TIPS IN TEACHING YOUR KIDS TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Time management is a critical skill that children take into adulthood. We practice it in the classroom, but there are ways that you can implement time management into your routines at home too.

Time management does not need to be boring. You can teach them the fun side of managing your own time by following these 4 simple steps:

Tip #1: The earlier, the better.

• Start teaching your kids time management before their teenage years. You can teach teens proper time management too. But why wait when you can start training them now.
• Preschoolers can start by putting away their toys or putting their dirty clothes in the hamper. Older kids can do their homework within a specific time frame. Another alternative is doing household chores. The opportunities to teach kids time management are indeed endless.
• You really don’t have to wait until they are older. The right time is right this very instant.

Tip #2: Teach how to measure time.

• Your children would not know the importance of time if they don’t know the concept behind it. They should be accustomed with doing chores within a specific time period. You should set a time for every task assigned to them.
• Keep a clock or an egg timer as a visual representation that time is running out. They need to act fast so time won’t be wasted. It’s important to note that this is not the same as teaching your kids to always follow a strict schedule.
• Remember that the goal here is to help them understand the concept of time. So they will know what 2 hours feels like,and that 15 minutes is fast so they better hurry and take a quick shower.
  So, by the time you say, “Dinner is in five minutes,” they will know that it will happen very soon. Thus, they will not spend time playing, watching TV, or any other task that consumes much of their precious time.

Tip #3: Create a schedule.

• Create a family calendar. This way, you will be aware of the activities of all your kids. One won’t feel neglected because you missed her recital or practice. With a family calendar, you can keep with all the school activities.
• For instance, on Monday, your middle child might have a school performance. On Wednesday, your youngest might need to participate in a play. On Friday, your eldest might have a game night.
• The entire family can even customize the calendar. You can turn it to an art project. It’s definitely a fun activity, and at the same time, everyone is familiar with the different schedules and tasks.
• Assign a particular color for each family member. For example, mom can have red, dad will get blue, younger sister gets pink, older brother will have orange, and so on. That way, events won’t get mixed up, and each family member can focus on his or her assigned color.

Tip #4: Help your kids to stay on task.

• As they learn the concept of time management, they will be tempted to derail and follow their own schedule. You are there to remind your kids to stay on task and follow the calendar.
• If it says that you need to leave at 8:00, you need leave by 8 sharp! There will be days wherein they will prefer to play rather than sticking to the plan. So, you need to be firm in keeping things in proper order.
• When it’s time to play, it’s time to play. When it’s time to study, it’s time to focus and study. It’s not the time for games and leisure. Straying away from the agreed schedule is a bad idea especially if they are still learning about time management. So, train them to always stick to the schedule!

These time management tips are so useful and I hope you can start to include some of these items into your households. Students who have a clear concept on time, perform better on tests and have less anxiety about strict time limitations. I would love to hear what works and what doesn’t for your family.