalized to your specific schedule. This would be easy to add magnets for the fridge or a white board.
With a little time investment, you can create some very helpful tools for your child to learn the concept of time passing and choosing activities that fit into your schedule.
