Time management for kids is a skill that can make life easier for parents! At a younger age, kids have a difficult time understanding the concept of time. Once they understand there are a time and space for most things – kids can become more independent.
Time management is an important life skill and implementing these skills early will help them develop good habits such as being punctual, independent and to get things done on time. My 9 year old uses an alarm clock to wake up on school days. She wakes up, gets ready and comes down for breakfast herself. One less person for me to help in the morning! I hope they will continue to learn the importance of timeliness, why it’s not ideal to procrastinate and to be more independent.
Here are 5 ways to implement time management for kids:
1. Clock/watch
When a child learns how to read numbers, it’s a good time to show them how to read a digital clock. It helps them understand the concept of time. Place a clock in their bedrooms so they understand there is a specific time they should be waking up and going to bed. Start with just getting them to recognize the first left digit. My 5 year old understands that he needs to go back to sleep if the clock does not read “7” in the mornings. This has helped minimize those early wake-up calls!
You can also teach about time for other activities such as meals, bath time, school and homework time.
2. Use a timer for activities
Use a timer to limit the time for certain activities such as the use of tablets, TV time, or meal times. It helps them be more productive in the time allotted for the activity. If you don’t have a separate timer device, use the timer on your oven.
3. Using a calendar
Give each child a personal calendar or mini planner. This will help them understand the days of the week and the concept of months. We helped our kids markdown special days of the year or upcoming activities such as birthdays, upcoming vacations, no school days and holidays. At the end of the day, you can let them cross off the day. As a parent, you may have your own calendar or planner and so take the time to show them yours.
4. Have a daily routine
Having a routine at home is important for them to manage their own days. Routine helps them know what activity is coming up next and thus there are fewer surprises. When we had implemented an evening routine for my family, it helped us get us through the evening smoothly. Kids were able to get to bed on time (most nights!) and we were able to get time to ourselves. This is what our even routine looks like:
Time | Activity |
6:30 pm | Finish dinner |
6:45 | Homework |
7:15 | Bath |
7:45 | Small snack |
8:00 | Bedtime for my 2 little ones, reading time for my eldest |
8:30 | Bedtime for my eldest |
8:30 | kitchen time (clean up, packing lunches, prepping supper for the next night) |
9:30 | ME TIME |
10:45 | Shower and bed |
5. Be a good role model as a parent
In order for kids to understand time management, parents need to show them that they are able to manage time well too. If parents are consistently showing up on time for events/activities and being able to calmly manage a routine at home – kids will see that it’s a normal thing to do. Monkey see monkey do – be a good time management role model!
It will take time and patience for kids to learn the concept of time and more importantly time management. Using a clock, timer, calendar, having a daily routine and being a good role model as a parent will all help kids learn good effective time management skills. It makes kids more independent at an early age and life can be easier for parents.
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What other tips do you have for time management for kids?
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I really like your post on how to teach time management to kids. It is important to instill this important discipline of time management at a very early age in children.
Great post, I think telling the time is something we take for granted as adults and it can be such a hard thing to grasp as a child so these tips would come in really handy!
Hannah | https://everydayfreebiesandmore.co.uk
Love this! Very eloquently put.