diff --git a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
index 5d7b348..d19f4f0 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Public dashboard endpoint — no authentication required.
 Used by the TV view to get the initial session snapshot before WebSocket connects.
 """
-from datetime import date
+from datetime import date, datetime
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ async def get_dashboard(child_id: int, db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db)):
 
     blocks = []
     completed_ids = []
+    block_elapsed_seconds = 0
 
     if session and session.template_id:
         blocks_result = await db.execute(
@@ -57,9 +58,34 @@ 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
+    if session and session.current_block_id:
+        tick_result = await db.execute(
+            select(TimerEvent)
+            .where(
+                TimerEvent.session_id == session.id,
+                TimerEvent.block_id == session.current_block_id,
+                TimerEvent.event_type.in_(["start", "resume", "pause"]),
+            )
+            .order_by(TimerEvent.occurred_at)
+        )
+        tick_events = tick_result.scalars().all()
+        last_start = None
+        elapsed = 0.0
+        for e in tick_events:
+            if e.event_type in ("start", "resume"):
+                last_start = e.occurred_at
+            elif e.event_type == "pause" and last_start:
+                elapsed += (e.occurred_at - last_start).total_seconds()
+                last_start = None
+        if last_start:
+            elapsed += (datetime.utcnow() - last_start).total_seconds()
+        block_elapsed_seconds = int(elapsed)
+
     return DashboardSnapshot(
         session=session,
         child=child,
         blocks=blocks,
         completed_block_ids=completed_ids,
+        block_elapsed_seconds=block_elapsed_seconds,
     )
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/session.py b/backend/app/schemas/session.py
index e0c6318..5a3aca9 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/session.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/session.py
@@ -42,3 +42,4 @@ class DashboardSnapshot(BaseModel):
     child: ChildOut
     blocks: list[ScheduleBlockOut] = []
     completed_block_ids: list[int] = []
+    block_elapsed_seconds: int = 0  # seconds already elapsed for the current block
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/TimerDisplay.vue b/frontend/src/components/TimerDisplay.vue
index 93f9af3..3c3934a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/TimerDisplay.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/TimerDisplay.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 <template>
-  <div class="timer-wrap">
+  <div v-if="compact" class="timer-compact">
+    <span class="timer-time-compact">{{ display }}</span>
+    <span class="timer-label-compact">{{ label }}</span>
+  </div>
+  <div v-else class="timer-wrap">
     <!-- SVG circular ring -->
     <svg class="timer-ring" viewBox="0 0 200 200">
       <circle cx="100" cy="100" r="88" class="ring-bg" />
@@ -17,15 +21,21 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { computed, onUnmounted, ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import { computed, onUnmounted, ref } from 'vue'
 
 const props = defineProps({
   block: { type: Object, default: null },
   session: { type: Object, default: null },
+  isPaused: { type: Boolean, default: false },
+  compact: { type: Boolean, default: false },
+  blockStartedAt: { type: Number, default: null },   // ms timestamp, null when paused
+  blockElapsedOffset: { type: Number, default: 0 },  // seconds already elapsed
 })
 
-const elapsed = ref(0)
-let interval = null
+// Tick so computed elapsed re-evaluates each second
+const now = ref(Date.now())
+const ticker = setInterval(() => { now.value = Date.now() }, 1000)
+onUnmounted(() => clearInterval(ticker))
 
 function parseTime(str) {
   if (!str) return 0
@@ -38,6 +48,12 @@ const blockDuration = computed(() => {
   return parseTime(props.block.time_end) - parseTime(props.block.time_start)
 })
 
+const elapsed = computed(() => {
+  const base = props.blockElapsedOffset
+  if (!props.blockStartedAt) return base
+  return base + Math.floor((now.value - props.blockStartedAt) / 1000)
+})
+
 const remaining = computed(() => Math.max(0, blockDuration.value - elapsed.value))
 
 const display = computed(() => {
@@ -60,17 +76,6 @@ const dashOffset = computed(() => {
 })
 
 const ringColor = computed(() => props.block?.subject?.color || '#4f46e5')
-
-// Tick timer
-watch(() => props.block?.id, () => { elapsed.value = 0 })
-
-function startTick() {
-  if (interval) clearInterval(interval)
-  interval = setInterval(() => { elapsed.value++ }, 1000)
-}
-
-startTick()
-onUnmounted(() => clearInterval(interval))
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
@@ -124,4 +129,24 @@ onUnmounted(() => clearInterval(interval))
   text-transform: uppercase;
   letter-spacing: 0.1em;
 }
+
+.timer-compact {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: baseline;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.timer-time-compact {
+  font-size: 2rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
+}
+
+.timer-label-compact {
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  color: #64748b;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js b/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js
index 838de7b..8055a8a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/schedule.js
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ export const useScheduleStore = defineStore('schedule', () => {
   const blocks = ref([])
   const completedBlockIds = ref([])
   const child = ref(null)
+  const isPaused = ref(false)
+  const blockStartedAt = ref(null)    // Date.now() ms when current counting period started
+  const blockElapsedOffset = ref(0)   // seconds already elapsed before blockStartedAt
 
