Timetables for children

Quick answer

Timetables for children show when things happen, like school, playtime, or a bus ride. You can read them by looking at the times and matching them to the activities.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to read a simple timetable and find out when your favourite activities happen.

• You can match times to events in a timetable
• You can understand how to read a timetable for daily activities
• You can use a timetable to plan your day
• You can tell a grown-up what you did at a certain time

Why this matters

Timetables help you know when things happen, so you can get ready and not be late. Whether it's your school day, a football match, or a trip to the park, timetables are useful for planning. They help grown-ups too – like when they plan a family holiday or when a bus driver knows when to pick up passengers. Understanding timetables is a skill you'll use all your life!

How it works

Timetables show a list of times and what happens at each time. They help you know what to do and when.

1. Look at the first column – this shows the times
2. Look at the second column – this shows what happens
3. Match the time to the activity
4. Use the timetable to plan your day

Examples you can see

Here’s a simple timetable for a school day:

Let’s try an example:

• At 9:00 am, you have Maths
• At 10:30 am, you play outside
• At 12:00 pm, you eat lunch

Try drawing your own timetable for your day at home. What time do you wake up? What time do you eat breakfast? What time do you play?

Try it as a mini adventure

Imagine you're planning a fun day at the park with your family. You have a timetable to follow:

1. 9:00 am – Wake up and get ready
2. 9:30 am – Eat breakfast
3. 10:00 am – Pack the car
4. 10:30 am – Drive to the park
5. 11:00 am – Play on the swings
6. 12:00 pm – Have lunch
7. 1:00 pm – Play football
8. 2:00 pm – Go home

Your challenge: Check if the timetable makes sense. Is it in order? Does it leave time for everything you want to do?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking that 10:30 is the same as 10:3
• Why it happens: Confusing the minutes with the hours
• Fix: Remember that 30 minutes is half an hour, so 10:30 is 10 hours and 30 minutes
• Mistake: Not reading the timetable from top to bottom
• Why it happens: Rushing or not paying attention
• Fix: Read each line carefully and check the time before the activity
• Mistake: Getting confused between am and pm
• Why it happens: Not knowing the difference between morning and afternoon
• Fix: Remember: am is morning (like breakfast), pm is afternoon (like lunch)

Parent and carer guide

Help your child learn timetables by:

• Creating a daily timetable together for your family
• Reading out the timetable and asking questions like "What happens at 3:00 pm?"
• Practising with real-life situations like bus or train timetables
• Encouraging your child to make their own timetable for a fun day
• Using a clock or timer to help them understand time better

It's okay if your child gets confused at first – it's a new skill. Be patient and keep practicing. Remember, timetables are useful for everyone!

Practice questions

1. What happens at 10:00 am in the school timetable?
2. At what time do you have lunch?
3. What activity happens at 11:00 am?
4. Which time is later – 10:30 am or 11:15 am?
5. What time do you play football in the park adventure?

Answers:

1. Maths lesson
2. 12:00 pm
3. Reading lesson
4. 11:15 am
5. 1:00 pm

FAQ

What is a timetable?

A timetable is a list that shows what happens and when. It helps you know what to do and when to do it.

Why do we use timetables?

Timetables help us plan our day. They make sure we don’t miss anything important, like school, meals, or fun activities.

How can I make my own timetable?

Start by writing the times of day you want to do things. Then, write what you want to do at each time. For example, 7:00 am – Wake up, 8:00 am – Eat breakfast.

Can I use a timetable for my weekend?

Yes! You can make a timetable for your weekend. It could show when you play, eat, and sleep.

How do I know if my timetable is right?

Check if your timetable is in order from early to late. Make sure there’s enough time for everything you want to do.