05
Aug
Sand timers have come a long way from their historical role as early timekeeping devices. Today, their gentle, visual countdown makes them especially appealing for young children, offering a simple yet engaging way to mark the passage of time.
Beyond their charm, they serve as practical tools that can subtly guide behaviour and routine without the need for constant adult intervention. Their quiet presence turns everyday tasks into manageable, even fun, challenges for kids.
Sand timers, also known as hourglasses and sand glasses, are timekeeping devices that have been used since ancient times. Generally speaking, these devices were used for measuring the passage of time, and they certainly are one of the oldest methods for telling time.
The choice of these devices these days is huge, and nowadays, people mainly use them as decorative pieces. But there are also some ordinary plastic models of hourglasses that people also use for educational purposes, like helping children tell time and when washing their teeth, but it isn’t strange seeing them used for improving children’s behaviour. This might sound strange to you, but there’s truth behind this, and parents seem to love this simple and easy way to help their children shape the right way.
Well, developing important life skills with a sand timer is one of the first things worth mentioning, according to professionals (especially those who work with problematic and autistic kids). And this certainly is something worth trying when everything else doesn’t work. And while children with problems can certainly benefit from this, other children can obtain the same benefits as well.
These handy tools provide a visual representation of how time is passing, and children find it fascinating. They are one of the greatest ways to help children understand how long things can take, helping them understand the concept of time from an early age.
The one thing all of us can agree on about children is that they want things to happen fast and at the moment. And this goes especially now, when their focus and attention span are reduced and minimal.
These old timekeeping tools can help them work on their patience and focus at the same time. Whether a child needs to wait some time to play outside, to eat something or to take a shower, this timekeeping tool will help him learn to be patient and wait his turn without being fussy and annoying.
These tools also seem great for helping children attain self-control, which helps them regulate their behaviour without help from someone else. With the help of a timer, children can help them improve their self-control by respecting the designated time while feeling calm throughout the entire time.
On the other hand, these tools can help them calm themselves and ease any feeling of anxiety. Thanks to these timers, children can practice self-control, which will help them throughout their entire lives. This is one of the best things one can do for themselves, since the fruits of this effort will help them have a completely normal and stress-free life.
The last but not least thing children can learn from these timekeeping tools is to better organise their time. Thanks to them, they will learn to prioritise things and manage their time, which will help them in the long run.
This tool seems perfect for helping little children brush their teeth for the needed time while helping them improve their brushing routine. If your child is little and doesn’t want to sit alone in the bathroom, grab your brush and make him company.
The one thing children avoid the most is doing chores, especially when it comes to cleaning their room. But this timer seems to do wonders when it comes to cleaning and tidying their room fast and easily.
If your children love some specific game where they need to learn and wait their turn, then this timer is the perfect tool. Thanks to it, your child won’t only start to learn about time and how long several minutes last, but they will also learn about the concept of being patient and waiting without making a fuss about it.
Hourglasses are the perfect way to help your children learn how to do things fast. The easiest way is to create a competition with building blocks and see how much time it takes your children to build something out of building blocks. Thanks to this, they will start to build fast and will improve their motor skills.
These timers can be used the same way for measuring the time of how fast your child can draw a picture, make a bracelet with beads or paint a picture. A bit of competition is always a good idea to push and motivate your child, for sure, but also to prepare them for the world. Whether you like it or not, your child should learn that there will always be someone better than him, and only by practising and learning can he become better.
