10 Tips for Teaching Your Child or Teen Time Management Skills

Effective time management is essential for success in the workplace, in school, and in life in general. You must effectively manage your time and plan how to spend it if you want to finish tasks within the required time. We frequently start learning time management techniques in our teens.

Finding time for all our commitments can be difficult as we add extracurricular activities to our school commitments, build social relationships, and navigate various responsibilities.

Nearly half of high school students experience daily stress. This reality can be concerning. One contributing factor is the difficulty of balancing multiple activities simultaneously. Fortunately, teaching time management skills to your children and teens can be as easy as following these tips:

10 Tips for Teaching Your Child or Teen Time Management Skills

1. Encourage Them to Develop a Routine

Maintaining a routine that they are accustomed to increases their self-assurance and security. A regular schedule gives children in these age groups a sense of control over their day and helps them anticipate daily events. As a result, having a routine can assist kids and teenagers in being more focused, organized, and productive.

Teenagers particularly gain from having a comparatively regular daily schedule. They may initially find it challenging to follow a daily routine because they are used to much freedom. However, the following tips can help them:

1.1. Start Small

It’s not advisable to drastically change a teenager’s schedule simultaneously. Instead, gradually introduce one or two activities each week. This approach reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed and helps them adapt to the new schedule.

1.2. Be Flexible

Teenagers must be flexible because life sometimes goes differently than planned. For example, they may require additional sleep the day after a demanding academic work schedule, even if it means staying up late.

1.3. Make It Fun

Teenagers are likelier to stick to a routine with enjoyable elements. Incorporate their hobbies and interests into their schedule to make it engaging and fun.

1.4. Allow Them to Contribute to Creating Their Routine

Give your teenage child a voice in how their routine is created. By doing so, you support their dedication and might inspire them to come up with creative solutions that enhance a great routine.

1.5. Stay Positive and Supportive

Be encouraging and supportive to your adolescent when they struggle to stick to their schedule. Avoid pressuring or criticizing them. Instead, gently remind them of what needs to be done and offer assistance with household tasks while they focus on other activities they find challenging within their new routine.

Additional Helpful Tips

• Simplify your teen's daily routine by breaking it down into smaller tasks. This helps reduce overwhelm and makes it more manageable.
• Provide a written schedule or a checklist that your teenager can refer to and use.
• Use positive reinforcement to encourage your teenager’s commitment to their routine.
• Be understanding and patient; everyone needs time to get used to a new daily routine.

Examples of Activities Your Teenager Can Benefit From

• Morning Routine: Includes waking up at the same time daily, dressing appropriately, having breakfast, packing their school bag, and perhaps preparing lunch to take to school.
• After-School Routine: Allocate time for homework, take breaks, engage in specific physical activities, and prepare for bedtime.
• Weekend Routine: Includes household chores, socializing with friends, and relaxation.

Remember that these are just examples; you should customize the routine to your teenager’s interests and needs. The ultimate goal is establishing a consistent routine and help them stay committed. Through participation in extracurricular activities like school sports, music classes, or clubs, your teenager can learn valuable time management skills and commitment beyond what you can teach them.

2. Make Sure They Learn Task Writing Skills

Few things reduce stress, like transforming our thoughts into a written task list. This practice is essential for teenagers starting high school, regardless of whether they keep a paper list or use a digital one on a tablet or laptop.

Teens are encouraged to write down everything that comes to mind and organize them into a written to-do list. This lessens the mental strain involved in planning. Also, teens are encouraged to complete more work when they see their tasks marked as completed on the list. Additionally, it gives them the confidence they need to take on harder assignments down the road.

3. Identify Barriers and Help Them Overcome Them

Here are some common difficulties faced by teenagers:

3.1. Distraction Sources

These often include social media and digital devices (especially smartphones and computers). You can assist your child or teenager in dealing with these challenges using the following tips:

• Suggest taking breaks during study sessions. Breaking up study time into shorter periods with brief rests can enhance productivity.
• Recommend using apps that block distracting applications and games on computers or smartphones.
• Propose using white noise or calming music to reduce background noise.
• Encourage them to keep their smartphones away from their study area. Designate a separate spot for all family members’ phones.
• Create a learning environment that accommodates their preferred learning style. For example, visual learners may benefit from using sticky notes and other visual aids, while social learners might prefer group work. Regardless, teenagers need to learn how to adapt their preferred style to follow instructions, equipping them for the workforce once their education is finished.

