Kids timer

A free kids timer with a big colored ring that empties as time passes, so a child who cannot read a clock yet can still see "almost done". It opens on two minutes, the tooth-brushing length, and runs on a tablet, laptop or TV. Also searched as timer for kids, children's timer, visual timer for kids.

Common kid timers

Use	Time	Page or key
Brushing teeth	2 min	brushing timer
Time-out	1 min per year of age	press the child's age on the keyboard
Clean-up race	5 min	key 5
Taking turns with a toy	3–5 min	Repeat on
Homework sprint	10–15 min	homework timer
Screen time	30–60 min	screen time timer
Getting ready for bed	15 min	?m=15 in the address

Why a visual ring helps

Young children do not feel time passing; they feel "now" and "not now". A ring that visibly shrinks turns an abstract number into something they can watch. Point to it and say "when the blue is gone, we switch". After a few days, most kids check the ring on their own instead of asking.

Time-outs

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests roughly one minute of time-out per year of age, so three minutes for a three-year-old (see healthychildren.org). Press 3 and then Space. The timer does the counting, so the adult does not have to argue about when it ends. Use the Chime sound, which is gentler than Beep.

Turn-taking and clean-up races

Turns: tick Repeat. Each alarm means the toy or controller switches hands, with no adult referee.
Clean-up race: set five minutes, go fullscreen, and ask "can we beat the ring?" It works surprisingly often.
Waiting: a two-minute timer makes "wait a moment" concrete for a toddler.

Start with the 2 minute timer and add longer lengths as the routine sticks.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child start the timer alone?

Yes. One tap on Start or the Space bar starts it, and the ring shows progress without reading numbers.

Which sound is best for kids?

Chime is the softest. Bell is clearer across a room. Pick one and keep it the same so the child learns what it means.

Can I lock the timer so it cannot be changed?

No. There is no lock, but the time can only be edited while the timer is stopped, and Reset needs a click or the R key.