The Sand Timer That Saved Our Transitions
If you’ve ever tried getting a toddler to stop doing something they love, you know it can feel like trying to wrestle a tornado. My son is deeply passionate about his toys, books, and screen time. And while I love seeing him so focused, it often ends in tears when it’s time to move on.
One of our biggest battles? Transitions.
Getting him to pause playtime for dinner, or to turn off the TV before bedtime used to be a full-on meltdown zone. Honestly, it was exhausting for both of us. I’d give him the “5 more fingers” warning (we used fingers instead of minutes because it was easier to understand), and he’d either ignore me or get upset when I followed through. I felt like the bad guy every time.
That’s when my mom suggested something so simple I almost laughed at the idea: a sand timer.
The First Time We Tried It
I remember the first time I pulled it out. My son was building towers, and I needed him to wash up for dinner. Normally, this was the moment things went downhill. But instead of the usual “time’s up,” I handed him the little timer and said, “When all the sand runs out, it’s time to eat.”
He flipped it over, and I watched him sit there, eyes glued to the tiny grains falling. When the last bit of sand dropped, he looked at me confused. So I told him, now that the sand ran out, it’s time for dinner. He got up and followed me to the table
I almost cried from relief. No fight, no tears, just… cooperation.
Why It Works (At Least For Us)
I think the magic is that toddlers don’t really understand time the way we do. Saying “five more minutes or fingers” means nothing to them. But watching sand slowly fall? That they get.
Now, we use the timer all the time:
When screen time is ending
Before bed (“one more timer, then books”)
To switch from playtime to clean-up time
It’s not perfect, but the timer gives him a sense of control.
The Timer We Love
The set we use comes with a bunch of different timers—1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, etc. I usually go with the 3- or 5-minute ones, depending on what we’re doing.
They’re colourful, sturdy, and small enough for him to carry around. Honestly, he loves being the one to flip it over.
Here’s the exact set we bought (affiliate link)—it’s been such a saver for us.
If You’re Thinking of Trying It
Here’s what helped us make it stick:
Make it fun first. Let them play with it before you try using it for transitions.
Use simple words. I’ll say, “When the sand is gone, it’s time for…”
Give choices. Sometimes I ask, “Do you want the blue timer or the green one?”
Final Thoughts
Parenting a toddler means picking your battles. For me, the sand timer has taken one of the biggest daily struggles—transitions—and turned it into something manageable. It’s not magic, but it works.
If transitions are a struggle in your house too, I can’t recommend it enough.
👉 You can grab the same sand timer set here (affiliate link).
Sometimes the smallest tools really do make the biggest difference.
