a. Rudimentary at age of entering school. “Yesterday,” “last week,” “last month,” have a meaning. “One hundred years ago” has not.
b. The sense develops slowly. Even children of twelve or thirteen often measure short periods of time vaguely.
c. From this an argument advanced against dating any events in distant past for children. Can mean only “a long time ago.”
d. The difficulty in part removed by objective assistance—chart, rolls, knotted cords, and other devices.
e. Dates properly introduced at least as early as the fifth year.
2. Dates to be remembered.
a. Famous events.
b. Important events.
c. A few in each year fixed as a permanent possession.
d. Evidence at present of recovery from extreme reaction against learning dates.