By practising good timekeeping, your child can have a clear idea of which tasks need his or her attention and action and how to prioritise that list for optimal productivity. Your child will be able to accomplish tasks in shorter periods of time, which then allows him or her to complete more tasks or free up additional time for other activities. Here are 3 tips to get you started on helping your child practise efficient time management.

Help your child create order in academic and recreational pursuits by practising the habit of list-making. Jotting down lists is useful in getting the urgent and important things done well, and on time.

You could teach your child to first start listing tasks that need to be accomplished within a shorter timeline, followed by tasks with deadlines that are further away.

Additionally, you can introduce your child to the idea of compartmentalisation or sorting. For example, making a separate list for academic tasks and household chores gives your child an outline of ‘work’ time and fun time.

You may even find that your child enjoys making lists for these three reasons:

1. Lists dampen anxiety about the chaos of our daily lives.
2. Lists give us a structure; a plan that we can stick to.
3. Lists are proof of what we have achieved in a day, a week, or a month.

It is also helpful to assure your child that while accomplishing tasks on the list is a good discipline, the tasks are not set in stone. Having some flexibility is important as well — encourage your child to rearrange the to-do list if need be. What is more important is that the tasks are accomplished with the best of his or her efforts.
 

Teach your child how to do this by first asking the question: “What do I need for this task or activity?”

To help your child organise his or her thoughts, get your child in the habit of identifying the items necessary for each task. For instance:

• "If I want sleepover at a friend’s house, I need … (pyjamas, toothbrush, toys).”
• “If I want to grow a plant, I need … (soil, seeds, a plant pot).”
• “If I want to try painting, I need … (a canvas, paint, brushes).”

This mindset also translates to academic work.

For instance, revising for exams is best done days ahead of the exam period rather than cramming revision for the different subjects at the last minute. Having some control over the revision schedule can give your child a sense of ownership and motivation to stick to the plan.

Related Article: How to Prepare Your Child for an Upcoming Test

In a nutshell, planning ahead helps your child prepare for what’s up ahead and saves him or her the anxiety of sourcing items or carrying out the task only when the moment has already arrived.

Reduce Physical Clutter

Having a breathable space that is free of mess allows your child to organise his or her belongings and take out only what is useful at any given time.

For example, a straightened room lets your child see what resources he or she has and boosts productivity. 

This is especially important in helping your child create a study zone that promotes focus. Some children prefer working in silence while others focus better when listening to music. If your child is not completing his or her homework in an appropriate amount of time, you may want to re-examine and make adjustments to his or her working environment. 

Other attention grabbers such as digital distractions can also be reduced. Devices like mobile phones or tablets can be set aside until your child has finished working on his or her current task.

Manage Mental Clutter

Mental clutter can be reduced through mindfulness.

If your child struggles to focus on his or her studies, you can support the learning process by bringing your child back to the original aim of the task. You can also encourage your child to take a short break to clear his or her mind before coming back to the task on hand.

At The Learning Lab, we we build on our students’ confidence, positivity and individuality through classes that allow them to work, think and act independently.

By providing ample opportunities for our students to learn, explore and grow, we believe that, aside from just time management skills, they will gain many valuable life lessons that will equip them for the future.

Click here to find out more about the fun, interactive and relevant lessons that motivate and empower our students to think beyond the confines of the classroom.