What Is I Can Tell Time?
I Can Tell Time is an iOS app that teaches children ages 4–8 to read analog clocks through hands-on, interactive practice. Kids drag clock hands, answer quizzes, and progress through structured levels covering hours, half-hours, quarter-hours, minutes, and AM/PM.
The app is free to start, contains no ads, requires no internet connection, and collects zero personal data. It has a 4.8-star rating on the App Store and has been helping families and classrooms since 2015.
Who It's For
I Can Tell Time is built for kids ages 4 to 8—the age range when most children develop clock-reading skills. It works for kids in Pre-K through 2nd grade, whether they attend school, are homeschooled, or are learning independently.
Parents use it at home as a daily learning activity. Teachers use it as a math center or individual practice tool in the classroom. Tutors and therapists use it with children who need extra support with time concepts.
The app is also used by parents of children with ADHD and learning differences, who benefit from the short, focused activities and immediate feedback. Learn more on our about page.
How It Works
The app teaches clock reading through a three-step method: see it, set it, know it.
- See it. A clock appears on screen. Your child picks the correct time from multiple-choice answers. This builds recognition and confidence.
- Set it. Your child drags the clock hands to match a given time. This hands-on interaction turns an abstract concept into something physical and tangible.
- Know it. Short daily sessions of about 10 minutes reinforce the skill. Most kids can read analog clocks independently within one week of consistent practice.
Lessons progress from whole hours to half-hours, quarter-hours, five-minute intervals, individual minutes, and finally AM/PM. Each level builds on the previous one, so kids never feel overwhelmed.
Key Features
- Hands-on clock interaction. Kids drag the hour and minute hands to set times, building physical understanding of how clocks work.
- Structured progression. Levels advance from hours to half-hours to quarter-hours to minutes to AM/PM. Kids move at their own pace.
- Instant feedback. Every answer gets immediate, gentle feedback. No timers or penalties. Kids retry until they get it right.
- Badges and certificates. Progress milestones are celebrated with rewards that keep kids motivated to continue learning.
- Works fully offline. No internet connection needed after download. Perfect for travel, car rides, and places without wifi.
- No account required. Download and start learning immediately. No sign-up, no email, no login.
Privacy & Safety
I Can Tell Time is fully COPPA compliant and designed for unsupervised use by young children. The app collects zero personal data—no names, no emails, no location, no analytics sent to external servers.
- No advertisements of any kind
- No social features or external links
- No account or email required
- All progress stored locally on the device
- No internet connection needed
Read the full details in our privacy policy.
Pricing
I Can Tell Time is free to download from the App Store. The free version includes introductory levels that teach whole-hour reading.
Optional in-app purchases unlock additional levels covering half-hours, quarter-hours, five-minute intervals, individual minutes, and AM/PM. These are one-time purchases—there are no subscriptions, no recurring fees, and no hidden costs.
There are no ads in any version of the app, free or paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is I Can Tell Time free?
Yes, I Can Tell Time is free to download and start using. The app includes introductory levels at no cost. Optional in-app purchases unlock additional levels covering half-hours, quarter-hours, minutes, and AM/PM. There are no subscriptions and no recurring charges.
What devices does I Can Tell Time work on?
I Can Tell Time runs on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iOS 14.0 or later. It is optimized for both phone and tablet screen sizes. The app is not currently available on Android, Mac, or web browsers.
How does I Can Tell Time teach kids to read clocks?
The app uses a three-step method: see it, set it, know it. First, kids see a clock and pick the matching time from answer choices. Then they drag the clock hands themselves to build physical understanding. Finally, short daily sessions reinforce the skill until it becomes automatic. Lessons progress from hours to half-hours to quarter-hours to individual minutes and AM/PM.
Is I Can Tell Time safe for my child?
Yes. The app is fully COPPA compliant and collects zero personal data. There are no ads, no social features, no links to external websites, and no account or email required. All progress data stays on the device. It was designed from the ground up for unsupervised use by young children.
Can I use I Can Tell Time without internet?
Yes. I Can Tell Time works completely offline. No wifi, cellular data, or internet connection is needed after the initial download. This makes it ideal for car rides, airplane trips, waiting rooms, and anywhere without connectivity.
How long does it take to learn to tell time with this app?
Most kids can read analog clocks within one week of daily practice. Each session takes about 10 minutes. The app starts with whole hours and gradually introduces more precise time-reading skills. Progress depends on the child, but the structured levels keep learning on track.
Is I Can Tell Time good for kids with ADHD?
Many parents of children with ADHD report positive results. The app uses short, focused activities with immediate feedback, which helps maintain attention. There are no timers or penalties, so kids can work at their own pace without pressure. The hands-on clock interaction provides tactile engagement that supports different learning styles.
Can teachers use I Can Tell Time in the classroom?
Yes. Teachers use I Can Tell Time as a math center activity, for individual practice, and for homework reinforcement. The app requires no teacher account, no class setup, and no internet connection. Each device tracks its own progress independently. It covers curriculum standards for telling time in Pre-K through 2nd grade.
What ages is I Can Tell Time designed for?
I Can Tell Time is designed for children ages 4 to 8. Kids as young as 4 can begin with the introductory levels focused on whole hours. Older children ages 6 to 8 benefit from the advanced levels covering minutes and AM/PM. The app adapts to each child's pace regardless of starting age.
How does I Can Tell Time compare to other clock apps?
Most clock-learning apps rely on passive quizzes or flashcards. I Can Tell Time is different because kids physically drag the clock hands, which builds hands-on understanding. It also works fully offline, contains no ads, and collects no data. The app has earned a 4.8-star rating on the App Store since launching in 2015. See the full comparison.
Does I Can Tell Time teach digital time too?
The app focuses primarily on analog clock reading, which is the foundational skill most children struggle with. As kids set the analog clock hands, they see the corresponding digital time displayed on screen. This helps children connect analog and digital formats naturally during practice.
What do parents say about I Can Tell Time?
The app has a 4.8-star rating on the App Store based on parent reviews. Parents frequently mention that their children learned to read clocks within days, that the ad-free experience is a relief, and that the app works well for car rides and travel. Many note that the hands-on approach was more effective than worksheets or other apps they tried.
Have more questions? Visit our full FAQ page or contact support.
Try I Can Tell Time for Free
Download the app and see your child reading clocks within a week. No ads, no account required, works offline.
Download Free