Introduction
''Either run the day or the day runs you'' unknown
Time management is considered an important life skill for children to be successful in life. Imparting good time management skills to children will help organise their tasks and their environment better. They will also learn how to divide their time between various activities. How do we teach kids time management skills? Here are 5 ways to develop time management skills in children:
5 General Time Management Tools
Prioritization
''It's not enough to be busy, the question is what are we busy about?'' - Henry David Thoreau
Teach children how to identify the difference between ‘important’ and ‘urgent’. One of the key factors of pressure on performance is time management. That is why it is important that time management is both effective as well as efficient. How do we distinguish between what is ‘important’ and what is ‘urgent’?
Activities that are ‘important’ have an outcome. Usually these activities are goal-oriented activities. These goals could be academic, non-academic or health related.
Activities that are urgent require immediate attention. These activities are usually associated with someone else’s goals and have consequences if not attended to immediately.
''Productivity is never an accident. It's always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort'' - Paul J Meyer
When kids can recognise what’s urgent and what’s important, then it becomes easier for them to focus. It also helps them not get distracted, thereby preventing them from being in ‘firefighting’ positions often. It also helps kids avoid procrastination. By teaching kids these skills, they learn how to categorize their activities, plan ahead and delegate if possible.
RElated: https://www.learnercircle.in/post/how-can-parents-prepare-their-kids-for-the-future
Planner
Encouraging kids to use a planner to organise their tasks plays a significant role in managing time efficiently. Kids may use the calendar to update their assignments regularly. A planner or calendar is empowering and kids feel like they have control over their lives. Encourage them to have a To-Do list written down, this will aid clarity in thought and they will be able to prioritize effectively. A planner also facilitates having a checklist readily available, thereby helping the kids to make decisions faster.
''Time management is really a misnomer - the challenge is not to manage time, but manage ourselves. The key is not to prioritize what's on our schedule, but to schedule our priorities.'' - Stephen Covey
Assign a comfortable space
Ensuring that kids have a comfortable space to study or to pursue will make attending to a task easier. Parents may ensure that their workspace is free of distractions. It would also help to have a clock within visual range. A calendar in the workspace can also help to take one glance at the list of tasks achieved vs pending tasks.
The Pomodoro Technique
This technique was created by Francesco Cirillo. According to Cirillo recording how time is utilized improves effectiveness and planning. This technique became popular because of its ease of learning. To try out this technique, one needs to
· Pick one task to focus on
· A timer for 25-30 min can be set
· When the timer goes off, take a break
· Repeat
· A longer break can be taken after 4 sessions
· Each session can be marked off with a tick or X
This technique is good for kids who get distracted easily while working. It works for any kind of project or task. It is especially useful for repetitive tasks.
Be an early bird: Encouraging kids to start their day as early as possible gives them more time to complete a task. Some kids work better in the evenings, so therefore it is important to identify the best time to help them complete challenging tasks. Some might prefer to get up early while others may prefer to work during the day.
''Time management is life management'' - Robin Sharma
Why is time management important for students?
Effective time management enables students to finish more tasks in shorter periods of time. Efficient use of time also reduces stress, as students feel a certain sense of accomplishment ticking off items from their to-do list. When students achieve their goals, it gives them a sense of accomplishment. This enables them to stay engaged with learning, thereby giving them more time to pursue other activities such as sports, arts, languages or spending time with friends and family.
Learner Circle has online courses that are curated to encourage kids to prioritize work and be able to set aside time for other pursuits. We have a range of courses to improve futuristic skills like critical thinking, creativity, logical reasoning and problem-solving. Our tutors enable kids to pursue their dreams and use the benefits of our programs to become better leaders and citizens of the world. If you want to know more about our programs, please do sign up for a free demo.
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