Helping children see time
“Five more minutes” means little to a toddler. A timer they can see — dots vanishing one by one, or a coloured disc getting smaller — turns time into something they can watch and plan around. It is useful for transitions (end of playtime, bath, dinner), tidy-up, screen time and tooth-brushing.
Tips from parents and teachers
- Let your child press Start themselves — being part of it helps.
- Give a heads-up before you start the timer, so it isn’t a surprise.
- Some children dislike sudden sounds. Choose Silent (screen glows) or the soft chime.
- Young children may stare at the timer instead of playing — try hiding the numbers and placing the screen a little out of the way.
- Dots show one dot per minute: 10 minutes = 10 fish that disappear one at a time.
Set it up
- Pick a time or type minutes.
- Choose dots (stars, fish, cookies, sprouts) or a disc, and a favourite colour.
- Press Start — use Full screen on a tablet.
More timers
Why this one?
Related tools
Questions, answered
What age is a visual timer for?
Toddlers and up. Many families start around age two or three with dots or a disc, and use it for routines like bath time and tidy-up.
My child cries when the alarm rings. What can I do?
Choose “Silent (screen glows)” or “Soft chime” under “When time is up”.
Does it keep accurate time in a background tab?
Yes. It is based on the clock, not on counting ticks, so it stays correct if you switch tabs. The remaining time also shows in the tab title.
Can I use it silently?
Yes. Choose “Silent (screen glows)” under “When time is up” — the screen shows a gentle glow instead of a sound. This helps people who are sensitive to sudden alarms.
Can I hide the numbers?
Yes. Untick “Show the numbers” to see only the colour shrinking.