Knowing the time, the first step
Friction and procrastination are common in children's daily lives, and many children always seem to be unable to make full use of their time and are inefficient. Professor Li Meijin, a child educator, proposed that an effective way to solve this problem is to let children learn to manage their time by themselves. First of all, let the child know that time is the key, starting with a simple clock, so that the child understands the passage of time and irretrievable. During the holidays, you can place clocks in various rooms of your home so that your child can see the time at any time and enhance the concept of time.
Steps to manage your time
For children to learn to manage time, they first need to understand the concept of time. Let your child learn about the difference between the hour and minute hands and how they can represent different times by looking at the clock face structure. The next step is to let your child realize the urgency of time and set a clear deadline for things, such as "I have to do my homework in ten minutes to play", so that my child knows that everything needs to be completed within a specific time.
However, plans can't keep up with changes, and overly detailed time plans are often difficult to stick to. It is advisable to ask your child to make a flexible plan on a weekly or daily basis, so that it is easier to adjust according to the actual situation. At the same time, it is necessary to make children realize that managing time is their own responsibility, and repeated urging will only make children gradually get used to avoiding and lose their sense of responsibility.
Involve your child in things at home, such as setting up the room, cooking dinner, packing up your belongings, etc., so that they feel a sense of accomplishment and value in the process. Gradually, children will crave more involvement in decision-making and management, which will also push them to manage their time better.
Increase efficiency and find motivation
The key to improving your child's time management efficiency is to teach them to manage their energy and concentration. Preschoolers and elementary school students can try using an hourglass timer to develop a sense of rules and focus. For example, set a 20-minute study time and a 5-minute break to help your child find a balance between study and rest to keep their brain functioning efficiently.
Allowing children to discover the benefits of time management on their own is a motivation for self-management. Through practice, children will experience the sense of accomplishment brought by high efficiency and the preciousness of free time, so that they are more willing to actively manage their own time. In this process, parents' words and deeds are crucial, and the way parents manage their own time will have a profound impact on their children.
The role of parents
Parents play an important role in educating their children about time management. The appropriate parenting style should be one in which parents both give guidance and avoid excessive intervention. Parents should let their children make their own study and life plans and become the masters of their time. At the same time, the role of parents as role models should not be ignored, and if parents themselves can manage their time with self-discipline, children will naturally imitate them.
It is also important to motivate children to take ownership of their time management and thus develop a sense of responsibility. For example, if your child is late in submitting homework, you can work with your child to analyze the reasons and make your child aware of the importance of time management.
Specific implementation details
In the process of learning time management, some auxiliary tools, such as timers, time logs, etc., can be used to help children perceive time more intuitively. At the same time, parents should avoid over-scheduling their children's time and give them some discretionary time so that they can learn to prioritize things on their own.
In the face of children's procrastination and friction, parents should teach their children to bear the consequences, such as missing time to play games because of friction, so that children can learn the importance of cherishing time. In addition, time management requires deliberate practice, and parents can guide their children to continue to practice in their daily lives, such as making simple schedules, homework plans, etc., to gradually improve their children's time management skills.