At what stage of cognitive development do school-age children typically learn to tell time?

School-age children typically learn to tell time during the concrete operational stage of cognitive development, which occurs approximately between the ages of 7 and 11 years. At this stage, children begin to think logically about concrete events and can understand the concept of time in a more structured way. They develop the ability to understand sequences, cause and effect, and can grasp the concept of time as measurement, which is essential for telling time.

During this period, children are able to relate physical actions to objects and situations, allowing them to comprehend the passage of time as represented by clocks or timers. Learning to tell time requires the ability to interpret visual symbols (such as the hands of a clock) and to understand numbers, which aligns well with the cognitive capacities that emerge in the concrete operational stage. This is why school-age children achieve this skill within this developmental phase; they can apply logic to concrete concepts but may still struggle with abstract thoughts typical of later stages.