Want a fun way to teach your kid to tell time? Making a plate clock is a great way for him to learn how to tell time in a way he'll actually find exciting. He'll love having an excuse to push veggies around his plate without getting in trouble for it. It may be a simple art project, but in no time, your child will be able to tell time.
What You Need:
- White plate
- Porcelain paint markers
- Strips of vegetables
- Oven
What You Do:
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Ask your child to choose what colors he wants to use for the numbers.
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Write number 1 on the plate in the 1 o'clock spot, then have your child tell you which number comes next as you write them clockwise on the plate with porcelain paint markers.
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Place the plate in an oven and let the ink bake on. Follow the instructions on the package of markers to determine how long to leave the plate in and at what temperature. Make sure little fingers aren't near the stove!
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Once the plate is done baking, have your child set a trivet on the counter while you remove the plate using pot holders.
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When the plate cools off, hand your child two vegetable strips, such as green beans or pepper strips. One should be slightly longer than the other to represent the minute and hour hands.
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Now the fun begins! Ask him to show you different times on the clock plate using the vegetable strips. For example, if you ask him to show you 3 o'clock, the long pepper slice should be pointed at the 12 while the short green bean should be pointed at the 3.
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Every time he eats a meal on the plate, periodically ask your child during the meal to show you the time using the vegetable strips. He'll love playing with his food!
The best thing about the plate clock is that it creates a learning opportunity at any meal. Use french toast sticks or sausage links at breakfast, sweet potato fries at lunch and vegetable strips at dinner. Your child will be so busy playing with his food he won't even realize how much he's learning in the process!
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