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Focus on children's own experiences to facilitate thinking about the tricky concept of time, in a two-part project from Jane Drake Time is a difficult concept for young children, and their understanding develops through first-hand experiences in their own world. To make sense of time and schedules in their lives, it is important that adults explain plans in terms that are easily understood. Routines can offer children a framework for sequencing events within the day or week. They often find their own ways of measuring time when anticipating an exciting event - for example, asking 'How many "sleeps" until my birthday?'

Time is a difficult concept for young children, and their understanding develops through first-hand experiences in their own world. To make sense of time and schedules in their lives, it is important that adults explain plans in terms that are easily understood. Routines can offer children a framework for sequencing events within the day or week. They often find their own ways of measuring time when anticipating an exciting event - for example, asking 'How many "sleeps" until my birthday?'

Below are ideas for raising children's awareness of the passing of time, using stories and events within their own experience.

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