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 turtle timer

To See Something Isn't Easy, Like Having a Friend Isn't Easy. To See Takes Time Like to Have a Friend Takes Time * Could a Turtle Timer Help You Keep Friends?

February 11, 2020Virginia Berman

Two Minute Turtle Timer for Valentine's Day

*Georgia O’Keefe poem

The Two Minute Turtle Timer was designed for toothbrushing and it works well for that. You already know that—you brush each corner of the mouth corresponding the blinking flipper, until the Victory Lap signalling to brush the tonuge.

BUT this interval Two Minute Turtle Timer has other uses. What else would you use it for? One way I recommend-it’s simple but not easy—in this season of Saint Valentine is to use it to help see—someone you like.

Find someone you love (family, friend, lover—you know who). And ask them for 2 minutes and if they will play a game with you. The game? Press the turtle and each of you look into the other’s eyes until the Two Minute Turtle Timer stops blinking (you’ll see it from the corner of your eye!). Try it out. It’s a tried and true way to become more intimate with one you love.

This Valentine’s Day take time to look. Let the new Turtle Timer help all of us to slow down and see the beauty in those around us.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Shop Two Minute Turtle Timer

tags 2 minute timer, valentines day, two minute turtle timer

Teach Kids How to Pace Themselves with Toothbrushing

January 12, 2019Virginia Berman

How do you teach kids to pace themselves? Make it fun. Make it like Simon Says. Have the Turtle’s flippers be Simon. Kids will follow the Turtle!

categories 2 minute talks, kids timer, toothbrushing, toothbrushing timer, two minute turtle timer
tags 2 minute timer, 2 minute timer for toothbrushing, two minute turtle timer, bedtime routines, helping kids to brush teeth well

Help kids succeed. Help them to focus...in 2 minutes

August 29, 2018Virginia Berman

Help kids focus on 2 minute tasks to give them satisfaction.

categories healthy habit, kids timer, packing for family vacati, toothbrushing, toothbrushing timer, two minute turtle timer, visual timers
tags 2 minute timer, two minute toothbrush, two minute turtle timer, kids toothbrush, kids bedtime routine, stocking stuffer, gifts for kids, gifts for preschoolers

Two Minute Turtle Timer Travels

August 07, 2018Virginia Berman

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

categories 2 minute talks, healthy habit, kids timer, starting a business, toothbrushing timer, two minute timer, two minute turtle, two minute turtle timer, visual timers, summer family vacation, healthy habits, packing for family vacati
tags two minute turtle timer, two minute timer, kids toothbrush timer, toothbrush timer, toothbrush timer apps, kids travel pack, travelling with children, toothbrushing on vacation, healthy habits on vacation

Slow, Steady Two Minute Turtle Timer

July 10, 2018Virginia Berman

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

categories two minute turtle timer, two minute turtle, two minute timer, toothbrushing timer, visual timers, toothbrushing, kids timer, healthy habit, 2 minute talks
tags 2 minute timer, kids toothbrushing, kids timer, two minute turtle timer, two minute timer, bedtime routine, toothbrushing timer

What Do You Want in your Two Minute Turtle Timer™?

May 29, 2018Virginia Berman

You decide what’s best in a visual timer. Answer a 3 question survey to help design it.

categories healthy habit, 2 minute talks, kids timer, starting a business, toothbrushing, toothbrushing timer, two minute turtle, visual timers, two minute turtle timer, two minute timer
tags two minute turtle timer, visual timer, toothbrush timer, designing a timer, invent boston designs a timer, kids toothbrush timer, yoga timer, homework timer, interval timer, mom designer, parent makers

How a Two Minute Turtle timer helps you Speak?

March 15, 2018Virginia Berman

Preparing for a brief Two Minutes takes hours of practice

How can the Two Minute Turtle help you to speak?

1) Practicing for a pitch or presentation. Often 2 minutes is enough. Visual cues at each quarter of the talk, helps pace the talk.

2) Facilitating meetings. A visual timer helps the facilitator stick to an agenda while allowing participation. The Two Minute Turtle timer neutralizes the cut-off too so it's not a person but the Turtle telling when it's time.

3) Learning a new language. Try talking straight for 2 minutes in that language with someone.

Why use a Two Minute Turtle when you have a phone or a clock to keep time?

1) It's colors work well for visual learners.

2) It's quick and easy -just a press of a button, no downloading or setting times.

3) It's fun-engaging and playful with the quiet countdown.

4) It works--people respond to the quarterly visual cues and no one has to be the "bad guy" reminding someone their time is up.

Breaking the 2 minutes into 4 even parts helps a speaker to pace herself. The Two Minute Turtle timer takes the responsibility off of the instructor or facilitator and gives it to the participants-each one is using and following the same colorful lights. Bring a Two Minute Turtle timer to your next meeting or classroom or pitch to help you pace yourself and engage the group.

Learn More

categories two minute timer, two minute turtle, 2 minute talks, two minute turtle timer
tags Two Minute Turtle for speaking, two minute turtle timer, 2 minute timer, 2 minute pitch timer, 2 minute timer for teaching, 2 minute meeting timer, Two Minute Turtle timer for visual learners

Assembling the Two Minute Turtle Timer™

March 08, 2018Virginia Berman

Parent-designed and hand made in USA Two Minute Turtle Timer to help kids and adults with tasks that need a 2 minute timer, like brushing teeth, physical therapy stretches, taking a shower or practicing a talk.

categories kids timer, toothbrushing
tags Two Minute Turtle Timer, two minute turtle timer

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