Time gets away from us all, especially children, who likely don’t understand the concept of spending it wisely. While children learn about time management in school, home is the perfect place to practice. You can help your child understand how many hours they have in a day and how to find balance while getting everything done. Here are some ways you can build those time management skills at home.
Start with a Bedtime
One of the first scheduled activities children become familiar with is bedtime. Setting a consistent bedtime routine can help children understand the basics of time management. They learn how long it takes to wind down before bed to make it to bed by the set time. This helps with skills like gauging how long something will take, one that’s essential when it comes to time management.
Have Meals at Set Times
Eating meals at the same time every day may not feel necessary, but it helps children in a few ways. They learn about how much time they have between meals. It gives them consistency in their routine, which is essential for their development. Letting your child know when you’re beginning to cook and how much time each timer is set for can also be a great lesson in time management skills.
Plan Out Homework
Balancing homework and other activities causes children more trouble than any other area of time management. Homework feels like it takes longer than it should, or it’s done in a hurry. Help your child by setting a specific time each weekday for working on homework assignments. Ensure that this takes place in an environment free of distractions. Adjust the time frame according to how much time they usually spend. Make sure to include breaks for assignments that take longer to complete and between subjects.
Establish Screen Time Rules
In today’s world, people of all ages struggle with screen time. Guidelines can help children, who are especially susceptible to social media algorithms that keep people hooked. First, focus on screen time at night, when it can do the most harm by disrupting sleep patterns. Encourage your child to track how much time they spend on their devices. They’ll likely be surprised to know how much time they spend scrolling. Children and teens can spend anywhere from 4-9 hours per day looking at screens.
Work on Setting Priorities
When it feels like there’s too much to do in a day, your child will need to learn to set priorities. Chances are, they’ll need your help with this. Work on building a list of everything they need and want to do, and help them sort it out. Try to leave time for the “wants” while getting the “needs” accomplished in a timely manner. Setting priorities and learning how to shift them around will go a long way in helping your child understand time management.
At North Tampa Christian Academy, we understand that time management takes practice. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.