Comments on: Timer Training http://www.earnestparenting.com/2007/08/10/timer-training/ Successes, failures, and a few funny stories about parenting. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:18:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: PandaBean http://www.earnestparenting.com/2007/08/10/timer-training/#comment-54 PandaBean Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:03:50 +0000 http://www.earnestparenting.com/2007/08/10/timer-training/#comment-54 My G-ma has the same style timer that you do. I agree that it can really get you motivated! The one I currently have (besides the one on my microwave) beeps at 5 min, 2.30 min and 0 min. It's really annoying, because I find myself in "panic mode" to scurry up and finish and end up doing a sloppier job than I could have done. I've got a number of things on my FlyLady want list. :P God Bless! My G-ma has the same style timer that you do. I agree that it can really get you motivated! The one I currently have (besides the one on my microwave) beeps at 5 min, 2.30 min and 0 min. It’s really annoying, because I find myself in “panic mode” to scurry up and finish and end up doing a sloppier job than I could have done. I’ve got a number of things on my FlyLady want list. :P

God Bless!

]]> By: Amy http://www.earnestparenting.com/2007/08/10/timer-training/#comment-52 Amy Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:10:35 +0000 http://www.earnestparenting.com/2007/08/10/timer-training/#comment-52 <p>Lol. I tried the clock thing first....but they were fighting so much that I couldn't even get their attention. The timer I could set for one minute at a time early on and it was a very concrete way for them to measure an abstract concept. The egg timer makes a nice ticking noise, which they quickly understood meant "progress" toward getting the coveted item. And the nice ding when time was up was something you couldn't argue about. Either it had gone ding or it hadn't. </p> <p>Now that the older boys can tell time, they need the timer only for situations like computer usage, since it's easy to lose track of how long you've been in front of the screen. I do also use the timer once in a while for cleaning binges (wink) a la FlyLady. It's hysterical how that little ticking noise can motivate.</p> Lol. I tried the clock thing first….but they were fighting so much that I couldn’t even get their attention. The timer I could set for one minute at a time early on and it was a very concrete way for them to measure an abstract concept. The egg timer makes a nice ticking noise, which they quickly understood meant “progress” toward getting the coveted item. And the nice ding when time was up was something you couldn’t argue about. Either it had gone ding or it hadn’t.

Now that the older boys can tell time, they need the timer only for situations like computer usage, since it’s easy to lose track of how long you’ve been in front of the screen. I do also use the timer once in a while for cleaning binges (wink) a la FlyLady. It’s hysterical how that little ticking noise can motivate.

]]> By: PandaBean http://www.earnestparenting.com/2007/08/10/timer-training/#comment-50 PandaBean Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:25:15 +0000 http://www.earnestparenting.com/2007/08/10/timer-training/#comment-50 I haven't used this one for Amelia yet, she's only 6 months, but I have used it when I was a nanny with 4 small children in my care. I didn't have a timer, but I showed them the clock and told them what it would say/look like when the time was up. I also used it for having to stay at the table at meal-times or when mommy/daddy would be home, etc. It gave them a sense of confidence and also helped them learn how to tell time. One little boy in my Sunday school class (4-5 year olds) would always ask me "When does religion get over?" about 4-5 times in the 45 minute period. I showed him where the clock was and told him what it would look like when it was time to leave. By the end of the year, he had stopped asking, I assume because he knew the answer! God Bless! I haven’t used this one for Amelia yet, she’s only 6 months, but I have used it when I was a nanny with 4 small children in my care. I didn’t have a timer, but I showed them the clock and told them what it would say/look like when the time was up. I also used it for having to stay at the table at meal-times or when mommy/daddy would be home, etc. It gave them a sense of confidence and also helped them learn how to tell time.

One little boy in my Sunday school class (4-5 year olds) would always ask me “When does religion get over?” about 4-5 times in the 45 minute period. I showed him where the clock was and told him what it would look like when it was time to leave. By the end of the year, he had stopped asking, I assume because he knew the answer!

God Bless!

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