A study in Falun and Borlänge, Sweden, has introduced a methodology using dots to help children understand time management in preschool, aiming to improve their ability to anticipate events.
Sara Wallin Ahlström, a licensed occupational therapist working at habilitation in Falun, has been involved in a research project called "Min tid" (My Time), which has been testing a newfound method for managing time over five years within 24 preschool groups in Falun and Borlänge. This approach uses visual aids to help children grasp the concept of time, particularly helping those with diagnoses to manage their expectations regarding their parents’ arrival times.
During this research phase, children learned to measure how long everyday activities take at preschool, translating these durations into dots, where each dot represents fifteen minutes. The children then compiled their measurements in personal time diaries, allowing them to visualize the time needed for various activities. This method not only assists in calculations but also helps build a reference memory for the passage of time, fostering a physical sense of time flow in young children.
The project emphasizes the importance of timely pick-up by parents, suggesting that children feel a level of dissatisfaction if their parents arrive late. By utilizing a tangible method for representing time, the overarching goal is to enhance children's time management skills while alleviating anxiety related to time expectations.
