Tell the Time: Quarter - Free Game for Kids
Master quarter past and quarter to times. Learn the language of clock quarters and build a complete understanding of the four key positions on the clock face.
Having trouble? Open full screen ↗
How to Play
Tell the Time: Quarter Past & To introduces two new clock positions: quarter past (minute hand at 3, a quarter of the way around) and quarter to (minute hand at 9, three quarters of the way around). The game builds these concepts systematically: first quarter past alone, then quarter to alone, then mixed practice with o'clock and half past.
Three activity types develop complete understanding: Identify the Time (choose the correct quarter-hour from four options including both "quarter past" and digital formats like "3:15"), Match the Clocks (draw lines between analog and digital clocks showing the same time), and Set the Clock (drag both hands to show a given quarter-hour time). A "Time Stories" activity presents short narratives ("School starts at quarter to nine - what time is that?") connecting clock reading to scheduling.
What Kids Learn
Quarter-hour times complete the foundational level of clock reading - children who can read all four key positions (o'clock, half past, quarter past, quarter to) can successfully navigate most everyday time references they encounter. More conceptually, the quarter-hour level builds the full spatial model of the clock face as a circle divided into four equal sections, each representing 15 minutes and one quarter of an hour.
The "quarter to" position is the most challenging because it requires understanding backward-counting from the upcoming hour: "quarter to 4" means 15 minutes before 4, not 15 minutes after 3. This forward-looking, countdown-to-the-next-hour thinking is a sophisticated time concept that requires flexible numerical reasoning. Mastering it gives children the full conceptual framework needed to read any time to the nearest five minutes.
Tips for Parents
The language of quarter times is worth practicing in conversation: "Quarter to three - can you show me on the clock?" and "It's quarter past five - how many minutes ago was five o'clock?" Regular exposure to the vocabulary in genuine time contexts ("We need to leave at quarter to eight") makes the expressions feel natural rather than abstract. A large, clear analog clock in a prominent position in your home is an investment that pays dividends throughout the primary school years. Children who live with an analog clock they reference regularly learn to tell time far faster than those who live in a digital-only clock environment.
You Might Also Like
About Tell the Time: Quarter
Tell the Time: Quarter is a free educational game for kids ages 6-9, available to play instantly in your browser - no download, no sign-up, no cost. It's one of our most popular math games, perfect for parents and teachers looking for safe, ad-light learning content.
Designed with young learners in mind, Tell the Time: Quarter balances fun and education so that kids stay engaged while quietly building skills. Each session is self-contained, so children can play for just a few minutes or settle in for a longer session - it works either way.
KidsGames is committed to keeping all games free, safe, and accessible. There are no in-app purchases, no user accounts required, and no personal data collected from children. Just open the page and play.
Keywords: telling time quarter hour game for kids, free kids games, educational games online, math games for kids, ages 6-9 games.