diff --git a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
index 7fc3b76..121ed8d 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ async def get_dashboard(child_id: int, db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db)):
         )
         completed_ids = [e.block_id for e in events_result.scalars().all() if e.block_id]
 
-    # Compute elapsed seconds for the current block from timer_events
+    # Compute elapsed seconds and paused state for the current block from timer_events
+    is_paused = False
     if session and session.current_block_id:
         tick_result = await db.execute(
             select(TimerEvent)
@@ -93,6 +94,8 @@ async def get_dashboard(child_id: int, db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db)):
         if last_start:
             elapsed += (datetime.utcnow() - last_start).total_seconds()
         block_elapsed_seconds = int(elapsed)
+        # Paused if the last tick event was a pause (last_start is None but events exist)
+        is_paused = bool(tick_events) and tick_events[-1].event_type == "pause"
 
     return DashboardSnapshot(
         session=session,
@@ -100,6 +103,7 @@ async def get_dashboard(child_id: int, db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db)):
         blocks=blocks,
         completed_block_ids=completed_ids,
         block_elapsed_seconds=block_elapsed_seconds,
+        is_paused=is_paused,
         day_start_time=day_start_time,
         day_end_time=day_end_time,
     )
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/session.py b/backend/app/schemas/session.py
index ce592da..87028c2 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/session.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/session.py
@@ -43,5 +43,6 @@ class DashboardSnapshot(BaseModel):
     blocks: list[ScheduleBlockOut] = []
     completed_block_ids: list[int] = []
     block_elapsed_seconds: int = 0  # seconds already elapsed for the current block
+    is_paused: bool = False          # whether the current block's timer is paused
     day_start_time: time | None = None
     day_end_time: time | None = None
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js b/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js
index 802e661..689f951 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export const useScheduleStore = defineStore('schedule', () => {
     session.value = snapshot.session
     blocks.value = sortBlocksByTime(snapshot.blocks)
     completedBlockIds.value = snapshot.completed_block_ids || []
-    isPaused.value = false
+    isPaused.value = snapshot.is_paused || false
     if (snapshot.child) child.value = snapshot.child
     dayStartTime.value = snapshot.day_start_time || null
     dayEndTime.value = snapshot.day_end_time || null
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ export const useScheduleStore = defineStore('schedule', () => {
     const serverElapsed = snapshot.block_elapsed_seconds || 0
     if (snapshot.session?.current_block_id && serverElapsed > 0) {
       blockElapsedOffset.value = serverElapsed
-      blockStartedAt.value = Date.now()
+      // Only start the live counter if the block is actually running (not paused)
+      blockStartedAt.value = isPaused.value ? null : Date.now()
     } else {
       blockElapsedOffset.value = 0
       blockStartedAt.value = null