My third grader doesn’t want a ticking clock in his room, but we need a clock in there for several reasons, one of which is to tell when story-reading time is over in the evenings, and another of which is because I always seem to be dressing/diapering someone on the changing table in there when we are in a huge hurry and I need to closely monitor Appropriate Panic Levels. So my current quest is for a clock that doesn’t tick.
The problem so far is that there isn’t a good way to tell if a clock ticks or not, unless it says “quiet sweep” or “silent movements” or something like that. The clock I bought for the kitchen is silent—but it didn’t say so on the packaging.
What I might do is move that kitchen clock to the bedroom and get a new one for the kitchen. But the kitchen clock really LOOKS like a kitchen clock. I’ll be looking at actual stores so I can read the packaging, but here are a few online options I’m considering:
Old World Map Wall Clock (photo from Amazon.com). This is the frontrunner right now. I think it’s distinctive and attractive, cute and vintagey for a little boys’ room but just as good later on in a college boy’s room or in an office. One of the few things keeping me from buying it is the shipping cost of nearly $10: that changes it from a $25 clock to a $35 clock, and that seems like a big risk for something I can’t see in person before purchasing.
Seiko Dark Brown Alder Case Rattan Dial Wall Clock (photo from Amazon.com). Do you ever look at something and think, “I can’t tell: Is this awful or awesome?” Well, it’s too hard for kids to read anyway.
Seiko Curved Glass Crystal Wall Clock (photo from Amazon.com). This one would be fine, I guess. It’s just….if I spend nearly $40, I want it to be more INTERESTING.
Telesonic Silver Wall Clock (photo from GalleryOfWorldAccents.com). Again: really nice, but not THRILLING. I do like the thingie on the end of the hour hand.
LaCrosse Technology Atomic Digital Wall Clock (photo from Amazon.com). Digital is easy to read, and atomic is convenient. But. Um. *cough*UGLY*cough*
Olive Kids Dinosaurland Clock (photo from Amazon.com). I almost missed this line of clocks by Olive Kids, because the silentness of them isn’t part of the title. You have to look way down in the description, where it says “silent movements.” I like how it’s easy to read, and obviously it’s great for a kid room. Plus, the 2-year-old who shares a room with the ticking-disliker is dinosaur crazed, so HE’D like it. In fact, we could buy it for the 2-year-old’s birthday in May, which is even better because I’m always looking for gifts that don’t add more TOYS to the FLOOR. The clock comes in tons of other styles too; here are a few samples:
Olive Kids Pirate Ships Clock (photo from Amazon.com)
Olive Kids Heroes Clock (photo from Amazon.com)
Olive Kids Happy Flowers Clock (photo from Amazon.com)
Olive Kids Country Farm Clock (photo from Amazon.com)
Right now I’d say it’s between the old world map clock and the dinosaur clock.
LOVE those Olive Kids clocks. I will definitely keep these in mind for when we do the big room rearrangement this summer.
Nowheymama | March 3rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
Have you thought about using a small digital alarm clock? No ticking, and small and cheap! Our kids each have one in their rooms and the only negative has been the occasional alarm going off when they’ve messed with it, but they’ve learned to not do that anymore
I love the farm clock! That would be so adorable in a farm themed room.
meowmix | March 3rd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I say the dinosaur one as a gift is awesome! Two birds, one stone, etc.
Devan | March 3rd, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Oh this is great! I’m in need of a clock for my 4yo son’s wall because he really likes clocks and watches (despite the fact that he can’t tell time yet!) and to help m husband know when story, laying down with time is over (How was I supposed to know it was 9:30??? he asks!). In this case, the silent movement is critical for ME; I can not stand the ticcing (two c’s? doesn’t look right). I think I’ll get the Olive Kids Cars and Trucks version!
aimee @ smilingmama | March 3rd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I love the dino clock for a kids’ room. I’d love the map clock for mine. My 6 yr old got a watch for his birthday. I looked high and low for one that is not digital. I want him to be able to read a clock and tell time that way. Of course, I also will insist that he learn to drive a manual transmission, so I think I’m a bit of a dinosaur myself.
Clare | March 3rd, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Sometimes even the clocks marked silent movement are not silent. We went out on a similar hunt for our bedroom, spent $40 on one labelled as such, and it TICKS LIKE CRAZY. I’ve decided the only way a clock can be silent is if it is doesn’t have a second hand. The Olive Kids ones look great in that respect and I think I’ll get one for my son’s room. Now I just have to find one for my room!
Carmen | March 3rd, 2010 at 10:08 pm
I vote for the dinos! Too cute.
Shannon | March 4th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I got this one for my 6th grader (loves to use an alarm).
It has a radio too and a a couple dimming levels so it’s not bright at night.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICFC180-AM-Clock-Radio/dp/B000EDTS6A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268079107&sr=8-2
Those Olive clocks are cute.
Livi | March 8th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
I think digital clocks work better with babies and toddlers, because sometimes you want to see what time it is without turning on the lights. Of course, they are not as cute
Stickers | March 9th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
An AC powered clock doesn’t tick because those clocks use an ac induction motor that moves the hands in a sweeping fashion.
Most battery clocks have a quartz oscillator and stepper motor that moves once per second.
Most analog clocks on the market are of these two types because they are cheap and effective.
There are however, non-ticking analog, battery powered alarm clocks available online. Those work at the cost of using more battery power, but are silent like a good ac induction motor. recomended: “The Guardian Alarm Clock” and some of the Seiko models.
jm | December 12th, 2010 at 11:52 am