AM and PM for children
Understand morning, afternoon, evening and 24-hour links.
Quick answer
AM and PM are used to tell the time in the morning (AM) and afternoon/evening (PM). AM means "ante meridiem" (before midday) and PM means "post meridiem" (after midday). A day has 24 hours, split into two 12-hour periods: from midnight to noon (AM) and from noon to midnight (PM).
Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will understand how to tell the time using AM and PM and know when to use each part of the day.
- You can say whether a time is in the morning (AM) or afternoon/evening (PM)
- You can match times to daily activities
- You can use AM and PM correctly in your own time telling
- You can explain how a 24-hour day is split into two 12-hour parts
Why this matters
Understanding AM and PM helps you know when you are doing things in the day. It helps you get ready for school, know when your favourite TV show is on, or understand when your birthday party starts. When you grow up, you will use this knowledge for work, travel, and planning your day. It also helps you understand the 24-hour clock, which is used in many jobs and on many devices.
How it works
Every day has 24 hours. These are split into two parts:
- From midnight (12:00 at night) to noon (12:00 in the afternoon) = AM
- From noon (12:00 in the afternoon) to midnight (12:00 at night) = PM
When we say 12:00 in the morning, we write it as 12:00 AM. When we say 12:00 at night, we write it as 12:00 PM.
So:
- 12:00 midnight = 12:00 AM
- 12:00 noon = 12:00 PM
- 6:00 in the morning = 6:00 AM
- 6:00 in the evening = 6:00 PM
Examples you can see
Let's imagine a day with some fun activities:
| Activity | Time | AM or PM? |
|---|---|---|
| Wake up and brush teeth | 7:00 | 7:00 AM |
| Go to school | 8:30 | 8:30 AM |
| Lunch break | 12:15 | 12:15 PM |
| Playtime | 3:45 | 3:45 PM |
| Watch TV | 6:30 | 6:30 PM |
| Go to bed | 9:00 | 9:00 PM |
Notice how times in the morning are AM and times in the afternoon/evening are PM.
Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: The Time Traveler's Day
You are a time traveler! You have a magical watch that shows you the time in AM and PM. Your mission is to plan a day using the times below. Write the time and say if it is AM or PM.
- Wake up early = 6:00 ?
- Have breakfast = 7:15 ?
- Go to school = 8:45 ?
- Play football = 3:30 ?
- Have dinner = 6:45 ?
- Go to sleep = 10:00 ?
Now, check your answers:
- 6:00 = 6:00 AM
- 7:15 = 7:15 AM
- 8:45 = 8:45 AM
- 3:30 = 3:30 PM
- 6:45 = 6:45 PM
- 10:00 = 10:00 PM
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking 12:00 PM is in the morning
Why it happens: Confusing noon with midnight
Fix: Remember that 12:00 noon is PM, and 12:00 midnight is AM - Mistake: Saying 11:00 PM is in the morning
Why it happens: Mixing up the morning and evening
Fix: 11:00 PM is in the evening, so it's PM - Mistake: Writing 24:00 instead of 12:00 AM
Why it happens: Not understanding the 24-hour clock
Fix: 24:00 is the same as 12:00 AM (midnight)
Parent and carer guide
Helping your child understand AM and PM can be fun and simple:
- Use a real clock or a digital watch to show the time and point out AM or PM
- Ask your child to tell you what time they do their morning routine
- Create a daily schedule with AM and PM times
- Play a game where you say a time and your child says if it's AM or PM
- Use real-life examples like: "You go to school at 8:30 in the morning = 8:30 AM"
- Make sure your child knows that 12:00 noon is PM and 12:00 midnight is AM
- Use a calendar or planner to show times of activities
- Practice with your child by asking them to match times to activities
- Be patient and encouraging when they make mistakes
- Reinforce that AM means before noon and PM means after noon
Practice questions
- What time is it if it's 10:00 in the morning?
Answer: 10:00 AM - What time is it if it's 5:00 in the evening?
Answer: 5:00 PM - Is 12:00 noon AM or PM?
Answer: 12:00 PM - Is 12:00 midnight AM or PM?
Answer: 12:00 AM - What time is it if it's 3:30 in the afternoon?
Answer: 3:30 PM - What time is it if it's 7:15 in the morning?
Answer: 7:15 AM - Is 8:00 PM in the morning or evening?
Answer: Evening - Is 4:45 AM in the morning or evening?
Answer: Morning - What time is it if it's 11:30 at night?
Answer: 11:30 PM - What time is it if it's 9:15 in the morning?
Answer: 9:15 AM
FAQ
What does AM and PM stand for?
AM stands for "ante meridiem" which means "before midday". PM stands for "post meridiem" which means "after midday".
Why do we use AM and PM?
We use AM and PM to make it clear whether a time is in the morning or afternoon/evening. It helps us understand when we do things during the day.
What time is 12:00 in the day?
12:00 noon is 12:00 PM. 12:00 midnight is 12:00 AM.
How can I remember AM and PM?
You can remember that AM is for morning times and PM is for afternoon and evening times. Think of AM as "after midnight" and PM as "after noon".
Can I use 24-hour time instead of AM and PM?
Yes! In 24-hour time, 12:00 AM is 00:00, 12:00 PM is 12:00, and 11:59 PM is 23:59.