Product Name: Audible Visual Timer

Price: 3” Timer: $29.95, 8” Timer: $34.95

Recommended Age: Perfect for all ages and abilities!

Company Name: Achievement Products

Company Website: www.achievement-products.com

Company Phone Number: 1-800-373-4699

Product Description: Unique timer is useful for teaching the concept of time to children and those with perceptual problems. The color red provides a visual display of elapsed time that is easy to understand. Timers encourage independence in children and promote efficient use of time in the classroom.

•Makes an audible BEEP when time is up

•You have the option to use a visual depiction only or add sound to signal the end of a time segment

•Timers are available in the 3″ and 8″ sizes only

•All timers use one “AA” battery (not included)

Product Review: Of all the products I have reviewed to date, the audible visual timer is one of my absolute favorites! Ask any parent or teacher and they will tell you that elapsed time is a very difficult concept to teach, and even harder to conceptualize – but the Audible Visual Timer makes it easy!

The Audible Visual Timer visually shows the child just how much time is left for a given activity, before it’s time to move on to the next task. Perfect for transitions! To set the timer, all you need to do is move the red disk to the desired interval. As time elapses, the red slowly diminishes until no red is visible. Once the time is up, you’ll hear a little beep (this is an optional feature), but other than that the timer doesn’t make a sound! Perfect for kids with auditory sensitivities!

From my experience, the Audible Visual Timer is extremely effective and very easy to use! The Audible Visual Timer keeps everyone on time – not just kids, but parents and teachers too!

Teachers: How many of you have used one of those standard egg timers as a way to teach your students the concept of elapsed time? I know I have – with little success! From my experience, the kids could not see – visually – just how much time was left for a given activity (especially if they were more than a couple of feet away), making it virtually impossible for them to know how much time was left. The Audible Visual Timer is absolutely perfect for this purpose! Simply set the timer and display it in a central location of the classroom, where all of your students can see it. Providing this visual not only effectively teaches the concept of elapsed time, but it also minimizes frustration – for both you and your students – in the process! The Audible Visual Timer is perfect for children of all ages! Do you teach children at the preschool level? Use the Audible Visual Timer for center time to show children how much time remains in a given center, before it’s time to move on to the next one. Do you teach children at the school age level? Use the Audible Visual Timer during tests, individual work and group work, to show children how much time is left before it’s time to move on to the next subject. Personally, I enjoy using the Audible Visual Timer when working with a student during my tutoring sessions. Not only does it show the child how much time remains during each session, but it also helps to keep me on-track as I move from one activity to the next. It really helps with the flow of my sessions. This product is perfect for students and teachers (and tutors) alike!

Parents: The Audible Visual Timer is perfect at any time of the day! Set the timer in the evening to show your child how much time remains before it’s time for bed. Set the timer in the morning, when your child first wakes up, to visually show him how much time he has to get dressed and eat breakfast, before it’s time to set off for school. Do you use ‘time-outs’ as a means of discipline? Use the Audible Visual Timer to show your child how much time he has remaining before he can get up and play. Truly, the Audible Visual Timer can be used at any point in the day – for any purpose!

Parents and Teachers: Because the Audible Visual Timer is not super durable, it might be a good idea to keep it out of the hands of your little ones. This is a tremendous product, and it’s one you’ll want to use time-and-time again, so you might want to set the limits early!

Personally, I have found the Audible Visual Timer to be an extremely helpful visual aid for children of all ages! After having used it myself – with much success – it’s something I can’t do without!

-Craig

Craig Gibson is the Editor of SensorySpot.com, sister site of the internationally acclaimed AutismSpot.com. He is also a Feature Writer for AutismSpot.com. Craig was diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of six, and spent the next twelve years in special education. He has since earned two degrees and has published on the local and national levels.