How to use it
Set the clock to the time your child may get up, and pick a picture.
Print it and hang it at your child’s eye level, right beside the clock in their room.
At bedtime, look at it together: when the real clock matches this one, it’s okay to get up.
In the morning, compare the two clocks together and notice out loud when they waited for the match.
Make it last: print on cardstock, laminate it or slip it into a sheet protector, and use a dry-erase marker or Velcro dots so you can use it again.
Questions parents ask
Does my child need to tell time to use it?
No. They only need to see that the real clock looks like the picture. On a digital clock that means the same numbers. On a clock with hands, it means the hands point the same way.
What kind of clock works best with it?
Any clock your child can see from bed. A simple digital clock with big numbers is the easiest to match. If the room is dark in the morning, a dim night light lets them check the clock without getting up to turn on a lamp.
What time should I choose?
Start with a time your child can already manage on most mornings, so the first few days go well. If you’d like a later time, move it a few minutes at a time and print a new chart.
What if they wake up before the clocks match?
Keep a few quiet things by the bed, like books or a soft toy, so waiting feels doable. Point to the chart and the clock together, keep your words short, and say the same thing each time.
Is my child’s name saved anywhere?
No. A name you type stays in your browser so it can print on the sheet. It is never sent to us.
Is it really free?
Yes. One email unlocks this and every other tool in the library, and you can print as many as you like. Your email also brings one short story each Tuesday, and you can leave anytime.
Read it with a story
This is a simple visual support for everyday routines, not a therapy or a treatment. If your child works with a teacher or therapist, they can tell you how it fits with what they already do. Picture symbols: Mulberry Symbols, CC BY-SA 4.0.
