Visual Timer – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Visual Timer

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2017

71%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

A no-frills countdown timer that helps kids see time passing—perfect for transitions, timeouts, and 'five more minutes.'

Visual Timer

app

Everyone, 2017

71%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

A no-frills countdown timer that helps kids see time passing—perfect for transitions, timeouts, and 'five more minutes.'

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

This is one of those unsexy parenting tools that actually works. It won't make your kid happy—timers rarely do—but it will make transitions less painful.

The visual element is legitimately helpful for young brains that don't yet grasp 'five more minutes.' Watching the colored disk shrink gives them something concrete to track, which reduces the shock when time's up. Parents report fewer meltdowns, and educators use it successfully for classroom transitions.

It's not enriching in a 'learn to code' way, but teaching time awareness and self-regulation? That's foundational executive function stuff. The app does exactly what it promises with zero bloat, zero manipulation, zero privacy concerns. Boring? Yes. Effective? Also yes.

If you're battling bedtime, homework procrastination, or the endless 'just one more minute' negotiations, this is worth the download. Just don't expect your kid to thank you for it.

Age Fit

Best for ages 3-10, when kids are learning time concepts and need help with transitions. Toddlers can grasp the visual element even before they understand numbers. Older kids and adults may use it for focus sessions, but most tweens will prefer their phone's built-in timer.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A straightforward utility app with a calm, focused purpose—helping kids and adults manage time without chaos or pressure. No social features, no competitive elements, just a visual representation of time passing. The use cases (bedtime, practice sessions, task transitions) model healthy time management and self-regulation.

Imaginative

This is a pure utility tool with zero creative expression or exploration. It does one thing—counts down time visually. No storytelling, no building, no problem-solving beyond 'set a timer.' Functional but completely unimaginative by design.

Safe

No ads, no social features, no data collection concerns evident from the description or reviews. The Google Play reviews praise its simplicity and effectiveness. Maximum 1-hour duration keeps it from becoming a compulsive tool. One review mentions 'entertaining animation with sound' at the end, which is harmless. This is about as safe as apps get.

Enriching

Genuinely useful for teaching time concepts to young kids who can't read clocks yet. The visual countdown helps develop time awareness, self-regulation, and task completion—all valuable executive function skills. Parents and educators report real behavior improvements. It's not entertainment, but it builds practical life skills.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Makes abstract time concrete for kids who can't read clocks yet—they literally watch the color drain away
Parent reviews report real behavior changes: less whining during transitions, better cooperation at bedtime
Zero distractions: no ads, no games, no social features—just a timer doing its job
Quick preset setup means you're not fumbling with settings while your kid melts down
Useful across ages: toddlers learning to wait, elementary kids managing homework breaks, even adults staying focused at work

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What to Watch For

This is not entertainment—kids won't want to use it, you'll be imposing it (which is fine, that's parenting)
Maximum 1-hour limit might be restrictive for longer activities
Some kids may find the ticking countdown stressful rather than helpful—watch their response

Conversation Starters

"How much time do you think you need to finish getting dressed? Let's set the timer and see!"
"When the red part is all gone, it's time to brush teeth. Can you keep an eye on it?"
"Do five minutes feel longer or shorter than you thought when you can see them?"

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