Twintuitive Product #1 I chose this invention called My Tot Clock to feature as a "Twintuitive Product" because it solves a problem that is not unique to households with twins, but is very common in those households. Many sets of twins share a room, whether it is due to lack of space or just because their parents do not want to break the special twin bond by separating the two siblings.
Simply put, My Tot Clock is a clock that changes colors according to your time table, which allows young children who cannot tell time yet to be on a schedule. We have yellow for awake time, dark blue for bedtime, light blue for naptime, red for timeouts, and green for positive encouragement time. The dark blue light doubles as a night light with a built-in dimmer.
In addition to these features, there are some extras that make this product more than just a clock. There is a place to insert a Tot Clock Treasures cartridge. Each cartridge comes with a story, five lullabies, one wake time song, and a white noise track. You have the option to set the My Tot Clock to start the story right when the clock turns dark blue for bedtime. Similarly, you can set the clock to play the Wake Time song right when the light turns yellow in the morning. I should also mention that you can purchase fun themed faceplates for your clock.
What I thought about My Tot Clock as a parent:
1) I think the idea of using colors is brilliant because even children as young as my twins understand the difference between colors despite the fact that they can only name a small handful of them presently.
2) My 5yr old son loves the clock. He can already tell time for the most part, but he enjoys helping us reinforce the concept to the twins that dark blue means stay in your beds, do not make loud noises, and it is time to sleep.
3) Bedtime is not a time when my husband and I like to punish, so there was no straight forward way to enforce the rule to do what the clock says. My husband did make up a little song . . . "When the clock is blue, that means sleepy sleepy you!" This made reiterating that blue mean bedtime less tedious for all parties involved. The song actually makes the children smile.
4) I think a wake up song is a great alternative for a children's alarm clock.
5) About a month or so ago, my 5yr old son had started waking up far too early in the morning. With The Tot Clock, he stays in bed and does not disturb the twins until the light turns from blue to yellow.
6) I recommend that you keep the clock where it is visible, but out of reach of the children. The digital clock on the back controls the light settings. More than once I have found the digital time had been changed.
7) I found all the features of the clock useful for our particular household except for the "Encouragement" setting. That is not something that we usually schedule, but rather we take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
Overall, I think our My Tot Clock has been a useful tool. It did not solve our problem of my daughter not feeling sleepy until very late at night, but it did make her understand that it was bedtime and she should lie in bed quietly. The fact of the matter is that all children are different. Toddlers who are more eager to please their parents and like to follow rules will probably be more likely to do what the clock dictates. I think this product would be most effective for preschoolers and kindergartners who can grasp the difference between more than two colors and who are old enough to be impressed by the appearance and the various "cool" functions of the clock.
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.
How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment telling me how you think The Tot Clock can help your child's sleep routine. You must do this to be eligible to win this contest.
Extra Entries:
1) For an extra entry, take a look at all the clock faceplates available for the My Tot Clock and leave a separate comment telling me which one you think your child would like the best.
2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.
3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites
4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post and to MyTotClock.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.
5) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.
6) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day.
7) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
8) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
9) Add my "Graco Twin Stroller" giveaway button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)
Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.
Good luck in the drawing!
