There are lots of tools and items that we may have already around the home, that we can use with our children to teach them about the world, to teach literacy or maths. Items like a measuring tape or perhaps a stopwatch!

I've found that my preschooler loves playing with a stopwatch, he loves walking around the house with it pressing the stop/start buttons. He's still learning to count so I'm sure it's fantastic for his numeracy skills. I've given him a children's stopwatch, it doesn't beep or have an alarm, it has a large clear display and large stop, go and clear buttons. This is not about racing or making your child do things faster but developing a feeling and sense of time. 

Using a stopwatch can help develop:

• numeracy skills.
• a feeling and sense of time.
• coordination - when pressing the buttons quickly to stop and start the watch. 

We can allow for free play and exploration with the stopwatch or we can encourage activities like asking the child to time activities.

How long can you:

• balance standing on one leg?
• hop (on one foot)?
• twirl a hula hoop?
• keep a balloon in the air (without it touching the ground)?
• keep a beach ball in the air, between two or more people?
• jump a skipping rope?
• balance a mini bean bag on your head while walking?

Or give your child a challenge. How many 

• jumping jacks
• push-ups

                                    can you do in 60 seconds? (or set another time frame or activity based on your child's interests).

We can give the child timed activities like:

• tidy the room for five minutes.
• watch television for 20 minutes. 
• brush teeth for two minutes. 
• stay in the bath for fifteen minutes. 

Have the child work out:

• how long does it take for the washing machine to finish?
• how long does it take to walk to school?
• how long does it take for the cake to bake?

Or the child can time how fast they can do something, then challenge themselves to do it faster like:

• run up the stairs.
• ride their bike around the block.
• do a puzzle.

The idea is not to race your child or to make them do things faster but to give your child a feeling and sense of time, as well as have some fun.

Children can also time their friends or siblings, or even parents.  

How long can you stand on one foot?

How long can you hop on one foot?

How long can you keep a balloon up in the air?

How long can you keep a balloon up in the air with a tennis racquet?

How long can you balance a mini bean bag (or 2 or 3) on your head while walking around?

How long does it take for you to do a puzzle?

Can you do it faster next time?

You may also be interested in reading The Benefits of Using Visual Timers with Children.

Our children's stopwatch is by Learning Resources (here AU), also available at Montessori Services. 

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