Of all the things we are taught as children, we are not taught to manage ourselves. This is so unfortunate. If we were taught how to set goals, prioritize tasks and manage our time, those habits would be instilled in us and a part of who we are by the time we reach adulthood and they would stay with us beyond that time.
In today’s faced-paced society adults are wearing a number of different hats, moving at warp speed and experiencing information overload, and the same thing is happening to our children. They are just as busy as we are. Students are more time crunched than ever, so it’s more important to have a system to deal with it all.
We teach our children so many things-from how to play games and ride a bike to family tradition and culture, but we’re not teaching them how to organize and manage themselves. Effective organizing can lead to success in school. Missing assignments, losing supplies and forgotten homework are all results of poor organizing habits. Replace them with healthier habits and you set your child up for success in school and beyond. To do so, you have to instill good time and self management skills, set up space and systems for your child and yourself in your home, and give them the physical tools to support them.
To start the process, look at how your young person is spending their time. What else is going on while they are studying or doing homework? Are they sending instant messages via the computer or mobile phone? Is there music playing? These things as well as others contribute to them wasting time and, of course, taking longer to get their work done. Sit with your child and create rules around homework. For example, no instant messaging or phone calls while engaged in completing homework, unless it is directly related to the homework. Set specific daily times for studying and completing homework assignments. Make a trip to your nearest office supply and have your child choose a planner and implement its use. It’s important to choose one that fits their time management personality, which determines whether a paper or electronic tool is appropriate. They should get into the habit of using their planner daily and remember to set a time each week to plan for the upcoming week. Plan with them initially; after that, let them do it themselves with your observation.
To continue the process, look to see what other habits you see that may contribute to incomplete homework assignments, lost items and the like. Maybe things are lost because they don’t have a designated place to be. Assign a place for everything and help your child develop the habit of putting things back where they belong.
Is there a designated space for studying and is it adequate? The space designated for studying should be comfortable, be equipped with the necessary supplies and be well lit. If something is missing, make the necessary adjustments and be sure to enforce the rules that you established.
These tips will assist with time management, developing new habits and setting up your space to get you started. Getting things in place at the beginning of the school year is a great step that makes way for a school year that works for your young person and for you.