Using Visual Timers with Your Kids

Written By Kimberly Wilson, LCPC

Visual timers are tools that provide a visual countdown of time. Instead of hearing a ticking clock or an alarm, children can see the time passing on a visual timer. These timers use color-coded sections that provide a visual representation of time passing, this indicates how much time is left by the color exposed.

By making time visible, our kids can learn to pace themselves and manage their tasks more effectively.

Switching to new tasks can often lead to challenging behaviors, especially if a child is deeply engaged in an activity. You wouldn’t want to put your phone down with only 1 minute left of a video either! Visual timers help prepare children for upcoming transitions; this gives them time to mentally shift gears. This also teaches them how to navigate the start and stop of their own activities. For example, if they have 2 minutes left of a video game or homework assignment, explaining to them what might be a good spot for a natural end.

For a child, it’s the adults in their lives who are the ones that often determine the schedules and routines. So, it’s understandable for children to feel dysregulated and frustrated when their day takes a turn without notice.

Visual times and schedules also help our kids see the bigger picture, understanding that while a preferred activity might end, something enjoyable might be next.

Identify Baseline & Develop Age-Appropriate Goals

It is important to first consider the age and baseline of your child’s ability and success in following transitions and schedules. Consider whether it is realistic for your child, based on their age, to engage in a task for 5 minutes or up to 25 minutes.

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Start with Positive Experiences

When you decide to start using a visual timer, it is important to do so with preferred activities or at a smaller amount of time. This makes the timer a fun addition to an activity that has energy and excitement already.

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Celebrate the Wins

Acknowledge when your child uses the tool well and provide them with support if they still seem to struggle. This might sound like, “You worked the whole time on your goal, all on your own—that’s awesome!” Positive reinforcement encourages the use of this tool for kids until they build inner drive and motivation for its use.

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Be Consistent

When the timer goes off, it goes off! It may be difficult to withstand any resistance about a child wanting more time to engage in an activity. It is important, however, to set the example that once you determine a set amount of time, that is what you stick to! It may feel frustrating at first but with repetition and consistency, your child will thrive with this new tool.

This Could Sound Like:

“When the (color) is gone, it is break time.”

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Incorporate a Variety of Situations

After using the timer in some fun ways with your child, begin using the timer to incorporate both preferred and non-preferred tasks. This way the timer is not only associated with one or the other. (ex. “Let’s clean up as many toys as we can in 5 minutes!”) Your child can help pick out the display, the color of the visual timer, or get to press the “start” button when they are ready to go! Tasks are best broken down. Giving your child 2 goals is best to start before telling them the chore list of 5 things they need to do before bedtime.

This Could Sound Like:

• “Let’s clean together for 10 minutes, then you can pick a fun activity.”

• “You have 15 minutes left to play before we leave.”

• “Let’s set the timer for 20 minutes to work on your homework, then we’ll take a movement or stretch break.”

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Hold Onto Consistency Without Strictness

Continue to follow through on the expectations consistently, just as you did in step 3! Use the tools regularly but stay flexible as you navigate through using them. Life happens; the goal is to support.

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Invite as the Child’s Responsibility

Once the routine and visual timer have been used with success, invite them to suggest when else they might like to use a timer. Or for possibly how much time they’d like to spend on a task before changing to the next. This involvement can help them feel more in control and invested in their routine. The timer does not need to be used for every task in the day, but it will become a helpful tool to use when it feels most important to keep your kids on track!