Visual Timers Options

Time Timer (www.timetimer.com)

Visual timers are a great way for children who have yet to master telling time grasp a concept of time.  Visual timers are exactly what they sound like - timers that are visual.  They give the user a visual reference to how much time is left, instead of relying on numbers.

We use visual to keep Bugsy on task.  She likes to take half a century eating, especially dinner.  And she loves to skip out on brushing her teeth.  We also use visual timers to give her transitional warnings.  Saying "5 minutes left" is pointless when the child has no idea what 5 minutes mean.  Saying "you have until the red is all gone" means something because she can tell the red is getting smaller and smaller.

When we were first introduced to the concept of visual timers, I was a bit daunted by the cost.  Time Timer makes a 12", 8" and 3" version, but the 8" one costs $35!  They do make mobile versions for your iDevices, but the iphone app costs $3.99 and the iPad app costs $6.99.  $3.99 is a far cry from $35, but in terms of apps, $3.99 rests on the more expensive side in my opinion.  However, there are other alternatives for visual timer apps for the technologically inclined.   Timer+ Touch from SixAxis was recently free this past Labor Day for the iPad, but normally is priced at $1.99 for both iPad and iPhone.  I personally downloaded the iPad app this past Monday at the very economical price of free =).

There are pros and cons to having a timer on your device.  If you already down an iDevice, the cost for the app is much lower than buying a stand-alone timer.  However, your device is essentially unusable during the entire timing period.  If you minimize the app, it's just as useless as telling the child "5 more minutes" when he has no idea how long 5 minutes actually is.

There is also a FREE online version at www.stop-watch.com (select "countdown").  However, it will not work on mobile device (or at the very least, the timer will work but the visual part of the timer is missing).  This may be an alternative for classrooms or homes where a desktop is conveniently placed but not in use during the child's activity.  Because again, if the timer is minimized, it becomes essentially pointless and useless to the child. 

Amazon.com: $14 with prime shipping

Other alternatives include a pie kitchen timer made by Joseph Joseph and sold by Amazon.com for $14 with free prime shipping.  I considered making the purchase, but was swayed by the multiple reviews that stated the timer stopped working a few months later.  I have not had personal experience with this timer, so I can't speak for it either way. 

Lakeshore Learning: Giant Sand Timers ($49.95)

And of course, there are the traditional sand timers.  This was my first thought when we were looking for a visual timer for bugsy.  However, I quickly learned the cons of using sand timers.  First (and most important for us), a sand timer is fixed.  If I purchase an hourglass that runs for a minute, and it will only ever run for a minute...meaning I can only ever it for activities spanning a minute.  You also need a larger hourglass to be able to really see the sand clearly.  Lakeshore sells a set of 4 giant sand timers for $50.  Also, sand timers don't have alarm.  It empties all of its sand, and if no one is watching it, nothing happens.  I use these timers for me as well, because I can give Bugsy a 5 minute warning to clean up and then not have to watch the clock the entire 5 minutes.  I can multitask can go do something else.  With a sand timer, I risk not being able to follow through.  Sand timers might be perfect in structured settings like classrooms or therapy sessions, but not so much for a situation where I might not be sitting in front of the timer!

Do you use a visual timer?  If so, what method works best for you?

Finding a balance to extremes

I've been looking for alternative preschools for Bugsy, and it's so hard to find a balance.  At one end we have the specialized schools, where they only serve atypical children and work with a functional curriculum.  At the other end, we have your typical preschools that the regular average preschooler would attend.  Finding a balance that would allow my Bugsy to benefit the most from her environment is proving to be a challenge. 

Bugsy's main needs are communication and social skills.  We got a speech-generating device over the summer for her, and she is beginning to learn it.  However, she still needs a lot of support to effectively communicate using her "talker". 

http://www.photo-dictionary.com

Currently, Bugsy is in a special day class with our local school district.  She is in a non-categorical class with about six other children.  The teacher is wonderful, and the two aides are great too.  However, her teacher and aides are not trained to support Bugsy's "talker", and the district has been less than enthusiastic with the many (free) training opportunities we have presented.  I know something about the device, but I'm no expert and I definitely can't train the school staff in 5 minute increments when I drop Bugsy off in the morning.  Furthermore, all of the children in the classroom have various social impediments.  No one is really playing together.  How is Bugsy supposed to work on her social skills with a bunch of other kids that don't have any?  It's like the blind leading the blind.

I have toured a couple of typical preschools, but they've been downright depressing.  24 children, 1 teacher, 1 aide.  "Controlled chaos" seems to be the running theme.  My Bugsy would absolutely drown in there.  All the schools mentioned a shadow aide, which we have no problems with...except I want the shadow aide to be an aide, not a teacher.  I've had more than one school tell me they don't have time to teach her, but they can provide the curriculum and facility for her aide to work with her.

Then on the other end, you have specialized schools that only serve children with disabilities.  The school I'm touring this morning has eight children per class, but also eight teachers.  They have lots of experience with speech-generating devices.  But they have no typical peer interaction time, and their classes are mixed age. 

So, I'm left with trying to find a balance to the two extremes.  In a typical preschool, Bugsy will be able to work on social skills, but her communication deficits would pretty much be neglected.  In a specialized school, they will be a great support for her communication, but will not be able to offer much in terms of social skills. 

I understand that you can't have everything in life, but weighing which of Bugsy's deficits to work on is so hard.  Like every parent, I want everything for my child.  But I think it might be time for us to consider that in trying to do everything (in her special day class), we are not doing very well at anything at all. 

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to concentrate on something at the expense of something else?  How did you make your decision?