From Chaos to Order: Improving Kids’ Time Management Skills

In many ways, time is finite. There are only 24 hours in a day, no matter how many things you have to get done. Time can be a hard concept for kids to grasp. They may know how to read a clock and tell time, but their perception of how long 10 minutes or an hour is may not be realistic. Teaching kids time management is a valuable skill that can help them be more productive.

• Create a routine.

A consistent routine lets kids know what to expect and get a sense of when things happen. School is very structured with set start and ends times, lunch times, and a bell schedule. While their time at home may not be as rigid, you can still have a general schedule for meals, bed and wake times, homework or study time, extracurriculars, etc.

• Use a planner.

Give your child a visual way to see their day and what they need to get done. Write down obligations such as practices, games, meetings, and other planned activities that have set times. Then add assignments and projects that are due. This can allow them to better plan their day and when they have free time.

• Set a timer.

If your child wants to work on math for 20 minutes or study for their science test for 30 minutes, set a timer so they know how long that actually is. After they have focused for a designated amount of time, they can take a short break. Time that out as well so a five-minute break doesn’t accidentally turn into 15 minutes. A timer can allow them to get an idea of how much they can get done within a specific time period.

• Prioritize tasks.

Work with your child to decide what is most important and must be finished that day versus what can wait until tomorrow or has a due date later in the week or month. Think about what assignments will take the most time to do and which ones they can finish more quickly. Break down large projects into smaller chunks so they are working on specific tasks each day instead of getting overwhelmed with everything at once. Create a to-do list so they can check things off as they’re completed and see their progress.

• Stay organized.

A lot of time can be wasted looking for materials or supplies. Help your child create a study space where they have everything they need nearby and can easily access pencils, erasers, highlighters, paper, sticky notes, rulers, calculators, and other important items. Use a different notebook and folder for each class so all of their notes and assignments are in one place and math, history, and language arts aren’t all mixed together. If they have a binder, use dividers to create separate sections.

• Minimize distractions.

Staring out the window, playing with their phone, watching TV, or fiddling with accessories on their desk can all take focus away from work that needs to be done. Make sure your child has a quiet space where they can concentrate and work with minimal disruptions. If they don’t need their phone or computer for an assignment, put it away and only have necessary materials on their desk.

Boost Time Management Skills Through Tutoring

Working with a tutor can help your child better manage their time and work more efficiently. They can learn strategies for staying organized, studying, prioritizing tasks, managing projects, working on different types of assignments, and more. Contact Crafting Scholars to learn more about how we can help your child with time management skills.

Originally published at https://craftingscholars.com on September 11, 2024.