As adults, we live according to the time on our clocks. We have a time when we get up in the morning, go to work, eat lunch, exercise, take a break, eat dinner, and more. Our kids, however, are much different. They rely on us to tell them when they need to go to school or when they should go to bed. This is all well and good right now, but what happens when they go off on their own?
Teaching our kids good time management skills while they’re young can ensure their success for then they’re off on their own for the first time. Here’s how to start:
Make it fun
The most important thing to do when teaching your kids is to make it fun. You don’t want time management to seem like a chore—if that’s the case, they won’t do it. Instead, use crayons to color code their calendars, or create a game to see who can complete a task in the allotted time.
Teach them how to measure time
Telling time is much different from measuring time. A child may know what 12:15 means, but they may not know what they can accomplish in 15 minutes. To help matters, set a timer for when your child needs to accomplish a task during a certain time frame. If you keep doing this, then your child will begin to understand how much they can accomplish in certain time limits.
Use calendars and to-do lists
Calendars and to-do lists can help keep you organized and on track. Knowing what you have to do during the day can help you better manage your time. You can use a calendar to mark events or regular commitments, such as basketball practice or doctors’ appointments. A to-do list, on the other hand, can be used for daily tasks such as homework and chores.
Set up rewards
A reward system can help motivate your child to keep practicing their time management skills. Rewards can be given out daily, weekly, or monthly. Daily rewards should be kept small, while weekly or monthly rewards can be a bit more extravagant.
If you find you need extra help teaching your kids good time management kills, Dr. Marie Mazza can help. Dr. Mazza teaches kids all around Garden City good organizational and time management skills. Contact her today to get started!