quit wasting time

Quit lollygagging! What's taking so long? You've been doing homework for 2 hours, what's taking so long? Kids are known for wasting time. No one's born with great time management skills, they are learned. Here are 3 easy steps to help teach your child the fine art time management.



1. calendar skills/agenda
This sounds so basic, but unless you teach calendar skills, the days of the month are nothing more than little squares under a pretty calendar picture to your child. Post a family calendar on the fridge and have each member post important events--birthdays, dental visits, big homework assignments. This will start with you saying, You have a spelling test on Friday, come put it on the calendar, walking your child thru the process. Eventually, your child will begin to post events without your prompting, Mom, I'm going over to Susie's house on Friday, I'll put it on the calendar. Make sure to make a big deal out of those moments--this is the behavior you've been encouraging.

2. space out work, don't cram
This is the hardest skill. If a project isn't due for 2 weeks, why should I start working on it now? Sit down with your child and the calendar. Post the final due date and then work backwards. Perhaps 3 days prior to the due date you post a rough draft date, 3 days prior to that you post an outline date, 3 days prior to that you post complete readings, and so on. By spacing out, or chunking, the project, it will be completed in a relaxed, comfortable manner. Hint: Most of the time when teachers assign these longterm projects, they are looking for evidence time management skills.


3. raise expectations
There is truth in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Do you expect your child to dawdle? Are you waiting for the Hurry up! argument? We typically get what we are looking for. Change your pattern. Put structures in place to keep work moving in a timely manner. Expect homework to be completed by 8:00 (you set the time that best suits your family) and it will start to be completed sooner and sooner--give your child a chance to catch up to your new expectations. We all want to please (yes, even your grouchy teen wants to please!). Make sure you're aware of the expectations your child is trying to live up to.