TIME for Kids

TIME for Kids

app

Everyone, 2020, Education

WISE
52%

WISE Score

4.3

Google Play

A basic clock-learning app that teaches kids to tell time—functional but forgettable, and not actually related to the TIME magazine brand.

Where to Find

App Store
App Store
Google Play
Google Play
Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: this is a perfectly fine clock-learning app that does exactly what it says on the tin. Your kid will probably use it for a few weeks while they're learning to tell time, and then you'll forget it exists.

The confusing part? This has nothing to do with the actual TIME for Kids news magazine that teachers love. It's just a generic educational app that happens to use a similar name. The web search results about TIME for Kids are about the news publication, not this clock app.

As a learning tool, it's serviceable—both analog and digital clocks, some quiz games, colorful graphics. But it's not particularly imaginative or engaging. It's the digital equivalent of those plastic learning clocks from the school supply aisle. Does the job, won't hurt anyone, but nobody's getting excited about it.

The lack of transparency about ads and in-app purchases is annoying. Any kids' app should be upfront about that stuff. And honestly, you could probably teach your kid to tell time just as effectively with a real clock and five minutes of your time.

Age Fit

Best for kids ages 5-8 who are actively learning to tell time in school. Once they've mastered the skill (usually by age 8-9), there's no reason to keep this app around. Not engaging enough for older kids, and too advanced for preschoolers.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
72

The app focuses on a fundamental educational skill—learning to tell time—in a positive, encouraging way. The interface is colorful and designed to be engaging without being overstimulating. However, this appears to be a generic clock-learning app that happens to use 'TIME for Kids' as its name, not the actual TIME for Kids news magazine brand. The wholesome score reflects its straightforward educational approach, though the generic nature and lack of depth keeps it from scoring higher.

Imaginative
45

This is a fairly rote, drill-based learning app. Kids can adjust clock hands and play quiz games, but there's minimal creative expression or open-ended exploration. It's functional and interactive in the sense that you can move things around, but it's not sparking curiosity or inviting kids to build anything meaningful. The 'adventure' language in the description is marketing fluff—this is essentially digital flashcards for clocks.

Safe
68

The app description mentions it's designed for kids and has a kids mode available, which is positive. However, there's no information about ads, in-app purchases, or data collection practices. The app is on Android with no clear privacy policy details provided. The educational content itself is benign—learning to tell time has no safety concerns—but the lack of transparency about monetization and data practices prevents a higher score. No evidence of toxic elements or inappropriate content.

Enriching
58

Learning to tell time is a legitimate life skill that kids need to master, and having both analog and digital clock practice is educationally sound. The multi-language support (7 languages) adds value. However, this is a very narrow skill that doesn't offer much depth or transferable learning. It's useful for what it does, but it's not particularly enriching beyond the basic mechanical skill of reading a clock. The entertainment value appears minimal—this is purely utilitarian.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Covers both analog and digital clocks, which is what kids actually need to learn
  • Interactive elements let kids move clock hands around and see how times change
  • Available in 7 languages, making it accessible to diverse learners
  • Straightforward approach to a fundamental life skill without unnecessary bells and whistles
⚠

What to Watch For

  • This isn't the actual TIME for Kids news magazine—it's a generic clock app using a similar name
  • No clear information about ads or in-app purchases, which is a red flag for any kids' app
  • Pretty limited in scope—once your kid learns to tell time, this app has no further value
  • The 'adventure' and 'fun' marketing language oversells what's essentially a digital worksheet

Conversation Starters

  • "Can you show me what time we need to leave for school on the clock?"
  • "What's your favorite time of day? Can you set the clock to that time?"
  • "Why do you think we have both the kind of clock with hands and the kind with just numbers?"

Deep Dive

The Branding Bait-and-Switch

The most important thing to understand about this app is that it’s a victim of its own name. If you are a parent or educator searching for news sources for kids to help a second-grader understand current events, this isn't that. You’re likely looking for the storied magazine published by TIME—the one with the red border and the kid-centric journalism. This app is a generic clock-learning tool that happens to share the same three words.

It’s a bit like buying a ticket for a "Rolling Stones" concert only to find out it’s a documentary about literal geology. If you actually wanted to find best kid-friendly news programs, you’ll need to keep looking. But if you genuinely need a digital version of that yellow plastic clock with the red and blue hands, this is a functional utility player.

A One-Trick Pony for the Car Ride

This isn't a "forever" app. It’s a bridge. Most kids hit a specific developmental window between ages five and seven where the concept of "quarter past" or "ten to" finally clicks. During that window, this app is useful because it allows for tactile manipulation that a flat worksheet can't match.

The core mechanic—dragging the hands of an analog clock to match a digital readout—is the digital equivalent of a drill. It’s not "fun" in the way a game is fun, but it provides immediate feedback. In a classroom, a teacher might use a physical clock, but for a parent in a grocery store line or on a long drive, this is a low-stakes way to turn "are we there yet?" into a lesson on how many minutes are actually left.

When the "Adventure" Ends

The marketing for this app uses words like "adventure" and "captivating," which is a significant overstatement. There are no characters to level up and no plot to follow. It is a series of digital flashcards. Once a child understands that the big hand moves the little hand and can identify "half-past," the app has effectively expired.

There is no reason to keep this on your Android device once the skill is mastered. Unlike apps that grow with the child—like a comprehensive STEM tool or a guide to handling life’s messy moments—this is a single-purpose tool. Use it to solve the specific problem of "my kid can't read the wall clock," and then delete it to make room for something with more meat on its bones.

The Privacy Question Mark

Because this app isn't coming from a major educational powerhouse or the TIME media brand, the lack of clear data on ads and in-app purchases is a downside. While the app is free, "free" usually means you’re the product or you're going to see a banner for a match-three game at the bottom of the screen. Since you aren't getting the polished experience of a premium subscription, keep an eye on what your kid is clicking between the "quizzes." It’s a workmanlike tool, but it doesn't come with the peace of mind you get from more established educational developers.

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about TIME for Kids? Put this WISE score on your site