Time is one of the most precious resources we have, and teaching children to manage it well can significantly impact their success. As parents, we play a vital role in equipping our children with effective time management skills that can reduce stress, improve productivity, and help them achieve their goals. This article provides practical strategies and tips to help your child develop this essential life skill.
Four Strategies to Build Time Management Skills
1. The Pareto Principle: Focus on What Matters Most
Teach your child the 80:20 rule, which suggests that focusing on the top 20% of tasks will yield 80% of the results. For instance, at the start of the school year, prioritising setting up a homework routine or organising their study space will lay a strong foundation for academic success. Encourage them to identify the key tasks that will have the greatest impact and channel their efforts accordingly.
2. Kanban Board: Visualise and Track Tasks
Help your child create a simple Kanban board to organise their tasks visually. This board has three columns: To Do, Doing, and Done. For example:
- Step 1: List all tasks in the “To Do” column, such as completing an assignment or preparing for a test.
- Step 2: Move a task to the “Doing” column when they start working on it.
- Step 3: Once completed, move it to the “Done” column.
This tool makes task management fun and interactive while teaching your child to prioritise effectively.
3. The Pomodoro Technique: Focused Work Sessions
Introduce your child to the Pomodoro Technique, where they work on a task for 25 minutes without interruptions, followed by a 5-minute break.
- Tips for success:
- Keep distractions like phones and tablets out of reach.
- Create a quiet space where they can focus.
- Encourage regular breaks to recharge.
This method helps children concentrate better and accomplish more in less time.
4. Urgent-Important Prioritisation Matrix
Teach your child to categorise tasks based on urgency and importance. At the start of each week or day, create a to-do list and classify tasks into:
- Urgent and Important: Tasks requiring immediate attention.
- Important but Not Urgent: Tasks to schedule for later.
- Urgent but Not Important: Delegate or handle quickly.
- Neither Urgent nor Important: Eliminate or deprioritise.
This approach ensures your child remains organised and proactive.
Additional Tips to Support Time Management
- Encourage Self-Correction and Peer Learning: Let your child review their own work or exchange assignments with friends for feedback. This builds accountability and fosters a collaborative spirit.
- Leverage Available Resources: Direct your child to educational tools and templates instead of creating everything from scratch, saving valuable time.
- Delegate Tasks: Assign responsibilities like planning family schedules or organising study groups. It teaches them planning and execution skills.
- Use Technology: Introduce apps or tools for tracking tasks, setting reminders, or analysing progress. This helps automate repetitive processes.
- Prioritise Well-Being: Ensure your child takes time for hobbies and relaxation. A refreshed mind performs better and stays focused longer.
Supporting Your Child’s Growth
The best schools in Bangalore integrate life skills like time management into their curriculum to nurture well-rounded individuals. By implementing these strategies, you can mirror these efforts at home, helping your child thrive academically and personally.
Encourage your child to explore, practise, and refine these techniques, ensuring they develop habits that set them up for success in school and beyond. Time management is not just a skill for now—it’s a lifelong tool that will help them lead a balanced and fulfilling life.
– Ahlada Sudersan, Head of Professional Development Institute, Ekya Schools & CMR K-12