Blog

Do you remember the last time someone was kind to you? Kindness is powerful. One small act can change the entire course of your day, your week, or your whole life (or someone else’s). We share tips on teaching kindness to your kids and offer 10 ways to share kindness this holiday season. 

Introducing the new Time Timer MOD - Home Edition: 6 Ways This Collection Can Bring Peace and Joy to Your Home 

Let’s face it – this year has been hard. We’ve all adjusted to new routines and a new normal. Our daily household activities and habits have taken a complete 180. Anxiety is at an all-time high, and we are all struggling to figure out how to identify with the changing world.  

Can something as small as a visual timer really make the home a more enjoyable place to be? That was our goal when we set out to create the new Time Timer MOD – Home Edition. Here are some ways we think it can bring peace and joy into your house. 

It is no secret that we all have our favorite colors, and for good reason. Certain colors can make us feel calm, excited, or energetic. The Time Timer MOD – Home Edition collection of timers offers four brand new, on-trend colors, to appeal to whatever your needs may be. Use color to accomplish your goals. Want to feel more productive as you are working from home? Try the Dreamsicle Orange. Need to relieve some built-up anxiety as you work through a task? The Lake Day Blue may help calm those nerves.  

For those with cognitive differences such as ADHD, Autism, or Downs Syndrome, the changes we have all faced over the past year can be especially difficult. Over the past 25 years, the Time Timer family of visual timers has been proven to decrease anxiety associated with certain activities and transitions. This new collection takes it a step further. Combining the proven magic of the Time Timer visual timer with the calming colors offered in the MOD - Home Edition Collection, this essential tool can blend seamlessly into the home, creating a natural and relaxing solution to easing anxiety for the whole family, regardless of age of cognitive ability.  

If you are already familiar with our traditional Time Timer MOD, you know the value of its soft silicone case. Now you can choose the color of your case to make your Time Timer MOD – Home Edition uniquely your style! The Time Timer MOD – Home Edition Cases are sold separately in two available twin-packs. First, pick your desired MOD Home Edition Color. Then, select your Case Value Pack. There are two options: the Colors Twin Pack, which includes cases in Lake Day Blue and Dreamsicle Orange, or the Neutral Twin Pack, which includes cases in Cotton Ball White and Pale Shale. Mix and Match the cases for different activities, moods, or for different children.  

This gives you or your children ultimate flexibility on how you want your Time Timer MOD Home Edition to look – be creative! Here are some ideas to get your started: 

Time Timer has been clinically proven to increase self-regulation in children as young as 2 years old. The Time Timer empowers people of all ages, and especially children, to understand time and use it wisely. Letting you child pick their favorite color or create their own combination of timer and case can create a sense of ownership over their time management. And something that is so helpful to us adults, seems like fun for them!  

Because this collection is designed to fit within the style of your home, it’s perfect for creating fun memories with the whole family. Use the Time Timer MOD – Home Edition in the kitchen as you bake holiday cookies for your friends and family. Use it for game night in your family room. Even using it to have a dedicated time to work on homework together can make the experience more relaxed and memorable.  

Time Timer has always contributed to educational and special needs programming since the beginning, over 25 years ago. With the Time Timer MOD Home Edition, we have once again, taken it a step further. For every purchase of a Time Timer MOD Home Edition visual timer or Case Value Pack, we are donating 1% of sales to support inclusive education programs.    Time Timer® believes in creating products that truly help people of all ages and abilities conquer time. While time can be a challenge for some people, we aim to provide intuitive and innovative solutions that can make a real difference.

We are so excited to see the ways that you integrate the Time Timer MOD- Home Edition into your home, your family, and your life. Show us how it fits in on social media by using #timetimerathome! 

Facebook: @timetimer  

Instagram: @thetimetimer   

#makeeverymomentcount 

#timetimerathome 

As unpredictable as this year has been, and continues to be, taking time for yourself might have dropped off your priority list.  
 

This is especially true and quite the herculean task for parents with kids running around the house, juggling remote work, and at-home learning. 
 

