Time can be a tricky concept for kids. Five minutes brushing teeth can feel like forever, while 30 minutes of screen time flies by in a blink. If you’ve ever heard “That only took two seconds!” after asking your child to clean up, or “Wait, already?!” when it’s time to stop playing. You know how hard it is for young brains to grasp how long things really take.
The good news? Time awareness is a skill. And like any skill, it can be taught and practiced with a little patience and the right tools.
Why It Matters
Understanding how long tasks actually take helps kids:
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Build realistic routines
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Transition more easily between activities
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Strengthen independence
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Feel more in control of their day
It’s also a key part of executive functioning. Those brain-based skills that help us plan, focus, and manage time effectively.
1. Make Time Visible
One of the biggest challenges for kids (especially those with ADHD or other executive functioning differences) is that time is invisible. You can’t touch it or see it. That’s where visual timers come in.
A visual timer like the Time Timer shows time disappearing in a clear, concrete way. When the red disk gets smaller, it gives kids a visual cue of how much time is left. It turns the abstract into something they can understand.
Try this:
Use a Time Timer during daily routines like brushing teeth, getting dressed, or reading. Start by setting it for the amount of time the task should take. Over time, they’ll begin to associate that visual with how long the task really lasts.
2. Time Daily Activities (Together)
Turn time awareness into a game or experiment. Ask: “How long do you think it takes to unload the dishwasher?” Then time it together. This builds their internal clock and helps them learn the difference between what they think versus what actually is.
You can try this with:
- Cleaning up toys
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Finishing homework
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Getting ready for bed
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Packing a backpack
Bonus tip: Write down guesses before you start, then compare with the actual time.
3. Create Time Anchors
Kids benefit from structure but even more so when that structure includes time anchors. These are consistent reference points in their day that help them build a sense of sequence and timing.
Example:
- “We’ll play with blocks for 10 minutes, then it’s time for lunch.”
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“You have 5 minutes of quiet time, then we’ll read a book.”
Anchors paired with a visual timer help them see time moving and feel what 5, 10, or 20 minutes really is.
4. Celebrate Time Wins
When your child guesses accurately or successfully completes a task in the set time, celebrate!
- “Wow, you said it would take 10 minutes to get ready, and you were right on the dot!”
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“Look how fast you cleaned up! It only took 3 minutes.”
Positive reinforcement builds confidence and encourages them to keep practicing.
5. Be Patient (and Flexible)
Time is a hard concept even for some adults. Kids will learn at different rates and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to be exact, but to help them build awareness and ownership over their day.
With consistency and support, your child will begin to feel more in tune with time and more capable of managing it.
Looking for a Tool to Help?
The Time Timer is a simple but powerful tool that helps kids of all ages (and adults too!) understand and manage time. Whether it’s for morning routines, homework sessions, or screen time limits, Time Timer makes the invisible—visible.
