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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

know this has been done before but I need visual timer recommendations!

23 replies

Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 20:11

I remember Davros said not to get the Different Rooad for Learning clocks.

Ds1 is gettiing up at 5am then demanding things like lights on. I fiigured he'd probably respond quite well to visual timers now (he doesn;t really do "later" but will happily accept "first x, then y" I figured the clock could be the "first x" part. So I'd really like something portable. Thought it might work in queues out and about as well. (would love to try the cinema with him but am terrified by the queues).

OP posts:
colditz · 15/12/2006 20:28

I guess saying "When it is light outside, then we get up" is a silly thing to say?

Just didn't want you to be unanswered.

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 20:32

I think that's a bit advanced!

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Original poster
Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 20:32

Thank you though- there are some neat timers around, but all the ones I know are in the US. Would prefer to order from the UK.

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sphil · 15/12/2006 20:45

Davros recommended one from Letterbox a while ago, which we bought. It's a tower shape with a green light at the bottom, amber in the middle and red at the top. You can programme in any amount of time (eg if you programme in 10 mins it does something like 8 mins on green, 1.5 on amber and 30 secs on red). When time is up you can choose a number of sounds - a bell, a voice etc. The only problem for you is that's it's the wrong way round - you really want red for the time when he shouldn't get up, amber for 'get ready' and green for 'get up' don't you? Or maybe it will still work for him - I would just worry about the confusion of red/stop and green/go.
You know I'm pants at links but should get it if you google.

Just thought - would a velcro strip work, with pictures? We have one with space for 2 pics with the word 'then' in the middle of them. Don't know what you'd use as first pic though...I suppose you could set a normal timer and then use a pic of that?

5am...poor you.

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 21:16

So does it just stay on green or does it flash or something? I think he needs to be able to watch counting down iyswim. Egg timers don't really work because he starts stimming over them

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Original poster
Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 21:17

I ended up counting down from 500 which he accepted! But I'd rather have a timer

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Original poster
Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 21:18

It doesn't help that dh says "oh its ok I'll just turn on the cricket" grrrrr only time he'll get up but this risks becoming a routine!

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colditz · 15/12/2006 21:24

How about a stopwatch? Is that the sorty of thing that would work?

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 21:44

no he woudn't understand the numbers counting down/up. You can get special timers like these from the States, but I'm sure Davros said not to get the clock type ones and I can't remember why.

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colditz · 15/12/2006 22:20

like this?

or too clock like?

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 15/12/2006 22:38

oh that's the same one- thanks. Sure Davros said not to get it but don't know why as it looks perfect.

Gosh SFTAH have changed their website!

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sphil · 15/12/2006 23:02

Letterbox one does flash - at end of each period as far as I remember.

KarenThirl · 16/12/2006 07:30

I was told about one by the NAS seminar I went to. There's a rabbit which you set to have his paws over his eyes when it's dark and he has them by his sides when it's light. The idea is if the bunny has his eyes covered you have to stay in bed, but you can get up when he's awake. I've never actually seen one, but the NAS might know where you get them from since they recommended them.

KarenThirl · 16/12/2006 07:33

... then I got sensible and thought about Googling...

www.babysleepshop.com/acatalog/Sleepytime_Bunny_Clocks.html

Sorry, crap at links...

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 16/12/2006 14:20

oh ds2 has a sleepytimebunny clock, but it's too abstract for ds1. He needs to see the time decreasing as it does, otherwise he would wonder what he was waiting for iyswim. (wait till ears pop up is a bit beyond him). Unless the ricket thing flashes continuously I think we'd have the same problem with that (he would wonder why he was looking at it iyswim).

Hmmm think I'll email Davros and ask why I shouldn't get the countdown clock as I'm sure that counts the time down visually as it goes, which is what we need. I can't remember what she said!

Thanks for all the suggestions.

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mummy2aaron · 16/12/2006 14:30

JimJams I need one too - let me know when you have the info - if they need to come from thbe US maybe we could split the postage and keep costs down. Been having 4.30 wake ups for over 18 months now, bags under my eyes reach to my knees, fighting for space with my boobs lol.

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 16/12/2006 17:47

The link colditz gave earlier is UK based, and thinking about it I'm sure pyramid do them (just haven't looked yet). MInd you I quite like the look of the watch on the US site

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Blossomgoodwill · 16/12/2006 17:48

Just bought this for dd.
Looks good but you do have to fiddle with it a bit!

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 16/12/2006 18:06

That's similar to sphils. How obvious is the time counting down though, ds1 wouldn't understand numbers counting down as meaning time had elapsed. Oh god my head is spinning with all of this. If he would let me play a CD I'd play a known one and say "cd first then light" or something, but he won't so that's out.

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Davros · 18/12/2006 17:41

Just popping in.... the Time Timer has just been updated to include a noise when it gets to zero which is a great improvement imo, so I thought it would be best to wait for that when you asked before. The NAS sell it now. The other thing about it is that it has the 5 on the wrong side of the 12 iyswim, so you can't teach telling the time as well, but that may not be an issue.

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 18/12/2006 21:12

thank you Davros! (was going to email you but we have been overun by vomit bug bleurgh) (and bloody hell I haven't written a single xmas card yet!)

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Davros · 19/12/2006 17:33

Oh dear, vomiting!!! I thought I was bad. I posted the last of the Xmas cards today and sent them 2nd class although they may not arrive before Xmas. I just think that most people will blame the post! And as long as they get them at "Christmas time" its OK. Also did first Xmas shopping trip today. I am feeling practically horizontal with lack of anxiety!! I don't think that's a good thing though.....

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 19/12/2006 21:40

I seem to have mislaid one address book. So there will be a few ecards this year I think.

Now can I set the visual timer to "this first, then school"

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