One of the Most Underrated Tools We Have
If there’s one tool I think every ABA therapist and parent should keep in their pocket, it’s a simple timer. Nothing fancy. No giant visual board required. Just a timer on your phone, a kitchen timer, a sand timer, or whatever you have around.
Timers are one of the most versatile, powerful, and easy-to-use tools in ABA and for some reason, they don’t get nearly enough credit.
After more than a decade in this field, I can confidently say:
Timers save sessions. Timers reduce behaviors. Timers make life easier.
And they can do all of this without adding tons of structure or stress.
Let’s talk about why they matter so much.
Timers make priming 10x easier
You know that moment when a kid is happily playing and then suddenly you tell them “Time for homework!” and the world ends?
Yeah… timers help with that.
Instead of surprise transitions, timers give kids:
- A clear warning
- Something external to focus on
- A predictable end point
- A sense of control
When you pair priming with a timer, transitions become smoother and kids feel more prepared instead of blindsided.
A simple:
“Two-minute timer, then we clean up.”
…can prevent a meltdown before it even starts.
Timers take the pressure off you and make the timer the “bad guy,” which honestly saves a lot of relationships.
Timers are amazing for building manding skills
This is one of my favorite uses for timers because it makes communication feel natural instead of forced.
Here’s how I use timers to strengthen manding:
1. For preferred activities (to work on manding for MORE time)
Start a short timer while the client plays:
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute
- 2 minutes
When it ends, pause the activity and prompt:
“What do you want?”
“Do you want more?”
“Tell me more time.”
They mand → you reinforce → they get more time.
You’ve turned a timer into:
- A communication opportunity
- A natural EO
- A structured mand program in disguise
And it feels fun to the client, not like work.
2. For non-preferred tasks (to work on manding for BREAKS)
This one is great for tolerance-building and teaching functional communication.
Set a longer timer for a task:
- 2–5 minutes for practicing
- longer for advanced learners
When the client starts showing discomfort, prompt:
“What do you need?”
“Do you want a break?”
“Say ‘break, please.’”
And when the timer ends, the break is earned naturally.
Timers turn non-preferred tasks into:
- Predictable blocks
- Opportunities to mand
- Chance to practice endurance
- Lower frustration windows
This reduces escape behaviors because kids know there’s an end coming, and they know how to ask for it.
Timers become the SD when you need structure the most
One of the biggest benefits of timers is that they become the discriminative stimulus for SO many programs that otherwise feel awkward to run “naturally.”
Timers can signal:
- Time to transition
- Time to clean up
- Time to switch activities
- Time to mand for more
- Time to request a break
- Time to start
- Time to stop
- Time to check in
- Time to do a quick task
Instead of you constantly giving verbal cues,
the timer becomes the cue.
It’s neutral.
It’s consistent.
It’s non-emotional.
And kids respond to it beautifully.
Timers remove power struggles because the expectation isn’t coming from you, it’s coming from the timer.
Timers also help build independence
When kids know that:
- The timer starts the activity
- The timer ends the activity
- The timer gives them control
- The timer gives them predictability
…their anxiety goes down, their confidence goes up, and their behavior improves dramatically.
I’ve had clients who used to fight every transition suddenly move willingly once they realized, “When the timer beeps, I get to ______.”
Timers give structure without feeling controlling.
Final thoughts: Don’t underestimate simple tools
Timers are one of the easiest things you can add to your ABA toolbox. They’re cheap (or free). They work across ages. They reduce stress. They build communication. They support transitions. And they help create natural opportunities for so many programs.
If you ever feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re running out of tools during session, try this:
Set a timer.
Prime the client.
Use it to build a mand.
Watch how the entire vibe of the session changes.
Simple tools often have the biggest impact.