   const currentBlock = computed(() =>
     session.value?.current_block_id
@@ -23,7 +26,17 @@ export const useScheduleStore = defineStore('schedule', () => {
     session.value = snapshot.session
     blocks.value = snapshot.blocks || []
     completedBlockIds.value = snapshot.completed_block_ids || []
+    isPaused.value = false
     if (snapshot.child) child.value = snapshot.child
+    // Restore elapsed time from server-computed value
+    const serverElapsed = snapshot.block_elapsed_seconds || 0
+    if (snapshot.session?.current_block_id && serverElapsed > 0) {
+      blockElapsedOffset.value = serverElapsed
+      blockStartedAt.value = Date.now()
+    } else {
+      blockElapsedOffset.value = 0
+      blockStartedAt.value = null
+    }
   }
 
   function applyWsEvent(event) {
@@ -34,8 +47,30 @@ export const useScheduleStore = defineStore('schedule', () => {
     // Session ended
     if (event.is_active === false) {
       session.value = null
+      isPaused.value = false
+      blockStartedAt.value = null
+      blockElapsedOffset.value = 0
       return
     }
+    // Pause — accumulate elapsed, stop counting
+    if (event.event === 'pause') {
+      if (blockStartedAt.value) {
+        blockElapsedOffset.value += Math.floor((Date.now() - blockStartedAt.value) / 1000)
+      }
+      blockStartedAt.value = null
+      isPaused.value = true
+    }
+    // Start (new block) — reset elapsed, begin counting
+    if (event.event === 'start') {
+      blockElapsedOffset.value = 0
+      blockStartedAt.value = Date.now()
+      isPaused.value = false
+    }
+    // Resume — continue from where we left off
+    if (event.event === 'resume') {
+      blockStartedAt.value = Date.now()
+      isPaused.value = false
+    }
     // Timer events update session state
     if (event.current_block_id !== undefined && session.value) {
       session.value.current_block_id = event.current_block_id
@@ -73,6 +108,9 @@ export const useScheduleStore = defineStore('schedule', () => {
     blocks,
     completedBlockIds,
     child,
+    isPaused,
+    blockStartedAt,
+    blockElapsedOffset,
     currentBlock,
     progressPercent,
     applySnapshot,
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/DashboardView.vue b/frontend/src/views/DashboardView.vue
index 4005498..513fdbe 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/DashboardView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/DashboardView.vue
@@ -21,13 +21,27 @@
               <span>{{ scheduleStore.progressPercent }}% complete</span>
             </div>
             <ProgressBar :percent="scheduleStore.progressPercent" />
+            <div v-if="scheduleStore.currentBlock" class="current-block-timer">
+              <TimerDisplay
+                compact
+                :block="scheduleStore.currentBlock"
+                :session="scheduleStore.session"
+                :is-paused="scheduleStore.isPaused"
+                :block-started-at="scheduleStore.blockStartedAt"
+                :block-elapsed-offset="scheduleStore.blockElapsedOffset"
+              />
+            </div>
             <div class="session-actions">
               <button
                 class="btn-sm"
-                v-if="scheduleStore.session.current_block_id"
+                v-if="scheduleStore.session.current_block_id && !scheduleStore.isPaused"
                 @click="sendAction('pause')"
               >Pause</button>
-              <button class="btn-sm" @click="sendAction('start')">Resume</button>
+              <button
+                class="btn-sm"
+                v-if="scheduleStore.isPaused"
+                @click="sendAction('resume')"
+              >Resume</button>
               <button class="btn-sm btn-danger" @click="sendAction('complete')">End Day</button>
             </div>
           </div>
@@ -96,6 +110,7 @@ import NavBar from '@/components/NavBar.vue'
 import ChildSelector from '@/components/ChildSelector.vue'
 import ProgressBar from '@/components/ProgressBar.vue'
 import ScheduleBlock from '@/components/ScheduleBlock.vue'
+import TimerDisplay from '@/components/TimerDisplay.vue'
 
 const childrenStore = useChildrenStore()
 const scheduleStore = useScheduleStore()
@@ -135,6 +150,8 @@ async function sendAction(type) {
 
 function selectBlock(block) {
   if (!scheduleStore.session) return
+  scheduleStore.session.current_block_id = block.id
+  scheduleStore.isPaused = false
   scheduleStore.sendTimerAction(scheduleStore.session.id, 'start', block.id)
 }
 
@@ -189,6 +206,7 @@ h1 { font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 700; }
   font-weight: 600;
 }
 
+.current-block-timer { display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 1rem 0; }
 .session-actions { display: flex; gap: 0.5rem; margin-top: 1rem; flex-wrap: wrap; }
 
 .btn-sm {
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/TVView.vue b/frontend/src/views/TVView.vue
index b6d1911..604f069 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/TVView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/TVView.vue
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
         <TimerDisplay
           :block="scheduleStore.currentBlock"
           :session="scheduleStore.session"
+          :is-paused="scheduleStore.isPaused"
+          :block-started-at="scheduleStore.blockStartedAt"
+          :block-elapsed-offset="scheduleStore.blockElapsedOffset"
         />
         <div class="tv-block-notes" v-if="scheduleStore.currentBlock.notes">
           {{ scheduleStore.currentBlock.notes }}