Back to School: Time to Manage your Time

As summer comes to a close and you adjust to your kids heading back to school, you might begin to realize that all the things you had to do and remember have suddenly tripled. The more kids you have, the more you have to do and remember. The days of only worrying if your kids are fed, clean, and safe throughout the summer has now turned into a full time micro-management job of making sure your kid does all his/her homework, studies for tests and quizzes, has enough school supplies, and keeps up with after school activities and other social engagements. For many moms, and dads, this overwhelming list of things to remember can be incredibly stressful and can negatively affect your time spent together.

Parents are responsible for molding and shaping their children into healthy, smart, productive members of society, and teaching your child the importance of time management can help them to learn the important lessons that adults learn often far too late in life. Teach your kids the vital lessons on how to better manage their time so that they can enjoy an easier, more stress-free life as adults.

Here are six stellar tips to help you get started:

1. Customized Learning – There are three different methods of learning you may remember from school. Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. Typical classrooms only utilize Auditory sensory stimulation in prepared lessons, with some using very few visual techniques. This can make learning especially difficult for children who process information differently. Finding out how your child learns best can ensure that they enjoy learning and retain more information. Encouraging your child to explore things can help them grow up healthier and happier.
2. Homework Hideout – The best way for your child to focus on the things they need to do, is to have a designated area for that task. This gives them a space that they can physically go in and out of, to help better prepare their mental state for homework. Whether they like total silence, or background music, a custom homework hideout can help your child focus without distractions from TV’s, gaming systems, toys, and other people.
3. Time Tools – The right tools can help your child balance work and free time without sacrificing the freedom to be a free-spirited and flexible child. In fact, learning flexibility is super important. Imagine if adults had no idea how to be flexible? Keeping calendars, planners, timers, and watches can teach kids how to write down and organize the things they need, and want to remember. Don’t just add homework due dates, study times, and test dates to the calendar. This will make it a dread-worthy concept that your child will most likely ignore, and it’s an unrealistic representation of your child’s time. By adding things they enjoy to their calendar, they can learn that it’s not a chore, but a useful life tool. Write down sleepovers, movie times, recreational activities and more with your kids to help them organize around the things they know they already want to do. This will help them keep the schedule they make for themselves, and learn the importance of balance. They will also be more aware and flexible knowing what time they have and how to rearrange things.
4. Teaching Self-Discipline – Nine times out of ten a child will ignore or resent a parent’s wishes simply because their rebellious instinct hasn’t taught them about the big picture yet. All they see is an angry mom and dad yelling about something they don’t want to do. Teaching them why things happen and need to happen can make a world of difference. When it comes to responsibility and education habits, it isn’t enough to drill into them that they have to “because I said so.” Show them why. Teach them the fun of learning new things, practical, real-world things, like sleep and nutrition. Two very important parts of staying alert and mentally vigilant. Teach them why it’s important for them to eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep.
5. Tech Tools – We’re officially well into the 21^st century. Everyone has multiple smart phones, smart TV’s, laptops, and more. If you want your child to be successful, they need to have the right tools for the job. You don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars for the latest top-brand model laptop, but I’m sure your kid would settle for a computer that doesn’t shut down and lose important documents and a printer that doesn’t jam. The more time they spend recovering lost files, rewriting assignments, and fixing broken equipment, the less time they have to spend with family and friends.
6. Lighten the Load – Kids have to carry a lot. Packed lunches, beverage bottles, extra clothes, books, binders, papers, tablets, computers, and a barrage of other smaller school supplies can quickly add up in weight. With an average of eight teachers all handing out papers, books, and more every day, your child might find themselves struggling under the literal pressure. Make sure they have a decent backpack, tote, or other bag for helping them carry and manage their essential supplies, and eliminate weight wherever possible by frequently reorganizing and consolidating items into pre-arranged storage areas where your child can easily access it without needing to always carry it around. Archiving things can help your child stay organized while keeping their head and shoulders high and pain free.

Teaching your child these important lessons early in life can help them transition easily into capable adults. However, it’s never too late to learn and apply these life-changing concepts. Even adults can benefit from a little more organization. Live a stress-free life, and set your child on the same path to success today.