Get some tips on how to teach time management to your children. This includes tools they can use (planners) and how to make planning their time a part of their routine.
It is almost time for school to start. Time for school sports, assignments, tests, hanging out after school. With this time, comes a great opportunity to teach kids how to manage their time efficiently and effectively.
Let you child know what is expect of him or her during the school year. Things like assignments completed on time, reading a certain amount of books, starting on projects as soon as they are assigned - thus helping to prevent procrastinating.
This helps your child know that you really care about them and their education.
Tools for Time Management
It is a GREAT idea to give your child a planner - whether it's paper or electronic. You may be asking, "A planner? For my child? He is only in first grade. How can he use a Planner?" Well, starting young is the best way to go. Help him start a habit early in life, and he will be thankful for it later on!
In fact, Franklin Covey creates planners specifically for kids from 4 years of age and up! Check it out:
Ages 4-8:
This planner includes perks such as:
- SchoolTalk column
- Communicator Pouch
- Family Activity Corner
Helps with:
- Daily journal writing
- Weekly overviews
Added features:
- Words of the Week
- Daily reading & writing activities
- Weekly quizzes
- Monthly learning themes
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Ages 6-12
This planner encourages the student to:
- Start each week by setting learning & caring goals
- Review and meditate on these at the end of the week
This planner was designed with the goal of helping this age group turn goals, learning & character development into habits that continue.
Features:
- SchoolTalk column
- Family Activity Corner - this is for parents to be involved in their child's education
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Ages 11-15:
This planner encourages:
- Responsibility & decision making skills
- Daily prioritization
- Weekly goals
- Monthly planning
- Student accountability
- First things first
- Set goals
- Work on what matters most
Features:
- After school activities
- Daily fitness priorities
- Personal goal setting and reflection
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Ages 14-18:
This planner is geared toward:
- Developing:
- Planning
- Prioritizing
- Goal setting
- Personal leadership skills
- Promoting:
- Long-term planning
- After-school scheduling
- Personal accountability through daily planning format
Features:
- Weekly success tips
- Motivational quotes
- Fun activities
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If you help train them on how to manage their time at an early age - you will see a difference in their productivity.
Helping Them Plan Time
Sit down with them once they have their Planner. Help them to learn the benefits of their Planner. Show them how 'cool' it is. Encourage them to write their assignments and due dates in it as soon as they get that information.
Show them how to spend just 5 minutes each day to help them go over their "To Do's" and other appointments (dances, doctor's appointments, games, etc.). Doing this will help them to establish a daily planning habit. This will help them when they get older - and have more to think about... goals and projects that they want to accomplish.
Assignments, Tests, and Projects
Also help them to use their Planner for Project Planning. For instance, Johnnie's History project (a poster about the first 10 Presidents of the United States) is due on Monday, November 18th. He wrote the project assignment in his Planner on October 25th.
Sit down and help him provide deadlines so that he can turn in his project on time - if not earlier. For instance, Johnnie can do research about the Presidents the week of October 27-November 2. During the week of November 3-9, Johnnie can decide what information to include on his poster - find pictures, create text boxes, etc. Finally, it's the week of November 10th, and the assignment is due the next Monday. Johnnie can plan to use this time to put his poster together.
If he plans it right - he can turn in his assignment before the weekend! He won't have to cram his time during the middle of November and turn in his assignment half thought out.
If he plans it out - does the research - and has time to do it - he will learn about the 10 Presidents that he is researching and will turn in a well planned out assignment.
Appointments and Events
As children, they don't have to worry as much about appointments, but events fill up a kid's time quickly enough. There are a lot of school events that go on. If they have them marked in their Planner, you will be able to know what is coming up - especially when you synchronize your Planner with theirs.
So please, take time to teach your children how to manage their time. This will help them spend more time on IMPORTANT things - while still being able to enjoy being a child.
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