However, personal time is important for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, increases resilience, and helps us to be happy, healthy individuals, partners, parents, and friends.  

As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. When you take good care of yourself, it allows you to take good care of those you love as well.  
 

If you’ve already integrated the Time Timer into the at-home learning schedule for your children, congratulations! You’ve got a bit of a head start. 

If you’re new to Time Timer, we’re here to help! Check out some of our recent blog posts on the importance of routines for your kids, particularly with regards to helping with schooling and as well as helping establish a new sense of normalcy in these uncertain times. 
 

Ready to build in some space for personal time on the schedule? 

How to use the Time Timer to create a little “me time”: 

It is important to set aside time for yourself throughout the day to decompress from the stresses of teaching or monitoring classes, working remotely, and managing the household.  

Take a look at your home schedule and find some time that you can block out for you. Make it official and add it to the calendar just as you would for any other appointments or meetings! 
 

When it’s your time block, set up a Time Timer for a half-hour (or the appropriate time for your child’s age), and let your child know that it’s quiet time or independent playtime until the timer runs out.  

Older kids might choose their own activities, but for younger kids, organize a few activities that you only offer and set up for them during these time blocks to make it novel and fun. Then, enjoy some time to read a chapter of a book you’ve been slowly plugging away at, do a face mask, or catch up on your favorite podcast.  

Of course, for younger kids especially, you will need to supervise and gauge their ability to play alone and how long it will last, but eventually, this routine will catch on and real alone time for yourself will be possible. 

Introducing younger kids to the concept of personal time will not only help you have a little space to take care of your needs, but it also encourages children in independent play, and lets kids know that it’s okay for them to need some alone time as well.  

You can also make “me time” something your child looks forward to by following up after the time block with some quality time, such as reading books, playing their favorite game, kicking a ball around, or enjoying a special treat together.  
 

We hope you take a look at your family schedule, get creative, and create some time to take care of you!  

Most years, we find ourselves getting into the holiday spirit here in early November. For many, this holiday season will take on even greater importance, allowing us to slow down and give ourselves a few days to decompress given the challenges of 2020.  While our gatherings will likely be smaller and more intimate, we can make efforts to continue to make the fall and early winter a special time of year. 

With less family coming for visits and inevitably pitching in to help on family holiday meals, this is the year to get the kids more involved. Surely not often an easy task, but that’s where your favorite Time Timers can come in handy. 

Time Timer in the Kitchen  

With many members of the cooking community - including celebrity chefs Alton Brown of Good Eats, Rocco DiSpirito of Rocco’s Dinner Party, and Cincinnati’s own Jean-Robert de Caval - all utilizing Time Timer visual timers in their own kitchens, it’s never too early to get the kids on board. Who knows, maybe a Time Timer is key on the path to stardom (for you or the kids)! 

One of the challenges of cooking with kids is keeping their focus on the tasks at hand. This is only exacerbated during the holidays when we typically trade in our one pot meals for something a bit more complex, with many sides and desserts added to go along with our standard fare. That’s where Time Timer can help you out. 

You can never have enough visual timers in the kitchen. A variety of Time Timer products can all be useful to keep the kids focused and on track for timely holiday meals rather than sitting down to eat in the early hours of Boxing Day.  

Let’s take a look at some options that can keep you and the kids on schedule. Pro tip: with the exception of those with sensory processing issues, keeping the sound on can be helpful in case the kids (or you) don’t see the time wind down! 

Let Time Timer Help Keep Holiday Meals on Track 

Have a complex meal and need to stick to a schedule? Use the Time Timer MOD + Dry Erase Board. Line up your tasks and their allotted times and cross them out as you go! The checklist and visual timer will help your kids understand how each task plays a part in putting together the entire meal, and give them the sense that dinner is getting closer. No more “are we there yets?”  Or at least maybe a few less to worry about. 

Have a dish that needs a longer time in the oven? Here’s where the Time Timer PLUS 120 Minute comes in handy. It’s the same visual timer you’re used to, but with the ability to set it for a full 120 minutes. Use it in conjunction with the shorter timers to keep track of your side dishes. 

