As your children reach adolescence, they begin to have hectic schedules with school, tuition, activity classes, etc. It is natural for them to stress and panic when they are unable to complete their academic assignments or other tasks on time. They need handholding at this juncture and you should be there to support them.
You can help your children overcome their worries by teaching them the art of time management. Here are some useful tips.
Planner and To-Do List
Buy your children a planner/diary/notebook where they can plan their day right down to every hour. A good planner also includes space to jot down to-do lists, top priorities of the day, etc. You can also consider time management apps but then it will increase your children’s screen time. Moreover, it is easier to refer to a physical planner at any time and more satisfying to strike off the to-do list.
Structured Routine
Help your children set up a fixed routine for their day, right from the time they wake up till the time they go to bed. This should also include meal times, leisure time, playtime, etc. Of course, you should keep some margin of flexibility so that their life doesn’t become like a machine or rat race. This margin will also take care of unexpected and unplanned situations. A structured routine will enable your children to stay on time.
Organisation Skills
One of the secrets of time management is staying organised. When all your things are in order, you save a lot of time. This is because you don’t have to spend time searching for things. Let your children keep all their stuff neat.
Prioritisation
If your children are feeling overwhelmed with a long list of tasks, teach them to prioritise through the Eisenhower Matrix. It will help your children to complete their tasks in the order of urgency and importance. For example, they have received Math homework from school but the Math class will take place after two days. So, your children can push this homework to a day before the class.
Gadget Rules
Monitor the time your children spend on gadgets and social media every day. Sometimes, you and they may not realise that a 15-minute screen time can stretch to even an hour. Fix a particular time of the day when your children have access to gadgets.
Over-Scheduling Trap
At times, you or children may inadvertently over-schedule the calendar which can do more harm than good. Create a schedule in such a way that your children don’t feel pressured in any way.
Time management is crucial but don’t let it ruin your children’s innocence and growing-up years. Help them find a balance.
