Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.

Research during the last eighty years has suggested that ‘time’ concepts, such as chronology, duration and the usage of dating systems are difficult for children to assimilate. However, my recent research would suggest that temporal concepts could be taught in a meaningful way. This article details practical measures that can be employed by primary practitioners to help children develop these concepts. A fundamental element of temporal cognition is that of chronology. This concept should be rigorously and constantly promoted for it is central to historical thinking and understanding.