How to use the Timer
A quiet visual timer: a colored disk that shrinks as time passes.
Time is hard to see. The Timer makes it visible: a colored disk that gets smaller as time passes, until it's gone.
How to use it
Choose 1, 2, 5, 10 or 15 minutes. The disk starts full and shrinks steadily. Your child doesn't need to read numbers or tell time to understand it: less color means less time left.
The Timer doesn't tick. If you've turned sound on in the parent portal, a soft chime plays when the time is up. With sound off, the empty disk is the signal.
Good times to use it
- Before a change. "Five more minutes of play, then bath." Start the Timer so your child can watch the time go.
- For waiting. Waiting for a turn, for dinner or for a ride is easier when the end is visible.
- With First, then. If the Then has to wait, the Timer shows how long.
- For short tasks. Some children like to "beat" a short timer while they tidy up. Keep this playful, never a test.
Tips
- Start short. One or two minutes builds trust in the Timer before you use longer times.
- Give a reminder. Pointing to the disk halfway through helps your child notice it.
- Do what the Timer says. When the time is up, make the change you promised. The Timer works because it's predictable.
- Keep it calm. If the Timer itself causes worry, try it first for something fun, like counting down to a favorite song.
Moving and sound settings
If movement on screen is set to None in the parent portal, the disk still shows the time left, without smooth motion.