3.2. Overcommitment and Over-scheduling

Teenagers sometimes agree to everything asked of them without considering the time required for each task. Here are some tips to help your teenage child avoid this pitfall:

• Teach them how to decline tasks or activities that exceed their capacity.
• Create a weekly schedule, review it daily, and build a daily task list based on it.
• Prioritize tasks: Introduce your teenager to techniques like the “Eisenhower Matrix” to prioritize tasks.
• Set aside time for recreation and make sure they stick to it.
• Leverage apps that send notifications or reminders. These tools make it easier to stay on track, allowing them to focus on more critical matters without worrying about forgetting essential tasks.
• Help them estimate task duration realistically. We frequently need to pay more attention to how long tasks will take, which causes stress and delays in completing assignments. Learning time management skills will benefit your teenager, and you can help them with this by using apps like "Llama Life" or the Pomodoro Technique.

3.3. Procrastination

Getting started is often the most challenging part of adhering to a new schedule or routine. The biggest obstacle we face is procrastination. It leads to stress and results in missed deadlines and wasted time. However, you can break this habit by following these tips:

• Ensure that your teen understands why it’s hard to start. Everybody has a different reason. It could be due to the teenager's belief that the task is difficult, fear of failure, lack of self-confidence, or anxiety.
• Break down large tasks into smaller ones. This approach makes the teenager feel more capable of managing important tasks.
• Teach your teen to approach tasks differently: First, tackle the most challenging tasks. If your teen completes these tasks early, it's less likely that they'll postpone other tasks. The second strategy is to start with easier tasks. As a result, they will feel more confident and capable of completing more challenging tasks.
• Use positive reinforcement. Consider allowing your teen to do something they love after completing a task. It could be hanging out with friends, playing video games, or even buying a nice book or new clothes at the end of the month.
• Set a fake final deadline. This approach encourages the teenager to finish work before the actual deadline, avoiding procrastination.

4. Identify Your Teen’s Peak Productivity Times

Some people are most productive in the early morning, while others hit their peak later in the day, at night, or even right before bedtime. Whether your teen prefers working in the early morning or not, it's a fact that early risers tend to accomplish more work in less time, leading to better lives for themselves. Clarify this truth for your teen and encourage them to find real-life examples that support it.

Most professions and tasks require early wake-up times. Therefore, explain to your teen that waking up early enhances their chances of success until they reach a certain level of financial security and experience that enables them to work on a different schedule if they desire.

Help your teen identify their peak productivity time and learn how to leverage it to their advantage. You can do this by asking questions—for example, inquiring when they feel most focused and perform at their best. Alternatively, track their productivity over time if you cannot directly ask them.

Productivity tracking apps can help measure progress during or after completing tasks. If you already know their productive peak time, create a suitable schedule for them based on that. For example, you can schedule essential tasks during their peak productivity period, while less critical tasks can be scheduled when their productivity dips throughout the day.

5. Learn Them to Seek Help When Needed

It’s common for children and teenagers to overestimate their memory capacity. Consequently, they may avoid writing down everything they learn in school.

Get your child's classmates' names and phone numbers so they can communicate with them if they have any questions or are absent from school. Some students directly contact teachers to ensure they understand lesson content or homework requirements. Encourage your child or teenager to seek support and accountability from external sources, enhancing their focus and academic success. Avoid scolding your child when they need assistance; teach them to ask for help appropriately when necessary.

6. Avoid Excessive Reminders and Pressure on Your Teenager Regarding Responsibilities

While it’s normal to remind your teenager frequently about household or school responsibilities, doing so can weaken their sense of responsibility. Instead, set clear expectations and impose appropriate consequences when needed.

7. Teach Your Teenager the Importance of an Organized Environment

Disorganization is a common problem among teenagers, which is normal for their developmental stage. However, organizing skills training can help them in their daily activities.

Here are some tips to help your teenager organize their study space:

• Help them organize their possessions.
• Motivate them to designate distinct spaces for various items.
• Label shelves and drawers for different categories.
• Remind them to return items to their proper places after use.