Have a lot of dishes all going at once and the kids jumping back and forth? Remind them to keep those hands clean! Use the Time Timer WASH to ensure the kids are properly washing their hands between prepping different dishes. 

Have limited counter space or tend to have too many hands and utensils flying around the kitchen? The Time Timer TWIST can help you out. A 90-minute timer with a magnetic backing, this timer can be placed up out of the way on your metal appliances like the fridge or range hood. This timer is great in the kitchen and hard to misplace or lose on cluttered countertops. 

Many of us will likely be spending even more time in our own kitchens than usual over the holiday season. Make the most of this time with your family and kids and let us know on our social media channels how you use your Time Timer to help you keep on track. You may be surprised how useful they can be and find many uses for them in the kitchen through the holidays and into the new year! 

Research tells us that adding choices, visuals and hands on activities are beneficial for students diagnosed with ADHD, but what does that look like in our classrooms? Here are 4 tips for applying research and supporting students with ADHD. 

ADD IN CHOICES 

When students are able to make choices about their learning, they feel valued and invested. Giving choices doesn’t have to be disruptive to your classroom. These examples allow the student to feel in control without being disruptive: 

• Would you like to write the sentences on the computer, paper or whiteboard? 
• Do you want to work at your desk, standing by the table or on a beanbag chair? 

• Would you like to listen to music while you work? 

None of these choices will create havoc, but they all will incorporate the movement and input our students sometimes crave. 

VISUALS 

Use visuals to support sequencing, initiation and following directions.  Visuals could be pictures, clip art, photos, text or a combination of all types. One of my most favorite things about visuals is how they are able to be faded. 

It's important to remember that we need to have a plan for fading any prompts we add in. Without fading, the student will need help lifelong. Read the blog posts below to help create plans for fading supports and helping our students to be more independent. 

• Using Visuals To Reduce Prompt Dependency 
• Visual Supports Improve Behavior and Classroom Management 

ORGANIZE MATERIALS 

Students diagnosed with ADHD often struggle with organization, so this is an area students may need specific teaching and help.  This is a great time to add in choices and talk about what is or isn’t helpful. Here are some ideas for systems for organization: 

• Color coded by activity or class 
• Use an expandable folder divided by class or activity 

• Have a small tote bag for each class or subject 
• Teach students to use a drawer system where each drawer is a different class or subject 

If your student is somewhat able to remain organized independently, a binder system with dividers may also be an option. 

ORGANIZE TIME  

Initiation and sustained attention and participation can be an area of struggle. Adding in supports such as a visual schedule, visual timers or checklists can help. Click the links below to read more about classroom organization strategies. 

• Tools for adjusting the environment 
• Implementing visual schedules

As you begin to think about and plan for supporting your students with ADHD, remember that most of these ideas and supports are helpful for all students. Teaching your whole class about these strategies and tools can develop lifelong skills for your entire class. 

About the Author  
Pam Petralia has been a special education teacher for over 20 years and has worked in a variety of settings (self-contained, resource, k-2, middle school, etc.) She is the owner and creator of Mrs. P's Specialties which helps teachers easily implement and apply research based practices through tips & ideas, resources and consulting into their classrooms.   
 

Links to follow: 

Blog: www.mrspspecialties.com 

Instagram: @mrspspecialties 

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/mrspspecialties 

Tips for Managing ADHD 

By Jessica Rapp Irwin, OTR/L of Rooted in Routine 

October is ADHD awareness month, and as a pediatric occupational therapist, I have worked with many children with an ADHD diagnosis over the years. Let me tell you - they are some of the smartest, most creative, and most caring children I’ve ever met! However, in terms of learning and attention, they often struggle simply because their brains work slightly differently. 

Children with ADHD have difficulty with focusing and concentrating on certain tasks. There is a difference in the brain that causes this difficulty. They may have trouble staying focused on one task for long periods of time, they may be more distracted by things in their environment (sights, sounds, objects, etc.) than other children their age, or they may appear “fidgety” and have the need to move their body often.  

