Time Management Skills for Children
How our kids learn to spend their time now influences how they may spend their time as adults.
Manage Your Time
There is one equalizer in this life: We are all given the same 24 hours each and every day.
As parents we are painfully aware of how quickly time passes. How our kids learn to spend their time now influences how they spend their time in school and, later, how they may spend their time as adults.
The word manager comes from the Latin manus, which means “by hand.” You do it yourself. Time doesn’t rule you; you rule time! Consider the areas in which you can improve as a time manager.
- Have you taken the time to set your priorities as a couple? As a family?
- Do you feel in a rush much of the time?
- Do you spend more time in the car shuffling children from activity to activity than you do at home?
- Does your spouse think his or her needs are being met?
- Do you say yes to requests before you’ve taken the necessary time to consider their impact?
- Do you frequently miss deadlines or get them extended?
- Do you find yourself spending less and less time just relaxing with your children?
- Are you overwhelmed by the daily tasks of maintaining your home?
- Are you willing to make the changes necessary to restore balance in your life?
Assess Yourself
What children believe to be true about themselves is largely determined by what others think of them. As parents, we are the first “others” to shape their thinking. If we say they are capable, they believe they are capable. If we say they are “stupid,” they believe they are stupid.
It isn’t until children reach the logic stage of their development (somewhere around the fifth grade) that they are finally able to identify their own feelings. We can build on that ability by asking them to put words to what they are feeling. Are they frustrated? Are they angry? Are they confused? Once a child can accurately identify his feelings, he is ready to move on to becoming a self-assessor.
Take the time to engage in your own self-reflection. Use the rating scale to determine where you are as a self-assessor.
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| never | frequently |
- I realistically assess my strengths and weaknesses.
- I am aware of my personal learning style.
- I regularly evaluate how well or how poorly I’ve done something.
- I readily identify obstacles.
- I desire to improve my character, my relationships with others and my performance on certain tasks.
- I am willing to re-evaluate my current state to see if I am progressing in the desired areas of my life.
Activity
Create a Portfolio of Learning
One of the most best ways for schoolchildren to become confident self-assessors is to evaluate their own schoolwork. This activity ideally involves the entire family, but the child receives the primary benefit.
You will need:
- Three-ring binder
- Dividers
- Your child’s schoolwork
Divide the binder by subject area. If you choose a binder with a front-cover sleeve, have your child design a cover and slip it in.
Every Friday go through any schoolwork your child brought home for the week and place it in the appropriate subject areas. As you sort through the papers, talk about some of the assignments and what your child learned from it. Also ask your child how he or she can improve in a particular area.
Choose a time to have your child present the portfolio to the entire family. It can be done as often as once a quarter or just at the end of the school year.
When your child shares his portfolio with the family, ensure that it is a safe environment. Give him your full attention. Do not let siblings tease him; it will be their turn soon enough! Maybe prepare a special dessert or go out to a favorite restaurant afterward. If you are doing this with more than one child, let each child have his own night.
Done regularly, creating and sharing a portfolio of learning has several results:
- Shows your child that you value education.
- Shows your child that you are interested in her educational experience.
- Gets you involved on a level you may not have been before. You are now aware of where your child stands and what he is learning daily.
- As your child improves, it provides him with a sense of purpose and pride.
- Helps your child see where her strengths and weaknesses are and motivates her to improve.
Keep your children’s portfolios from year to year. They are fun to look back on as your kids get older. You will have a record of their schooling, and your child will have a record of his learning.
This article is excerpted from Vicki's book Giving Your Child the Excellence Edge, available in the Resource Center.