Time Timer 8 Inch

by Time Timer

• Great for school or home use.
• Gives children a visual sense of time.
• Great for getting ready in the morning.

Product Description

Size: 1 Pack

In a teaching or therapy environment, no other tool communicates the concept of elapsed time as well as the time timer. it has proven to be very useful with students with autism, sensory disorder, and many special needs.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 1.2 x 7.8 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000J5OFW0
• UPC: 094922646323
• Item model number: Time Timer 8"
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (120 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,395 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)
  • #7 in Home & Kitchen > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Utensils & Gadgets > Thermometers & Timers > Timers

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for autistic children January 9, 2008

By conscientious consumer

Size Name:1 Pack

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

Autistic children are visual learners so this device is perfect for them. This timer is great for working with special needs children both at school and at home. It helps with the anxiety and temper tantrums often related to transitioning between activities. I've used this timer in working with my own autistic son for homeschooling purposes in past years. He has always liked using it as an aid. Since he is now a young teen but still has difficulty judging time, it is still a great way for him to pace himself. I would think that this could be used for all classrooms as a subtle cue for any timed activity. As far as durability, the face of the timer is open (no protective piece over the face) and the face material appears to be only a thick type of paper. It does not appear to be sealed or laminated so you would want to handle it with some care.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Flimsy and broke almost immediately, also not loud enough June 7, 2008

By Laura Steele

Size Name:1 Pack|Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 1.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

As soon as this timer arrived I didn't think it would last, and I was right. Currently we use a big, old loud bell kitchen timer to limit my son's TV and computer time. I wanted to try a visual timer as I heard it was great for kids on the Autism spectrum as they don't really understand the concept of time passing. I chose this one because it also had an audible alarm so he would hear it if he was concentrating on something else. Right out of the box the thing felt so light and cheap I couldn't imagine letting my 3.5 year old touch it. Basically the red part that shows time passing is a thin piece of plastic you dial around the clock part and the alarm is so quiet it might as well not be there. You certainly can't hear it from another room-it's just a tiny "beep beep". Still, I'd heard great things so I gave it a try. My son mostly ignored it, but the thing still broke when he wasn't even playing with it. The flimsly red thing kept coming off line and getting stuck. Within a week it stopped counting down the minutes, but would just beep for no reason. I had it sitting on my dresser and I just gave up on when my son found it and promptly ripped the red part right in half (the plastic was that thin and flimsy that he ripped it like a candy wrapper.) Now I'm sure I can't return it and it was a huge waste of money. Good concept, but they need to make a stronger product, especially if it's going to be anywhere near a kid.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Motivational Tool March 21, 2011

By Cannon

Size Name:1 Pack|Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

The Time Timer (we have the 8 inch model)is also known in schools around the country as "The Magic Clock." It is, essentially, a countdown clock that clearly and effectively displays the remaining time to complete a task.

Before children can tell time with a conventional clock, the Time Timer uses red shading to clearly demonstrate to a young mind how much time remains....it's been an effectively tool in our house when we want a task completed quickly.

The clock is plastic, and some may feel that is seems a bit flimsy. It works very well, nonetheless. It's not a toy, and the rule in our house is, no touching the time timer....only an adult can set the clock. We set it in the morning when the children are getting ready for school. They get ready - completing all tasks - before the time ends, every morning. It has eliminated the constant peek ins to make sure clothes are being put on, beds being made, book bags packed, etc.

You can set the timer up to one hour. It's accurate enough for the purpose outlined above. To set, you move the small plastic bubble counter clockwise to the desired amount of time. The red pie shape shading then shows children, from across the room, a depiction of the amount of time remaning. I think it ultimately helps them grasp how long five minutes is... etc. in a way that the timer on the oven does not.

Being able to duplicate something that is done in school, at home, makes for consistant effort by all involved to encourage responsibility on the part of a child to manage time. It's a great teaching tool!

Battery operated, lasts a long, long time.

Four stars for durability... it could be more rigid (but it's not necessary).... 4 stars for fun, although it isn't a toy, children do seem to respond joyfully to the "race against the clock" and 5 stars for educational value - children can learn the value of a time period. What a great intro into learning how to tell time! Read more ›

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product to help toddlers transition through activities September 19, 2008

By S. Breen

Size Name:1 Pack|Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

We have a time timer for our 3 year old son and 18 month old daughter.

We use it to help them transition through activities throughout the day and teach them about the passing of time. A great example is nap time... which used to be a difficult time of day until we started with the time timer. Here's how I use it: First, I explain to my son that when the time timer goes "beep beep" it will be time for bed. I set the timer for around 30 minutes (or whenever nap time is supposed to be) and my son and I settle into an activity. Throughout our play I ask him how much red he has left and if he wants to do more things, he'll make sure to move on to the next activity before the red disappears. When the red is gone there is a quiet, short tone sounds. I intentionally bought the product with the tone for this very reason - its not loud or on-going like an alarm clock so you'll need to stay close by but its just enough to get your attention. My son shouts out 'beep beep' and gets up and heads to his room. He's getting to the point that he doesn't need us to remind him to watch the time but instead, he points it out to us as if to say "look how much red is left!"

I have read the previous reviews that say its flimsy. I think the time timer is a tool that we as parents / educators use and then set it up on the shelf for the children to watch. I didn't want my son to play with it as I was concerned he would want to change the time, drop it, etc.

This is a great product for teach toddlers how to transition, maintaining routine (which toddlers thrive with!) and helping them learn about time management.