A 2 minute timer you can see
Two minutes is the tooth-brushing timer. Dentists generally recommend brushing for two minutes, twice a day, and two minutes feels much longer to a child than it is.
This is a visual timer. The time is a blue disk that shrinks as the minutes pass: more disk, more time. You can read it in one glance from across a room, with no numbers to work out. The last minute turns amber, and the end is one soft chime.
What 2 minutes are good for
- Brushing teeth: top teeth for the first half of the disk, bottom teeth for the second half.
- The two-minute rule: if a job takes less than two minutes, do it now instead of adding it to a list.
- A two-minute tidy before leaving a room.
- A short pause to calm down before trying something again.
One tip
Stand the phone or tablet where your child can see it from the sink. Say "brush until the blue is gone". A shape that shrinks is easier to follow than counting or a song that ends too soon.
Other timer lengths
1 min · 2 min · 3 min · 5 min · 10 min · 15 min · 20 min · 25 min · 30 min · 45 min · 60 min
Need a different length? Type any number of minutes from 1 to 180 in the Custom box, or open the main visual timer, which remembers the length you used last. For work and break cycles that run themselves, use the pomodoro timer.
Why a shape works better than numbers
Numbers only help if you can feel what "2 minutes" is like. For many children, and for many people with ADHD, that feeling is unreliable. This is often called time blindness. A disk that shrinks turns time into something you can see, so nobody has to guess. More in our guide to visual timers.
Questions about the 2 minute timer
How long should children brush their teeth?
Dentists generally recommend two minutes, twice a day. Ask your own dentist what is right for your child. A visual timer helps because your child can see how much brushing is left.
What is the two-minute rule?
It is a simple habit for small jobs: if something takes less than two minutes, do it straight away. Set this timer, start, and see how many small jobs fit.
Is this 2 minute timer free?
Yes. It is free, with no signup and no account. It runs in your browser on a phone, tablet, laptop or classroom screen.
Does the 2 minute timer make a loud alarm?
No. It plays one soft chime at the end and the disk turns amber, not red. You can switch the sound off with the bell button.