However, children with ADHD are able to focus, but they often focus on what’s not important at that moment. Therefore, we can modify the environment (something OT’s do best!) to help them focus on what is important for the task at hand. They may also require modifications to help their body remain calm in order to help promote focus and concentration. 

Here are some evidence-based tips to help your child with ADHD succeed at school (in-person or virtual) and at home: 

1. Keep a consistent routine. This is the number one tip that can transform both home and school life for your child. When tasks are done in the same way and in the same order, it provides a sense of predictability and stability for your child. This in turn limits distractions and deviations from the routine. For example, each morning try to go through the same steps in the same order: eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, pack backpack, put on jacket and shoes, and leave for school (if virtual, replace with sit at virtual learning space. 
2. Create a visual schedule. This is where you write down, in order, exactly what your child is going to do, and then have them mark it off as they complete each step. You can create a schedule for the entire day, or make one for the span of an hour or two. For example, your child’s afternoon schedule might be “eat snack, do 20 minutes of homework, play outside”. Writing this down will help your child understand what is happening next and know what to expect, which is one of the most important factors in reducing distractibility, difficulty focusing, or refusal behaviors (those “I don’t want to!!” moments). Simply get out a piece of paper and write your child’s schedule as a list. If they’re old enough, have them help write it with you!  
3. Set up a consistent “learning space” or “homework space” with limited distractions. Try to have your child sit in the same spot each day when they are logged into virtual learning or when completing homework. Help promote better focus by removing any toys or objects nearby that could cause distractions. If your child is sitting in a chair, make sure your child’s feet can touch flat on the ground (if not, use a stool or stack of books!) - this helps your child’s body feel more supported. However, don’t be afraid to try alternate positions such as having your child lay on their belly or even stand up while completing school work. Sometimes these alternate positions can actually help with better attention, particularly for those kiddos with ADHD! 
4. Use a visual timer. This can be a sand timer, a kitchen timer, or the Time Timer! Visual timers help children understand the concept of time because they can see how much time is left to complete a task. This is so important for children with ADHD because they are often visual learners. Give your child the “job” of setting the timer before a task, which gives them a sense of control and purpose. For example, before beginning homework, have your child set the timer to 20 minutes. This way they know how long they’re expected to focus and know they will be getting a break when the timer goes off. 
5. Include movement breaks and/or outdoor time within the day. This is very important! All children need to move their bodies, but especially those with ADHD. Staying still is particularly challenging for these kiddos, so building breaks into the day is imperative. Movement actually helps your child pay better attention when done as a preventive measure. Build movement breaks into your child’s routine, rather than using them as a reward or something that only happens if they get “X” amount done. Getting outside for even 5-10 minutes can do wonders, but if that’s not possible, there are plenty of ways to move inside - put on music and have a 5-minute dance party, do 100 jumping jacks, or play a GoNoodle video on YouTube… all great ways for your child to move his or her body!  
6. Use your child’s interests to your advantage. Whenever possible, try to include your child’s interests in the activity you want them to focus on. Children with ADHD are actually very much able to focus on things they are interested in, so go with it! If your child has favorite characters, try to include them in activities at home and encourage your child’s teacher to do the same at school. If your child has a competitive side, try making things into “races” or “challenges” so they are motivated to complete the task at hand. For example, have a race to see who can put on their shoes faster! 

Remember, children with ADHD are smart, capable, and creative - they just might need a few slight tweaks to shine! Try out these tips above to make things go a bit smoother for both you and your child. 

 
 
 
About the Author: 

Jessica Rapp Irwin, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist, childhood routine expert, and lover of all things child development. She founded Rooted in Routine, an online parent coaching platform, to help parents learn simple, easy to implement routines for optimal child development starting at age one. She is passionate about educating parents on NORMAL, HEALTHY development, which is often simpler than we think. Jessica’s approach is largely rooted in going back to the basics to help you establish solid, age-appropriate routines for your child for things like eating, play, and sleep. She believes this is the most important foundation you can provide for your child - and she wants to help you do just that!  
 

