Today – Time management for kids
Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.
– William Shakespeare.
Time management for kids
Whether it is being prepared for a big test coming up or getting ready to go for a family dinner, time management for kids and being ready is a must.
As adults, we may struggle with it a bit, but for the most part, we’ve all seemed to nail it.
Children, on the other hand, need some time to understand the concept of time management, and if that’s what you’re struggling with, here’s some help.
Read on to discover 6 ways you can start teaching time management for kids and as always begin by role modelling it. Kids do what you do not what you say
The 5 benefits of time management for kids
- 1. Everyone around them will be less stressed if kids aren’t always running so late
- 2. Kids themselves will be far less stressed if they are ready on time and manage their time well
- 3. We all work more efficiently if we feel we are on our time targets and are more productive
- 4. We all think more clearly if in control of our time and make better decisions.
- 5. Good time management makes everyone feel happier and so life quality generally is improved
Create a Routine – Time management for kids – essential tip no.1!
The simplest, yet most effective ways to help your child ace time management is to create a routine. This may seem boring and counterintuitive.
Studies have shown that a disciplined environment and a routine can actually help growing children feel safer, and allow them to be independent.
Create a daily routine for the simple everyday tasks right from getting up in the morning to hitting the bed at night.
Doing this will help your little one understand the importance of time, and it’ll also save you all that running around during school time.
Time management checklist for kids
A time management to-do list or checklist on an app can be a super useful tool for kids.
What is time management in simple words
It is actually the ability to use time well and efficiently so you get done what you need to do – in the time you have. According to Wikipedia, a time management system is the use of processes, tools, techniques, and methods to help with this
Learn How to Tell Time
You were probably going to do this anyway, so what could be better than just giving it a go as soon as you can?
Simply setting a routine for your kid isn’t enough. Sure, he’ll learn about different tasks and their time in relation to one another, but not about timing his tasks and getting them done at the right slots.
Teaching him to read the clock can help him grasp a very basic concept that he’ll need throughout his life!
Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.
Harvey Mackay
Set End Times (crucial in time management for kids)
Assigning time slots to specific tasks, or even just setting end times, can make a whole lot of a difference when it comes to teaching your child about time management.
Doing this will also create a sort of urgency, which your little one actually needs to know about.
Set Reasonable Expectations on Time management for kids
Okay, this one’s really important. You might be overambitious with your little one and his capabilities.
Remind yourself that he’s only a child and that you need to set reasonable expectations from him.
Don’t expect him to start telling the time and the following everything according to schedule in the first week itself.
Create a Calendar
When it comes to teaching your child about long term goal setting, there’s nothing better than a calendar.
Marking important dates on a calendar in your home (preferably one set at a location where everyone can see it) can help your little one understand about planning things in advance, and why it is important.
Time management for kids? Keep it Consistent
So you’ve done everything right, but guess what? It won’t make that much of a difference if you’re not consistent with it. Your child will most likely stick to the routine only if he has to do it every day.
When you enforce the routine on a daily basis, it helps your kid realize how important it is, and he’ll be more likely to follow it on his own as he grows up.
Time management for kids and for life
Time management for kids is a key life skill they will be thankful for all their life. It will help them revise, maintain friendships, it wil help them in their job, with homework, even catching the bus!
How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness, how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?
Dr. Seuss
What not to do when teaching time management to kids
I hate to be didactic but I’d say don’t shout and don’t nag and don’t be impatient. Skills take time to learn and practise. Yes, bad time management makes everyone frustrated but try and be a problem solver than a nagger. It is always way more effective.
Sometimes kids do need to learn from their mistakes too
If they are late for school they may get a behaviour point and the impact of this consequence may be far stronger than you telling them off. Sometimes they have to learn from experience.
Try and stay unrattled and solution focussed.
Over to you for your time management for kids tips
Please do share your tips and ideas on time management for kids I love to hear from you.
You might also like my post on how to stop being busy – advice for adults who need to get their time management under control
Further reading ideas
If you have enjoyed this post on time management for kids please take a look at the following. I think they will really resonate with y,ou
Simple ways to teach kids about personal safety
A guide to helping teens with their friendships
Kids and swimming – what helps
