RoutiniusQuick answer: The Routinius visual timer turns the whole screen into a block of colour that drains downward as time passes, next to a tick ruler and a large clock. Chimes play at 5, 2 and 1 minute left, and an Until and Then label tell your child what the time is for and what comes next. It’s free, with no limit.
Why a visual timer instead of a clock
A young child can’t do much with “you have four minutes”. They can see that the yellow is almost gone. A visual timer turns time into an amount you can see shrinking, which is why visual timers are a common tool in classrooms and with occupational therapists.
The Routinius timer leans into that:
- Colour fill: the screen starts full of the colour you pick and empties from the top down.
- Tick ruler: a ruler down the side shows how much is left, like a measuring cup.
- Big clock: a large monospaced countdown for older children and grown-ups.
- Warning chips: 5m, 2m and 1m chips at the top show which warnings have passed and which is next.
Warnings and “then”
Changing activity is often the hard part, more than the activity itself. So the timer gives notice:
- A soft chime and a short vibration at each warning (only the ones shorter than your timer: a 3-minute timer warns at 2 and 1).
- If Read aloud is on in Settings, the app says “Two minutes left”.
- When time is up, a rising chime plays, the screen says Time’s up!, and your Then label appears: “Now: shoes on”.
Tap +1 min if you need a little more, or Pause for an interruption. Closing the timer takes a press-and-hold, so a child can’t end it early.
Try it in your browser first
Our free online visual timer works the same way in any web browser, with the same warnings and colours. It’s a good way to see whether a visual timer helps your child before installing anything. For ideas on introducing one, see how to explain time to a toddler.