Timers

We set no less than 20 timers per day.  Ahead of all transitions for sure and then wherever else they’re needed.  Ultimately, it’s one more way to prepare Fletcher and Max for what to expect next.  Here’s how this plays out…

“Fletcher, I’m going to set a timer for 5 minutes.  When the timer goes off, I need you to put your shoes on.”

We started with a simple sand timer, graduated to a visual timer then moved to using the microwave timer and finally, we’re now using our Alexa.  The beauty of Alexa or any other home assistant is that kids can learn to set their own timers which creates another layer of control and independence.  Now, I say “Fletcher, please set a timer for 5 minutes and when the timer goes off, it’s time to put your shoes on.”  He immediately responds with “Alexa set a timer for 5 minutes.”  He has now figured out how to ask how much time is remaining on his timer which gives him even more ability to predict when a transition is coming.  Don’t be fooled, there are absolutely times he also tells Alexa to turn the timer off in hopes I didn’t hear the alarm dinging. In general, though, it has been a really great tool for us.

Along with visual schedules, using timers has significantly reduced difficulty with transitions since there’s plenty of lead time and lots of narration around what’s coming next.