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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

How to Teach Your Child Time Management

    Life is complicated. Children have more homework, scheduled activities and many different commitments and distractions. Parents also have busy schedules. However, in order for a household to thrive and function smoothly, a family needs to work together in managing their time.


    Since most children are not born organized, a parent must teach children time management skills. Read on to learn how to teach your child the art of scheduling and multi-tasking.
Instructions
1• 
 Be a role model. Unorganized, chaotic parents usually have unorganized, chaotic children. Make a schedule for personal tasks and stick to it. Demonstrate with your behavior, how a child can be a successful time manager.
•  2 
Develop routines as a family. Hold a family meeting to discuss chores and activities. Allow input from all family members on chores and activities that will be a part of the family routine. Determine rewards that will be given when each family member completes tasks. And, decide what consequences occur when someone does not fulfill his responsibility.
•  3 
Make routines and chore charts for each member of the family. For parents and older children, a list of chores should be enough. For a younger child, provide a sticker chart to motivate and give visual cues to complete tasks. For children too young to read, pictures and colors can represent tasks.
All charts should be in the same place so the family can meet and see each other progress easily. Involving everyone will boost morale and support among family members.
•  4 
Provide a child with the necessary tools she needs to succeed. Alarm clocks, wrist watches and personal calendars may be used with an older child. For a younger child, parental reminders and charts will help her to focus on necessary activities. Remember, positive encouragement and helpful (but kind) feedback goes a long way for any member of the family.
•  5 
Be consistent. If a child does not practice time management on a regular basis, he will likely struggle with it. By keeping lines of communication open, acting as a role model and providing tools to succeed, the process of teaching time management will become easier.

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