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128 Birch Street
Boston, MA, 02131
United States

(617) 390-4076

Invent Boston designs and develops original products to add science + whimsy to  every day tasks at home.   Our first product is a Two Minute timer, Two Minute Turtle, a visual timer. The Two Minute Turtle helps children and adults focus on two minute tasks such as brushing teeth, physical therapy, taking a shower and speaking (practicing a presentation or learning a language).

4 lights turtle girl brushing in mirror.jpg

Invent Boston™, Home of the Two Minute Turtle Timer™

Invent Boston™ blog offers tips and stories by parents, for parents of children ages 4-12 to make toothbrushing and other healthy habits at home, more fun. We write about simple tactics to help kids do what they like to do-touch, seeing, play games and strive for independence. We recommend products to help stay healthy while being kids. We share stories to transform daily healthy habits from something kids resist (for example, toothbrushing, handwashing, toilet training, organizing, taking time-out or pausing, yoga, and taking turns) into something children are motivated to do independently, without parents’ reminders. The original physical product Invent Boston has designed for families is the new light-up Two Minute Turtle Timer, an analog, interval toothbrush timer to make brushing teeth fun for kids. Kids like to press the button, follow the flippers and brush until all the lights blink—the Victory Lap signals to brush the tongue.

Filtering by Tag: two minute timer

Adorable Child Explains: How Two Minute Turtle Timer Helps Her Brush Teeth

Virginia Berman

A child tells why she loves the Two Minute Turtle Timer for brushing her teeth.

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This Friendly Companion Makes Brushing Teeth More Fun

Virginia Berman

The Two Minute Turtle Timer is a companion for 2 minute tasks to help you focus.

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Lesson #2: The Truth Behind Caring for Your Child's Teeth

Virginia Berman

When do you begin to brush a child’s teeth? How do you brush a child’s teeth? As soon as the teeth emerge, they can decay. Begin then to wipe the teeth with a cloth or finger tip brush. Start getting children comfortable with having their teeth wiped, cleaned every day.

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The Truth Behind Our Kids' Oral Health

Virginia Berman

I had so many questions as a new mother—from how to keep my baby comfortable while feeding, to how to put her to sleep. Last on my mind was her oral health, since she didn’t have any teeth!

Then her first solid foods were vegetables and not sweets. We brought her to her first dentist appointment when she was four years old, but we may have waited too long. The dentist told us she had 7 cavities!

What did we miss with her oral health, already by the age of 4?

What are the most important things for early oral health?

I’ve since spent time with professionals in the oral care community. Here’s what matters most for kids:

1) Brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste as soon as they are able to spit it out.

2) Get sealants. Maybe you already know about them. If so, good! Sealants are so effective at cavity prevention that most insurances cover them completely. 50% of kids get medical insurance from CHIP and medicare. But only 30% of of these kids who do go to the dentist get sealants. Why aren’t dentists automatically giving sealants when they are such a help preventing cavities? There is no downside to them.

3) If your child does not drink fluoridated water, then ask for a regular fluoride treatment at the dentist once a year.

Next, I’ll be publishing 10 lessons on Caring for Kids Oral Health so you can learn from our mistakes. Here’s to healthy teeth, beautiful smiles, and relieved parents!

help kids keep their beautiful smiles by teaching how to brush teeth for 2 minutes

Lesson #1: Have Your Child’s Teeth Examined Around 1st Birthday

Virginia Berman

Before there’s teeth, there’s teething. When to take your child to their first dentist appointment? Around their 1st birthday.

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This Friend Makes Morning Routine More Fun

Virginia Berman

The Two Minute Turtle Timer is a companion for 2 minute tasks to help you focus.

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Two Minute Turtle Timer Travels

Virginia Berman

Keep up healthy habits this Summer vacation. Bring the Two Minute Turtle with you on your trip!

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Slow, Steady Two Minute Turtle Timer

Virginia Berman

Slow and steady wins the race. Two Minute Turtle helps you slow down and get the job done.

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Two Minutes To Make Your Day

Virginia Berman

Forming healthy habits is not easy but 2 minutes is-we can do anything for 2 minutes!   Use the Two Minute Turtle to take 2 minutes to start a new habit.  What new habit will you choose? Two minutes-you can do that!  Get your today. Choose the color, press the button, let the turtle guide you. Go slow, steady...win.

Enter contest to WIN an original, hand made Two Minute Turtle Timer

Virginia Berman

WIN a Two Minute Turtle Timer!  In exchange for your email or write how you'd use the Two Minute Turtle  at home.  Does Two Minutes seem short? Day after day those 2 minutes add up.  

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Which Toothbrush Timer is Right for Your Child?

Virginia Berman

Which Toothbrush Timer is best for your family? We tested many for our family and in response, after too many cavities, we created a toothbrush timer that works for our family and hundreds of others.

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