Learn more about Jessica at https://www.rootedinroutine.com/about and follow her on Instagram at @rootedinroutine.  

Global Handwashing Day 

October 15 has been established as Global Handwashing Day. The Global Handwashing Partnership developed Global Handwashing Day to be, “a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.” 

The Global Handwashing Partnership is a partnership of international stakeholders who work to promote the importance of handwashing with soap. The partnership brings together organizations from all around the world in multiple different fields of business. Their vision is, “for handwashing with soap to be universally promoted and practiced at all critical times.” 

COVID-19 has been a reminder to us how important handwashing is. Global Handwashing Day has been a day for years that encourages people around the world to wash their hands with soap. This year's Global Handwashing Day theme is “Hand Hygiene for All.” This is in line with the Global Handwashing Partnership’s goal of achieving universal hand hygiene.  

Let’s do our part by washing our hands and keep each other safe! 

Time Timer WASH Pre-Sale is Live! 

Here at Time Timer is doing our part to support Global Handwashing Day with the launch of our new product. The Time Timer WASH is a hands-free handwashing timer to help everyone, no matter age or ability, understand handwashing. The Time Timer WASH helps make handwashing interactive and fun for your children and students.  

Be one of the very first to receive a Time Timer WASH and place your pre-order today!

Celebrate Global Handwashing Day with Time Timer! 

Help us celebrate Global Handwashing Day on social media! We have created Clean Hands for the Greater Good Campaign. Show us your clean hands using our filters and support Global Handwashing Day.  

Or try the Facebook camera frame on your mobile phone and take your own picture with your clean hands!  

Take Your Picture Here

Be sure to Tag Time Timer on social media and include these hashtags!  

FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - TWITTER - PINTEREST 

#CleanHandsForTheGreaterGood #TimeTimerAroundTheWorld #GlobalHandwashingDay #HandHygieneForAll 

Read Additional Blog Post About the Time Timer WASH and Handwashing 

• Handwashing to Stay Safe and Healthy by Heather Rogers 
• Handwashing at home and at school: A Parents Perspective 
• The Importance of Handwashing in Today's World 
• Coming Soon: The Time Timer WASH Handwashing Timer! 

October is ADHD Awareness Month. 

Throughout the month of October, Time Timer is sharing resources and information specific to supporting children and students with ADHD, including amazing guest blog posts by parents and experts. 

Today, we’re sharing an article by The Childhood Collective, a team of two child psychologists and a speech language pathologist. 

Read on to learn about the process for getting a diagnosis of ADHD for your child.  

By The Childhood Collective 

Is it ADHD or Something More? 5 Common Co-Occurring Diagnoses 

The process of getting a diagnosis of ADHD for your child can be exhausting! We know, because we walk this path with families on a daily basis. For so many families, the process of deciding to evaluate, finding a provider, scheduling, waiting, testing, waiting, getting feedback, and ultimately getting a diagnosis can feel like the rollercoaster of a lifetime.  

In many cases, families get a diagnosis of ADHD but still have unanswered questions. Maybe you have gotten the diagnosis, but you are seeing some things that don’t fit within the diagnosis of ADHD. Or perhaps things were going well for a little while, but your child’s needs are changing again – leaving you feeling confused and overwhelmed, wondering if you have missed something.  

First of all, hugs to you. Secondly, you may be right! 

According to the CDC, up to 80% of children with ADHD have a co-occurring condition. So, if you feel like there might be more going on, trust your intuition – you may be correct.  

Why are other diagnoses often missed?  

The vast majority of children with ADHD receive a diagnosis from their pediatrician. However, these evaluations are often brief (parent interviews and behavior checklists) and are ONLY looking at whether symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity are present.  

Because ADHD occurs so frequently with other conditions, we usually recommend that parents seek out a comprehensive evaluation to rule-out other explanations for symptoms they might be seeing in their child. 

5 common diagnoses that often co-occur with ADHD (or might be mistaken for ADHD!) 

