TIME MANAGEMENT FOR KIDS: HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS EXCEL

Time management for kids is a life skill that can set them up for success. It is particularly important for kids to learn at an early age in order to be successful in their education, as well as other areas of life. Having time management skills as a kid is important because it can allow one to focus on their priorities and accomplish tasks without feeling overwhelmed. But how does one establish good time management skills? We put together some steps to start to work on time management with your kids to help set them up for a successful school year.

1. Help them become aware of their time

It’s important to remember that time is limited. When considering all the tasks to complete, break them down into sections by prioritizing and planning. Talk with your child to help them know what is urgent and important to ensure that is where they begin. Explain the breakdown to your child to show them that time is being allotted for different topics such as school, extracurriculars, family events, etc.

2. Define priorities

It helps to know what needs to or should get done. For example, if school is remote, make sure to have discussions with your child’s teachers to know the main areas that need attention. Talk with your child to help them understand the importance of each task and then develop a routine that will ensure enough time is set aside. Discuss these priorities and let them know that their schedule can be made to give them time to focus on these tasks.

3. Create a schedule and develop a routine

If your child is working remotely, a schedule that mimics the school day can be beneficial in maintaining a routine. Set aside the hours that focus on topics, lunch, recess, and even the specials like gym or art class. Add on any other afterschool activities or events they should be aware of. This will help your child know what to expect and prepare for the day ahead.

Once you have an idea of what to focus on, create the schedule together with your child. Make this process fun! You can do this by allowing them to work on a visual board with pictures or writing down the time slots on a calendar and color coding, adding stickers or decorating it with drawings.

4. Break down goals

A schedule will help plan time, but what is done in that time depends on your child’s goals. Compile a checklist to encourage them to know their goals and work independently to accomplish them. If your child needs to learnthree new math concepts, they may need to focus on assignments that help master them. In other words, they may need to read and practice examples in the textbook. It may even be chores that should get done after school. Plan out the goals to know what to focus on in the timeframe. This will help them feel less overwhelmed and help to track progress for each goal.

5. Track progress and reflect on time spent

As your child continues to complete tasks, track their progress. Look to see if there are any areas for improvement or accomplishments to celebrate. Together you can reflect on what happened within the time frame to see if they need to reassess their time in the future. From there you will understand how to plan accordingly. Also, your child can now see how their time well spent led to an achievement. This will encourage them to continue setting aside time and planning for future goals.

6. Celebrate even the small wins

One of the biggest motivators for kids when it comes to time management is celebrating small wins. Completing tasks and becoming closer to the main goal is a huge accomplishment! Be sure to celebrate the successes by praising your child and encouraging them to continue making strides while managing their time. Seeing that their hard work resulted in something positive will make them more inclined to continue these efforts in the future.

The Takeaway

Time management for kids may seem like a challenge, but it is beneficial to establish this life skill early with them. Focusing on these steps when completing schoolwork is a great place to begin. This is because other tasks will likely fall into place throughout the process. Being able to manage time as a kid will help them feel less overwhelmed and in turn make them feel more accomplished and confident in completing tasks throughout all areas of life.