Tick Tock, The Internal Clock

This is either really interesting and helpful -- or it's just plain weird

ADDED September 02, 2009

kids count time activity

Length: Minutes on end.

Parental Involvement: Explain the concep, test it out. Maybe help with some timing, if need be.
Kids Should Be Able to: Exercise some concentration and count to high double-digit numbers.

Okay, today's activity might be a little offbeat or nutty, but please bear with us! It has some practical applications and benefits, we promise!

This one is better for older kids; we're thinking age seven and up. This activity requires concentration and the ability to count to some relatively high double-digit numbers.

This activity also can help reduce noise and increase silence, if you ever find yourself wishing to experience either of those. (A practical benefit, right?)

The idea here comes from a world-renowned physicist, Richard Feynman. He discovered that whenever he timed himself as he silently counted to a certain number, his speed was consistent -- he was never more than a second or two off.

kids counting activity Here's the method. We'll explain it to you, dear reader, and then you can put it in your own words for your children:

You're going to be counting to seventy. Before you begin, glance at a clock that shows seconds. Wait until the beginning of a new minute, and then start counting. Count steadily and slowly (but not too slowly.) When you hit seventy, check your time. Then try again.

(If trying again right away sounds a bit boring to you or your kid, you can do the next count at a later time to break up the monotony!)

The question is: how close was the second try to the first?

Next try to figure out a number that should take you a minute of counting. You might need to try a couple of times.

If this all works -- and so that we seem less nutty here, we passionately hope it all does work -- you can use this trick in the future to help you entertain yourself (and your kids):

It's a great technique for helping to pass the time -- especially if you're stuck in a dentist's lobby that offers only extremely old gossip magazines. You can time yourself counting and see if your internal clock is still "running at the same speed."

This trick also helps with chores, when you're doing the dishes, for example. It's a bit like meditation, and it helps your mind "tune out" for a little while. It could help the kids with their chores, too.

If you are a person whose internal count is exceptionally consistent, you can time events without any clocks! I can count while jogging and have a pretty good idea of the minutes I've been on the road.

How else could you put this to use in your house? Your kids could try to see see how long it takes them to run around the yard -- or how high you need to count to brush their teeth or eat all their vegetables!

Okay, tomorrow's post will not be in any way weird or all about tallying sheep when you can't fall asleep -- we promise!

More fun ideas for you and your kids are on the way tomorrow. You can count on it!

(Thank you to woodleywonderworks and to dionhinchcliff for the timely photos above!)

good any time,

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Tick Tock, The Internal Clock

This is either really interesting and helpful -- or it's just plain weird

ADDED September 02, 2009

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