Visual timer
Drag around the dial or tap a time, then press Start. The colored disc shrinks as the minutes pass, so anyone can see how much time is left, even children who can't read a clock yet. Use Full screen on a classroom board or TV.
Why a visual timer helps
Numbers like "7:42" mean little to a young child, and even adults misjudge how long is left. A shrinking disc shows it at a glance: lots of color means lots of time, a thin sliver means "almost done". That's why visual timers are used in preschools, special education and therapy, for transitions ("when the red is gone, we tidy up"), turn-taking, homework and screen time, and by adults with ADHD to make time feel concrete.
Tips
- Classroom: press Full screen on the smart board so the whole class can see it from the back of the room. Turn off Show the numbers for younger children.
- Short tasks: the dial covers 60 minutes, so a 5-minute task is a small slice. For timers longer than an hour, the dial stretches to fit.
- Links: add
?m=15to the page address to open it set to 15 minutes, which is handy for a bookmark. - Keyboard: Space starts and pauses, R resets.
Prefer big numbers? Use the countdown timer or the classroom timer. For a whole lesson plan, try the multi-timer or time-out timer.
Questions people ask
What is a visual timer?
A timer that shows time passing as a picture, usually a colored disc that gets smaller, instead of only numbers. You can see how much time is left at a glance, which helps children and anyone who finds clocks hard to judge.
How do I set the visual timer?
Drag your finger or mouse around the dial to the number of minutes you want, tap a quick time such as 5 or 15 minutes, or type minutes in the box. Then press Start.
Can I use it on a smart board or projector?
Yes. Open the page on the board's computer and press Full screen. The disc fills the screen and the alarm plays through the board's speakers.
Does it work for more than an hour?
Yes, up to 24 hours. For anything over 60 minutes the dial rescales so the full disc equals the whole timer.
Is this the same as a Time Timer?
It works the same way as the well-known red-disc timers, but it's free and runs in your browser. Time Timer is a trademark of its owner; this page isn't affiliated with it.