Back to School: Time Management

As the new school year kicks off, kids are juggling homework, extracurricular activities, and family time, among the many other responsibilities throughout their day. With so much going on, managing time efficiently is an essential skill for kids to achieve success at home, in school, and even in the future. Developing strong time management skills early can help students stay on top of their responsibilities, reduce stress, and make more time for what kids love most: fun! Here are three practical tips that kids can start practicing today to manage their time better:

 

Time Blocking

One of the easiest ways for students to improve their time management skills is by learning how to start time blocking. Time Blocking—or creating a daily schedule—helps kids manage time by developing a visual guideline of how their ideal day should go. Encourage kids to write down all their tasks for the day—schoolwork, activities, and even free time. Then, have them prioritize tasks in order of importance and urgency. Lastly, kids should place their responsibilities onto their daily schedule so they know when tasks must be completed. By organizing their tasks, they can visibly see what needs to be done and plan their day effectively and efficiently. It’s important to emphasize homework and studying, but also to block out short breaks to avoid burnout. Time blocking provides structure and ensures that nothing is forgotten!

 

Clear Goals

Kids can develop better time management by setting clear, achievable goals. Whether it’s completing homework before dinner or studying for a test by a certain date, goals give them a sense of direction. What’s more, students can use their time blocking skills to aid them in setting and reaching those goals! On their daily schedule, for example, homework may likely be listed as a task to complete before eating dinner, which means their goal is to complete their work before it’s time to eat. Start with small, realistic goals and build up from there. Learning to break larger projects or tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can help students feel less overwhelmed and keep them focused. Clear goals not only help with managing time, but also boost motivation and productivity.

 

Limit Distractions

Distractions can easily eat away at time, making it harder for students to focus and finish tasks efficiently. Kids can improve their time management by learning to limit distractions when it’s time to work. This could mean turning off the TV, setting aside mobile devices, or finding a quiet place to do productive work. Back to time blocking, each responsibility has a time limit for completion, so kids can learn to work more efficiently to meet those deadlines if distractions are removed. Parents can help by encouraging an environment that minimizes interruptions during study time. Learning how to stay focused and resist distractions is key to managing time effectively.

 

In Martial Arts

Martial arts training is a great way for kids to build better time management skills. In martial arts classes, students must arrive on time, follow a structured routine, and balance various techniques and drills within a set time frame. This disciplined environment teaches them to respect time, stay organized, and prioritize their efforts. Additionally, martial artists aspiring to achieve their esteemed black belt or next degree must block out time off the mats to practice and train the techniques they learn in class. Over time, martial arts training helps children develop the focus and self-control necessary to manage their schedules more effectively in other areas of their life.

 

Try it at Home!

One of the best ways to help any child work on important skills, such as time management, is to make it a fun game for the whole family to participate in at home! The following drill is a great way for kids to develop the necessary skills to start managing time more effectively, and transfer these skills into their daily life in the classroom this school year. Here’s how you can do it:

• Name of the drill: Race Against the Clock!

• What you need: Yourself (the parent), your child, and a stopwatch or other time tracking tool.

• How it’s done:

• • Start by thinking of a few simple exercise drills that your kid is able to complete. Some fun and easy workouts can include jumping jacks, sit ups, push ups, ABC taps, plank, and mountain climbers. For older kids, you can also add in more complicated drills like burpees or modified crunches.
  • Pick 3 or 4 of those activities, and assign an appropriate number or amount of time that your child should do with each exercise. For example: 20 jumping jacks, 10 push ups, and 5 burpees. Be sure to include a wide range of different quantities for each different drill.
  • Choose a time limit that your child will have to complete all of the exercises. When first starting out with this drill, be more liberal with how much time they will have, and gradually give them less and less time each repetition of this game.
  • List the activities you’ve selected for your child, and have them think about each drill.
  • Before they start working on them, have them prioritize and organize each activity in what they believe will be the most efficient order. Using the same 3 exercises from the example before, your child might organize them as follows: 5 burpees first, 10 push ups second, and lastly the 20 jumping jacks. Encourage your child to put longer or more strenuous tasks first to emphasize efficiency.
  • Finally, announce the start of the game, and have your child begin working on the exercises in the order they created. Use your stopwatch to track their time, and to make sure they stay within the given time limit.
  • For the best results, repeat this drill multiple times over the course of a couple days, weeks, or even months. Change up the drills each time, and give smaller time frames to complete them.

 

Practicing this fun drill with your child will surely help them understand the importance of prioritizing tasks, and meeting timelines to get them done; both crucial aspects of time management. Additionally, this drill will keep your child on top of their regular exercise routines. Try it out yourself, and see how these skills can aid your child as they get back into the swing of things this school year!

 

In Conclusion

Time management is an essential skill that can help kids succeed both in school and in life. By learning to time block, setting clear goals, and removing distractions, students can take charge of their time and accomplish more with less stress. As they continue to practice these skills, both in their academics and extracurricular activities like martial arts, they’ll gain a sense of confidence and control over their busy lives. With improved time management, kids can achieve their goals and still have time for fun!