Why would a learning disorder look like ADHD? If your child is struggling to understand homework and classwork, this can look like problems with work completion, inattention, distractibility, frustration, and defiance. 

2. Anxiety. Research has shown that around 33% of children with ADHD will also have an anxiety diagnosis. So how can you tell your child has anxiety? Children with anxiety will have great difficulty controlling their worries or fears. You might notice your child asking lots of questions before entering new activities or situations. When a child experiences anxiety, they will typically try to escape the situations to avoid their anxious feelings.  
 

For many children, anxiety can look like ADHD because children spend so much time worrying that it is hard for them to focus on the present. In fact, difficulty concentrating is a symptom of anxiety. 

3. Depression. In addition, around 10-33% of children with ADHD will have a separate mood disorder like depression. Depression often looks different in children than in adults. For instance, children may feel sad, may make negative comments about themselves, or may feel hopeless. They can also just as easily become irritable and angry. Children may experience changes in eating, sleeping, and withdrawal from activities they used to find enjoyable. 
 

Why does depression look like ADHD? One of the symptoms of depression is difficulty concentrating. Additionally, children may lose motivation to complete schoolwork, homework, and grades may drop. Sleeping challenges that often occur with depression can also result in focusing challenges.  

4. Autism Spectrum Disorder. Around 15% of children with ADHD will also have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Children with an autism spectrum disorder may desire friendships, but struggle to make and keep new friends. They may also struggle with non-verbal communication, which may include difficulty making eye contact, using gestures, or making facial expressions. They may show repetitive body movements (e.g., finger movements, hand flapping, body rocking), difficulty making transitions or changes to their routine, deep/specific interests, and/or sensory sensitivities/interests (e.g., sound, smell, taste, feel).  

Why would an autism spectrum disorder look like ADHD? Children with autism may prefer to spend time thinking intensely about something of interest, and this can look like inattention. A child’s repetitive behavior may also be misinterpreted as overactivity or fidgeting. Both children with ADHD and autism will sometimes have deep interests on specific topics. 

5. Speech and Language Disorders. Research indicates that approximately 2/3 of children with ADHD also have a speech or language disorder (with some studies indicating as high as 90%!) What areas of speech and language are most often affected in children with ADHD?  

• Language: Children with ADHD often score lower on tasks that measure language comprehension, but this may be partly due to their lack of attention, which causes them to perform poorly on a standardized assessment. They sometimes struggle to find the precise words they are looking for, even though they know the words. In the moment, they may be speaking too quickly and they use nonspecific language like “thing” or “stuff” to describe their ideas. They often have difficulty telling stories in the order they happened, and including the right amount of detail.  
• Speech: Children with ADHD often have difficulty with the self-monitoring, so it can be difficult for them to learn a new, correct speech sound pattern. When children are very young, they develop a phonological system (the “rules” of speech sounds). Children with ADHD, who often also have dyslexia, can have significant issues with phonology. This can result in learning sounds later and/or having trouble hearing the speech sound errors.  

Why would a language disorder be mistaken for ADHD? Children with a language disorder may appear to be inattentive, because they aren’t comprehending or connecting to what is being said. They may need directions repeated or said in a different way.  

What should my next steps be?  

If you are concerned that there may be more going on with your child, a comprehensive evaluation by a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, or neuropsychologist is recommended. From there, they may refer you for a speech/language or occupational therapy evaluation. Ultimately, you know your child best! If something feels “off” to you, your gut is probably right.  

About the Authors 

We would love to connect with you. Here at The Childhood Collective, we are a team of two child psychologists and a speech language pathologist… and we are also moms! We have lots of free resources available for parents who are raising neurodiverse children. One of our most popular free resources is our ADHD Treatment Guide which breaks down the research about ADHD treatment… saving you time so you don’t have to sift through hours of scholarly articles and confusing google searches. 

Our online community is growing daily, so please hop on over to social media and give us a follow. We post daily tips and inspiration for parents just like you! 

Have a beautiful day,  

The Childhood Collective