TIME MANAGEMENT FOR CHILDREN

As all busy people understand, juggling multiple activities and obligations can be quite overwhelming, leaving most of us wishing there were a few more hours in the day. Children, too, have a lot on their plates: school, homework, extracurricular activities, family, friends, chores and more. As a parent, how can you help your child handle all of his or her responsibilities without feeling frazzled and stressed? By instilling in him or her the vital skill of time management.

Why is teaching your child to practice good time management so worthwhile? Quite simply, effective time management leads to success. Those who learn to manage their time effectively are able to reach their goals—big and small. They are less likely to procrastinate or cram, and therefore less stressed. And while time management is certainly important at a young age, it will become crucial in college when students have a greater amount of flexibility in their schedules.


Establish a routine.
From an early age, encourage your child to create and follow a schedule and follow the same practices at home. For younger children, a simple hour-by-hour daily schedule may be useful for organizing each day into set obligations (school, homework, chores) and optional activities (TV, extracurricular activities, friend time). Hang a family calendar and mark it with all important family commitments, including school obligations and sports practices or games. For high school students, a day planner is an invaluable tool. Encourage your teen to record all assignments, upcoming tests, project deadlines, extracurricular commitments and other tasks on a daily basis, and mark them off as he or she completes them.

Encourage goal-setting.
Life is full of many exciting opportunities, but whether your child wants to become an Olympic athlete or learn to play the guitar, he or she will need to apply self-discipline to achieve his or her dreams. Goal-setting and time management go hand in hand. Short-term goals may require more immediate planning, as in your child's desire to create a scrapbook for his or her friend's birthday next week. On the other hand, long-term goals may take months or years to accomplish, but still require regular effort. Take your child's ambitions seriously by helping him or her break big goals down into smaller ones and assigning target completion dates to each one. A student who dreams of going to Harvard, for example, must take a number of smaller steps along the way.

Teach your child to prioritize.
A large portion of your child's day is spent in school, but what must he or she accomplish after the school bell rings?

Parents who want to teach their children to become good time managers: practice what you preach. Do you struggle to manage your own time? Are you constantly running late or regularly missing deadlines or appointments? Remember that you are a role model to your child. Do your best to effectively manage your own schedule.

Good time management skills will help your child achieve his or her goals, enjoy his or her free time, avoid anxiety and stress, and most importantly, lead a productive life. Encourage these techniques early and your child will gain the very most out of each and every day.