Visual timers
- Amy's Angels Health Care Team
- Jan 12, 2024
- 2 min read
Difficulty can arise when transitioning between activities due to poor time management. For example, a child oblivious to how time passes may be surprised when their half-hour playing with a train set runs out. Engrossed in this favorite activity, it may feel like mere seconds have passed, and then, without warning, the demand to switch to a less favored activity is made.
So what can parents do?
Visual timers are essential for developing and maintaining executive function skills in children on the autism spectrum.
A visual timer is commonly suggested by therapists as an effective way to deal with time blindness. It is beneficial for individuals with executive dysfunction, ADHD, and autism. A visual timer serves as a visual cue or reinforcement to help people become more aware of time.
Teaching the concept of time to children with special needs can be made easier with the help of devices that provide visual and auditory reminders. Time-keeping devices serve not only to display the current time but also to set alarms that can remind individuals of a specific time or duration. Countdown functions, various colored lights, and images are helpful visual aids that can help young children develop a better sense of time.
A visual timer can help children with ASD complete time-sensitive activities.
Many visual timers have a red disk on an analog clock that disappears as time passes. A visual timer with lights for each task section can be helpful when concentration is challenging.
More about Amy's Angels Health Care serving South Florida
Come and Meet our Team. If you're looking for ABA therapy services or Diagnostic Evaluations in South Florida, Amy's Angels Health Care is here to help. Our team of highly trained ABA experts provides compassionate care to help navigate the unique challenges of ASD. We have a staff of exceptional licensed mental health professionals who are dedicated to delivering the best possible care.
Don't hesitate to contact us at 786-391-0695 to discuss your loved one's ABA care needs, including diagnostic services. We are ready to support you whenever you're ready.
If you're looking for an adjustable clock to help teach time-telling, online interactive analog clocks offer great flexibility. You can easily demonstrate concepts like 'quarter past,' 'half past,' or 'o'clock' by moving the hands and discussing what it means. Many also have 'random clock challenges' where a time is displayed, and the student has to read it, or vice-versa. This makes practice more varied and engaging. It’s a really useful tool for classroom clock practice or for parents working with their children at home to master this essential skill.
An analog clock for kids that they can actually interact with is a game-changer for learning. Many online versions allow children to drag the minute and hour hands to set different times, or they might show a time and ask the child to set the hands correctly. This hands-on practice is invaluable. Some even have features like showing elapsed time or different clock faces. It’s a fantastic educational tool that leverages technology to teach a traditional skill in a more engaging and effective manner, making it less daunting for young learners.
For parents and teachers looking for effective telling time games and resources, online interactive analog clocks are a must-try. Instead of just worksheets, these tools provide a dynamic way for kids to learn. They can often set random times for the child to read, or allow the child to set specific times themselves. This active engagement helps solidify their understanding of hours, minutes, and how the hands work together. It turns what can be a frustrating learning process into something more enjoyable and game-like, which usually leads to better retention.