Telling the time is one of those everyday skills that adults take for granted—but for children, it’s a real milestone. When your child starts asking “What time is it?” or trying to read the clock before bedtime, they’re not just practising numbers; they’re building confidence in English, boosting their understanding of daily routines, and developing essential life skills. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to help your child master telling time in English—from reading the hour hand to understanding “quarter to” and “half past,” all the way to using AM and PM like a pro.
Why Learning to Tell Time in English Is Important
Knowing how to tell time in English goes far beyond reading a clock face. It’s about language, routine, and independence. When children understand time-related vocabulary—words like morning, afternoon, quarter past, or half past—they can follow school schedules, plan playdates, and even start managing homework with more confidence.
For bilingual or EFL learners, telling the time in English also introduces key grammatical structures and pronunciation patterns (like “It’s ten to four” vs. “It’s ten past four”). Plus, it’s a practical way to reinforce numbers, listening skills, and asking questions like “What time is lunch?” or “When does school start?”
Most importantly, it helps your child talk about their day in English—whether they’re telling you they woke up at 7 a.m. or that bedtime is at 8 p.m. It’s not just about time—it’s about communication.
The Parts of a Clock: Hours, Minutes, AM & PM
Before diving into phrases, let’s start with the basics. Most children begin with an analog clock—the kind with hands—because it visually shows how time passes.
- The short hand is the hour hand. It points to the current hour.
- The long hand is the minute hand. It shows how many minutes have passed since the last hour.
- A full circle = 60 minutes, and each number on the clock = 5 minutes.
Then there’s the 12-hour clock with AM and PM—essential for everyday English:
Remember:
- 12:00 PM = noon (midday)
- 12:00 AM = midnight
This distinction is important—and worth practising with daily routines!
How to Ask and Answer “What Time Is It?”
Once your child knows the basics, they’ll want to use them! The most common question about time in English is simply: “What time is it?” The answer always starts with “It’s…” followed by how you say the time.
The key is to model these exchanges in real life—while getting ready, cooking, or watching TV. Repetition helps children internalise the patterns naturally.
Here are the most useful question-and-answer pairs for young learners:
Teach your child to ask and answer these in real situations—while getting dressed, cooking, or heading to the park. Repetition builds fluency.
Saying the Exact Hour
The easiest place to begin is on the hour, when the minute hand points straight up to 12. At this moment, we say the number followed by “o’clock.” This phrase comes from “of the clock,” and it’s used only for exact hours—never for times with minutes.
This is often the first time expression children learn because it’s simple and appears often in daily life (“It’s bedtime—it’s eight o’clock!”).
This is often the first phrase children learn—and a great confidence booster.
Half Past, Quarter Past and Quarter To
After “o’clock,” the next step is learning the most common in-between times. English uses fractions of the hour:
- Half past = 30 minutes (half an hour) after the hour
- Quarter past = 15 minutes (a quarter of an hour) after
- Quarter to = 15 minutes before the next hour
Note: “Quarter to six” means it’s 5:45—not 6:15! This is a common mix-up, so use a real clock to show how the hand is moving toward the next number.
Tip: Use a real clock or printable face to show how “quarter to” always refers to the next hour.
Practice by saying the time aloud during daily routines: “It’s quarter past seven—time to leave for school!”
Talking About Morning, Afternoon, Evening and Night
In casual conversation, English speakers often refer to parts of the day instead of exact times—especially with children. These words help create a sense of routine and are easier to grasp before mastering minutes.
Help your child connect each part of the day to familiar activities:
Use these phrases naturally: “See you this afternoon!” or “Goodnight—sweet dreams!”
Telling Time with Minutes
Once your child is comfortable with “quarter” and “half,” you can introduce exact minute counts. English counts minutes past the hour (up to 30) and to the next hour (after 30). For example, 7:40 isn’t “forty past seven”—it’s “twenty to eight,” because only 20 minutes remain until 8.
This system may feel unusual at first, but it’s consistent across British English. Start with round numbers (10, 20, 25) before moving to trickier ones.
Rule to remember:
- :01 to :30 → say “past” the current hour
- :31 to :59 → say “to” the next hour
Analog vs. Digital Clocks: What’s the Difference?
- Analog clocks have hands and help children see time passing. They’re ideal for learning concepts like “quarter past” or “half past.”
- Digital clocks show numbers only (e.g., 14:30). They’re precise but don’t build the same visual understanding.
For beginners, start with analog. Once they’re confident, introduce digital formats—and explain how 14:30 = 2:30 p.m. in the 24-hour system.
Fun Ways to Practise Telling Time at Home
Learning tells time doesn’t have to be boring! The best practice happens through play. Try these simple, screen-free ideas that fit into everyday life:
- Time Hunt – Hide cards with times like “3:15” around the house. Your child finds them and sets a toy clock to match.
- Routine Match-Up – Write daily activities (“brush teeth,” “lunch”) on cards and ask your child to place them under the correct clock time.
- “What Time Is It, Mr Wolf?” – A classic playground game: one child is the wolf, others ask “What time is it?” and step forward until the wolf says “Dinnertime!”
- Draw Your Day – Sketch a timeline with clock faces and labels (“7 a.m. – breakfast”).
- Clock Walk – Point out clocks in shops, stations, or on phones and ask, “What time does it say?”
Just 10–15 minutes a day of playful practice builds real confidence.
Try a Free English Lesson with Learnlink!
At Learnlink, we know that mastering skills like telling time in English opens doors to real communication. Our live, interactive lessons are designed by expert teachers who specialise in making complex concepts simple, fun, and memorable for children.
In our small-group classes, your child won’t just memorise phrases—they’ll use them in stories, songs, and real conversations. From “What time is it?” to “My bedtime is eight p.m.,” we build confidence alongside vocabulary.
Ready to see the difference? Book a free trial lesson today—no commitment, just a friendly introduction to how Learnlink helps children learn English through joy, not pressure.
