Big Time Mini Clocks

Big Time Mini Clocks - Perfect size for teaching time.

I have used Big Time Mini Clocks many times over the years. They have been my favorite by far and yet they have a major flaw - The hands quit turning in sync after awhile. 

When teaching someone how to tell time, those hands need to move together as a unit. To function correctly, as you push the minute hand all the way around the clock, the hour hand will move one number. I will use a clock a few times and then, what seems out of nowhere, it will stop working together. You can push the blue hand all the way around the clock and the red hand will stay put.

I like everything else about these clocks including:

• The numbers are easy to read.
• The minutes are clearly marked and under each hour number is printed the minutes number.
• The hands and numbers are color coded - blue for minutes and red for hours.
• The size is just right for holding and manipulating.
• The hands move forward and backward.
• The clocks are flat on the bottom so they are free standing, and they even come with a little leg that you insert into a hole in the back which gives it more stability/balance in standing alone. 

Even with all these positives, there is the big negative that it does not take long for the hands to quit working together. I've owned and used several of these clocks over time and it has been the same story overall.

This past summer, a therapist friend asked me if I wanted any of these as she had lots of them that had never been used. I just happened to be working with someone on time so I took two. They quickly stopped working. Out of frustration I wondered if a real clock would work. I looked around and found a large, plastic clock that was "cheap" enough so that I could take the front off (to get to the hands). I was so intent on looking for a cover that I could remove that I didn't pay that much attention to the clock face. After all, clocks can vary greatly in design, but NOT in number orientation. I grabbed this one (below) on one of my outings and took it to therapy the next week. We got quite a laugh out of it after we started our session. I still can't figure out why anyone would manufacture a clock like this.

I just found a new box of these clocks for $2. I was happy to find them, but no matter how cheap they are, I don't like using products of any kind that are plastic and will soon end up in a landfill, for who knows how long. But I've never found anything that I liked better, when it works. The clocks measure 4" in diameter, are hard plastic, and there are 6 in a box. If you read the reviews on Amazon, people love these clocks and say that they only move clockwise. Mine moves counterclockwise also, so maybe that will eliminate the problem I've described.  

If you are interested in purchasing these clocks or just want more information, click on the image below.