Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored, nor is the author affiliated with or connected to companies or products mentioned. I just really love the products mentioned and want to share them with other parents!
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Life in 2020 has been a challenge, but has also been a time of healing and learning like we have never had before. Problems in the family that we have never “had the time” to address have been shoved into our laps and demanded to be faced. Attitudes that needed adjusted, tasks that have been avoided, lack of motivation, a need to be grateful- just to name a few.
As the new school year approached and we wondered what life was going to look like, my family made the decision to homeschool this semester. Yet, we have always had problems with even one sheet of homework! How on earth would we get our boy to sit down and complete a day’s school work every day?
Many adjustments have we made and tools have we discovered to help us through this new season. My personal favorites have been:
TimeTracker Timer
Essential Oil Diffusers
Spotify
Canva
Homemade Hot Chocolate or Tea
Coping Skill Sheet
Setting Realistic Time Goals Worksheet
Gum
I will be writing a Homeschool Series including each of these tools that I have stuck in my Homeschool Tool Box. Today, I will begin with the TimeTracker Timer, because it has been the biggest help in keeping my boy on track, and I hope that it can do the same for you! We have also used it in conjunction with almost all of the tools on the list. Teaming this timer with the other tools has greatly increased the usefulness of both.
Honestly, when we got the TimeTracker timer, I was doubtful. We have tried timers of different kinds for years; and yes, they have each helped. However, there was always something, large or small, that caused them to be only a fraction of the effectiveness that we needed. If it was a preferred activity, I would go turn the timer off and then return to his side to fuss, and bargain, and cajole until he finally felt the negative consequences were heavy enough to move on with the activity. If the acivity was of a responsible nature, you may as well throw in the towel before you start.
The TimeTracker timer that we bought engages the brain in a few different ways. First, it has an adjustable alert time. An alarm can be set for up to 24 hours, and the alert time can be set for whatever time under the 24 hour mark that is desired. This means that however much notice our boy needs to be able to disengage from a pleasurable activity – or to encourage him that the end will eventually come for a challenging one – is available to him.
This timer is also color-coded. Before the alert goes off, there is a lit green section at the bottom of an hourglass shape to show that there is plenty of time left. At the alert, the color switches to the middle section of the hourglass-shaped section. This portion is yellow to signify that they need to begin disengaging/ focusing closely to finish the task at hand. When the alarm goes off, the top of the TimeTracker hourglass lights red to show that the time is fully used up and the activity is done.
The alert and the alarm have different noises associated with them, so if my boy does not want to look at the timer, he can simply hear how much time he has left when one goes off. This has been very helpful and, as it has a small range of volume control, we are able to leave it on the fridge or put it right next to his work area – depending on the activity being completed. Speaking of its portability, this timer has magnets in the back to hold it to the fridge so that at the end of the school day, we just stick it next to our Rule, Schedule, and Tracking boards on the fridge, and leave it for the next activity!
The TimeTracker also seems to be very durable. We are not the most coordinated of people, and it has fallen many times: missing the fridge when trying to replace it, setting it precariously on top of a slanted binder – sending it crashing to the floor, it may or may not have even been dropped into the dog’s metal food bowl… a few times. It has not been damaged in the months that we have been giving it daily use and wear, and the only problem that I had with it was when I didn’t realize that it needed a new battery. Other than that it has worked like a charm.
My boy loves the freedom of setting his own timer, and I believe that he uses it more because it is more interactive than others we have employed in the past. and arguments over time have been cut almost in half. He has control of setting the timer, has the ability to track how much time is left, and can have the timer with him, which has consequently felt more security in the time that he has.
That doesn’t mean that he never has problems staying engaged, feeling motivated, or relinquishing a fun activity. Minecraft is a killer; if you have any suggestions for pulling a kid out of that, let me know! It has, however, helped make him more aware of how time passes, and encouraged him to be more responsible with his time.
To sum up what I’ve said here: Any timer is useful, but this one really changed our whole experience. The reasons that I love this TimeTracker are:
Visual Clarity
Separate Audio Reminders for Alert and Alarm
Adjustable Alert Time
Sturdy
Easy to Use
Portable
Magnetic
If you have any advice for great uses and hacks for timers, please let me know in the comments section – I am always looking for new life hacks to help my boy to be successful and make everybody’s life easier!
Caregiver’s Keeper 