Five Time Management Tips for Homeschool

Time management tips for homeschooling are crucial to keep your time, teachings, and tolerance in check. Follow the tips below to keep you and your children happy during the school year.

1. Teach your child/ren exactly what time management is. This does not have to be during just the school day, but even during mundane tasks, such as brushing their teeth before bed, the chores they do, or the time they have prior to going to soccer practice. This may be the most time consuming time management tip but, practice what you preach!
2. While teaching what time management is, have the kids write down how long it takes to complete a task. (Make sure you mark it down as well!) Take a whole week to keep track of the same or similar tasks so you can average out the right amount of time you expect to do it the following week.
3. I find the best time management tip to be use a planner. Use a store bought one, download your favorite template offline, use your smartphone, or write things on a chalkboard. Whichever sort of planner fits in your life style! Also, remember to use said planner!
4. Children are sticklers for routine. Use visual time management tips and clues and use them on a daily basis at or around the same time. The younger a kid is, the more abstract time is to them. Use a magnet on a chalkboard and slowly move it across to a finish line as you teach a lesson. Color code a clock into sections with a washable marker and set each section for a subject or lesson for the day.
5. If you take anything from these time management tips, I suggest this one: Set boundaries. Restrict and/or get rid of distractions during the school day. Turn off the house phone, unplug the TV, place temptations out of sight, and ask friends and family not to call or stop by during school hours. But don’t forget to leave wiggle room, things happen unexpectedly sometimes!