To date, there are two systems for calculating time: 24-hour and 12-hour. If everything is clear with the distribution of digital indicators in the first case, then the second is a more complicated topic for us. As you know, AM-PM-time is a cipher, adopted mainly in America. But few people know that such a clock system is also used in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. Therefore, we consider what it is like, so that in the future there will be no confusion.
The difficulties of simple school topics
Surely all children who study English at school encounter these ciphers - AM-PM. Time in this case is calculated in numbers from 0 to 12, no more. That is, the first stage runs until noon, and the second begins after 12 noon, when the next hour is again called the number 1. In order to avoid confusion, the terms AM-PM were introduced. The time in the morning is indicated by the first of them, which means “before noon” in Latin, and the hours that come after are indicated by the second cipher.
Fun facts and coincidences.
Many children, passing this topic at school, begin to get confused in these terms. In order for the child to better understand this information, you need to provide him with a simpler analogue of the interpretation of the 12-hour clock. Think carefully, because in our country this system also works at 50%. More often, when making an appointment in the afternoon, we say “at 9 o’clock in the evening,” although according to the 24-hour system it will be 21 o’clock.
Teach kids simple
Also, the child will better navigate the American time system according to standard wall clocks. They do not have numbers with an equivalent of more than 12. Therefore, AM-PM-time is a system that is much more acceptable for everyday everyday communication. However, it can create a little confusion when it comes to doing business and making business meetings.
Research Excerpts
If we examine the origin of these terms more deeply, then the word merediem from Latin is translated as the middle. That is, it turns out that it can mean both a midday border and a midnight border. Because of this, experts in the field have come to the conclusion that the AM-PM timestamp can be swapped, creating even more confusion. As a result, strict rules were adopted in the United States, according to which midnight is designated 11.59 PM, if it says the end of the day. And in order to indicate the beginning of a new day, most often they say 12.01 AM. This practice takes place in jurisdictions and in everyday life.
Short afterword
It is very important that as early as in school years, the child will understand for himself this simple topic in English. So it will be easier for him to navigate in space, and in the future there will be no difficulties in work and other areas of life.
You can also explain the English time AM-PM by making your own watch in duplicate. They will not be anything special except that the letters AM will be located in the center on some, and PM on others. In the morning, put the first hours on the baby’s table so that the brain fixes the pattern “morning-light-AM”. And in the afternoon, focus on the time shown by the watch with the letters PM.