Tuesday, November 22, 2011

It’s about Time (Time Timer that is)

It’s about Time.

Time Timer 3 “: Product

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Company:   Time Timer

Price:  $30.00Photobucket

Make Every Moment Count

 

 

My kids love anything that has to do with time.  My son is obsessed with watches.  He probably has 6 and every time we go to a store that sells them, he asks for one.  I’m not kidding.  It’s crazy. 

I was blessed to be given a free Time Timer to review for TOS.  I knew my kids would enjoy it.

What is the time timer you say?

Well, it’s not a watch.   It doesn’t tell time.  But, if you have a kid who is always saying, “How much longer til . . . . “, then you may just need the Time Timer. 

It is a timer that visually shows how much time is left after you set it.  The timer goes from 1 to 60 minutes.   It is great even for young children because you don’t have to be able to tell time to use it.  The red area shows how much time is left.

The maker of the TIme Timer had a 4 year old who was always asking “How much longer”.  So after finding that normal clocks didn’t work because of the age of her daughter, Jan Rogers (the inventor of the timer)  knew there must be a better idea and that better idea might have to come from her. The vision she had was that if a child could “see” time as a measurement and begin to understand its duration, he/she would have a basic concept of time. This concept led to the design of the Time Timer with its patented red disk. As the time elapsed the red disk would disappear, creating a graphic image of the passage of time.

From 5 minutes

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to 15 minutes

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To 40 minutes

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You can see how the visualization of the minutes will help a child see that the bigger the red area, the more time there is left.

I think this is a great way to allow kids, and anyone who can’t tell time, to see the actual passing of time. 

Ways we have used the Time Timer.

Time out

Games that are timed

Music practice

limit TV time

TIme out

Computer time

Cleaning time (I love this one)

Teeth Brushing

Time out

School subjects (we limit our time to achieve maximum effort)

Time out

Cooking

Time Out

Reading

Time out

Video games

Time Out

I know there are many more ways to use this timer.  Of course, you can always use it for time out if you have to.

There is an audible beep that you can turn on and off (this requires a AA battery.  I think it needs to be a lot louder.  We couldn’t even hear it.

There are a couple of things I see as disadvantages.

  • The beep isn’t loud enough
  • The red disc sometimes gets stuck behind the plastic when setting.  My kids tried to set it for over an hour and the red came out in front of the area where the 59 minute marker is.  It was easily fixed but does keep happening.

Things I LOVED about this.

  • Visual concept is amazing.  Kids understand that as the red disc disappears, time is going by.
  • Size – this does come in two other sizes that are larger but I love this 3” one.  Very easy to carry with you and move imagefrom area to area where it is being used.
  • Has a clear front cover that can be flipped under as a stand.
  • Silent – no ticking like a clock.

Time Timer also has other items you can see on their website.  There is even a time timer watch (shh. . .   don’t tell Griffin).  Although that would make a great Christmas gift.    Hmm.

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(Just for the record, it has taken me 38 minutes to write this review up to this point.  I timed it.)

So, now in my house, whenever we get out a game or start to cook, you will hear one of my kids say “Let’s time timer it”. 

Oh yeah, the website is very easy to navigate.  You can watch a video of how the timer works.

There are also puzzles and an Ipad app as well as other products you can check out.

Our Family gives Time Timer

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Smiley guide
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1 Smiley - Product not really for our family. Probably wouldn’t buy. This really should probably be a frown face but we hate to be negative.
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2 Smileys - Would maybe buy this product if on sale. Not a great fit for our family.
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3 Smileys - We really liked this product and would probably recommend this to friends and fellow homeschoolers.
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4 – Smileys – Definitely would buy this if the budget would allow. We suggest you check this out to see if it is a fit for your family.
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5 Smileys – Would sell the family pets to get this one (just kidding). A must have for our family and we think you should get it too.
To see what my fellow crew mates have to say about this this product, click here.

For giveaways,and other great stuff, please check out the TOS Homeschool Crew blog by clicking below.

Please note: I received this product in exchange for my honest opinion in this review. No other compensation was provided. Thank you to Time Timer and TOS for this opportunity.

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Disclosure

I would like to let you know that this blog contains reviews done by me in exchange for products from certain companies. I have not received any other compensation for the honest reviews that I post. I will never promise a favorable review. If I don't like the product, I will honestly tell you why.

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