8. Allow Them to Play

While we don't recommend ignoring the risks associated with excessive video game play, this harmful habit can lead to anxiety, sleep disturbances, and obesity in children and teenagers. Additionally, there's a risk with games that incite aggression and other violent emotions. However, children learn through play, which means harnessing its benefits with appropriate games is possible.

Some games encourage physical activity, critical thinking, and social skills. Educational and intelligence-based games can enhance players' cognitive abilities. Therefore, set some boundaries at home instead of outright banning your child from playing video games. Specify a time during which your child is allowed to play. Also, you can check whether a game is suitable before purchasing it—either by asking your child or reading online reviews.

Moreover, you can make video games a family-friendly activity. Designate a night for playing video games with all family members. However, motivating children shouldn't be limited to a specific routine related to video games. Therefore, you can make any school assignment into a game that a child can progress through to the hardest level.

9. Keep a Family Calendar Handy for Important Dates

Sharing a physical or digital calendar with family members enhances their sense of responsibility. Children and teenagers can benefit from reminders about upcoming events, whether from parents, siblings, or caregivers. Time management can even become enjoyable when they mark completed tasks on a wall calendar instead of a digital one.

10. Teach Your Teenage Child to Prepare a Weekly Schedule Ahead

Despite all the planning and willpower, things can still go awry. Prepare for surprises by teaching your teenager to allocate weekly time to prepare for the next one.

They can do this through pre-planning and addressing any remaining tasks from the previous week during weekends. Regardless of the situation, encourage your child to allocate time for organizing their affairs and identifying what needs to be accomplished in the following week.

It can be difficult for kids and teens to stay organized and on track. However, they will feel more confident, have less stress, and do better in school if they adopt these 10 time management techniques. As a parent, you’ll ultimately benefit, too, as you won’t need to remind your child or teenager about time management once they possess this skill and enjoy its benefits.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the benefits of teaching time management skills to kids and teens?

Kids and teens can benefit from time management skills in many ways, including:

• Enhancing productivity and organization skills.
• Not missing deadlines.
• Eliminating stress and procrastination.
• Learning goal-setting and the ability to achieve those goals.
• Efficiently investing their time.
• Enjoying more leisure time.

2. How can you start teaching time management skills to your child or teenager?

Here are some tips to help you with that:

2.1. Start Early

Begin teaching this skill as soon as possible. Remember that you can teach children task lists and goal-setting skills.

2.2. Be a Role Model

Children and teenagers copy adults' behavior. Therefore, manage your time efficiently to set an example for your child.

2.3. Teach Them Task-Division

Teens and children can feel overwhelmed by large tasks. So, help your child learn how to break down big tasks into smaller, manageable ones.

2.4. Set Realistic Expectations

Don’t expect your teenage child to master time management overnight. Gradually increase the goals' difficulty as they learn and apply the skills.

2.5. Be Patient and Supportive

Learning this skill takes time and practice, so be patient and supportive during your child’s learning process.

3. What are the best time management techniques that children or teenagers can learn?

Effective techniques include:

3.1. Creating a Daily Schedule

This helps your child know in advance what tasks they need to handle and when to complete them.

3.2. Using Task Lists

Tracking progress helps your child stay organized.

3.3. Setting Deadlines

This improves their ability to manage tasks and prioritize.

3.4. Taking Breaks

Encourage your teenager to take breaks to avoid burnout.

3.5. Avoiding Distractions

Encourage them to turn off electronic devices like phones, computers, and tablets and find a quiet place while studying

3.6. Saying No to Non-Priorities

Encourage them to decline requests that would consume too much time and interfere with their priorities.

4. What are some common mistakes that parents make when teaching time management skills?

4.1. Expecting Too Much Too Soon

Learning effective time management takes effort and time. Be patient and avoid expecting miraculous results very soon.

4.2. Excessive Criticism

Overly critical feedback can discourage your child. Therefore, focus on motivation and positive reinforcement instead.

4.3. Being Pushy

Nagging won’t make your child cooperate. So, offer support or assistance when needed.

4.4. Not Setting a Good Example

If you lack time management skills, your child is unlikely to learn them. Be a role model by managing your time effectively.

In Conclusion

We tend not to forget what we learn early, especially when we learn it correctly and directly experience its benefits. Therefore, use these tips to teach your child or teenager time management skills; success will be their ally in academics and professional life.