How do you use a timer
for kids?

Visual timer for kids | Interval timer settings

For example, if your child has 10 math exercises to do for homework, you might say, "Do the first half of the exercises and then take a five-minute break to do something of your own choosing. Then do the next half of the tasks". During the break, set a timer for five minutes; Make sure your child sees it so they know exactly how much time they have left.

Or set the timer at alternating intervals of 15 and 5 minutes so that the child understands that after every 15 minutes of work, he or she gets 5 minutes of rest and distraction.

This is a great method of encouraging completion because children enjoy working on something interesting. Many children also need a mental break and will work more efficiently if they have the opportunity. Using a timer removes the responsibility from the parents. The adult will not arbitrarily tell the child that the break is over. The timer dictates the length of the work or break. This leads to less resistance on the part of the child.

If you are doing an activity, such as learning or practicing a skill, try setting a timer for 15 minutes and saying something like, "We'll practice the set time, then we will take a five-minute break to do something of our choice, and then you will do another 15 minutes." In this case, you'll use a timer so the child knows how long the practice will be and how long the break will be. Some children need motivation in the form of a suggestion about the break, such as when they will have a break if they want to play a game on their smartphone.

You can change the number of minutes, as some children may work longer, some may work less, and some benefit from longer or shorter breaks. Work with your child to figure out what is the best amount of time for him or her.