Tips to teach time management to young children
As children begin preschool, time management becomes ever more essential. By empowering kids with the gift of time management, caregivers can set them up for success across their lifetimes. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool, shares some ways to help young children manage their time better.
For young kids, time is defined by the activities not by clocks. Therefore setting a routine helps them manage their time better. Here are a few ways to teach children time management:
-
Curate a calendar and stick to it
Children can learn about dates, time, and scheduling with the help of a calendar. The calendar can include a list of regular activities such as preparing for school, studying, playtime, storytime, dinner time, bedtime, and so on. It is advisable to divide the day into digestible chunks. Any expected changes on certain days or dates must be mentioned on the calendar. The calendar can be created with inputs from the children. They can suggest the activities they prefer on Saturday or Sunday and plan their day accordingly. It is crucial that everyone sticks to the calendar for consistency.
Gradually, parents can teach them to prioritize activities better and to allocate time to more important activities. Kids love routines and habits as this predictability provides a feeling of safety for children. This security creates space for the children to think creatively and build independence.
-
Time management can be fun
Time management is a challenge and a not-so-fun activity, even for adults. For children, it can be even more tedious and stressful. But it doesn't have to be so. With a little effort, acquiring time management skills can be fun. Creating a colorful and fun calendar could become a fun task in itself. Getting ready for school can be turned into a game of instruction such as “Simon says”. Time telling can also be converted into a game that will enable faster learning.
3. Teach them how to tell time
Young children cannot measure time and the concept is complicated for them since they are still learning their numbers. A timer can be used to time the completion of a task. Therefore activities can become gateways to subsequent activities. For instance, telling children that they can play with clay after they have finished their food is a good way to create a concept of time. Parents can teach the kids how long each minute lasts and the number of minutes in an hour. Slowly these concepts will be understood as the practice of telling time continues. The purpose is to give them some idea of what 10 minutes means when there is a need to finish a task next time. Buying them a basic watch and slowly teaching them to tell time is a good place to start as well.
4. Coach not manage
Time management is important but so is leisure and rest. Children need some downtime to just relax and engage in free play as well. They should not view their time management as a stress-inducing activity. Nagging children to get things done is a sure-shot recipe for power struggles. Instead, offer guidance and support and empower kids to make their own choices, good or bad, and let them learn from them. This also helps them take responsibility for their choices and acquire self-confidence.
Why Kids ‘R’ Kids?
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Circa Fishhawk stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded.
Call today at (813) 654-7000 to learn more about the Kids ‘R’ Kids or to schedule a visit.
