April 15, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 15 SCHOOLS & CAMPS Learning to manage time As all busy people understand, juggling multiple activities and obligations can be quite overwhelming, leaving most of us wishing there were a few more hours in the day. Children also have a lot on their plates: school, homework, extracurricular activities, family, friends, chores, and more. As a parent, you can help your child handle all his or her responsibilities without feeling stressed by instilling in him or her the vital skill of time management. Why is teaching your child to practice good time management so worthwhile? Quite simply, effective time management leads to success. Those who learn to manage their time effectively are able to reach their goals: big and small. They are less likely to procrastinate or cram, and are therefore less stressed. While time management is certainly important at a young age, it will become crucial in college when students have a greater amount of flexibility in their schedules. Here are a few tips: From an early age, encourage your child to create and follow a schedule and follow the same practices at home. For younger children, a simple hour-by-hour daily schedule may be useful for organizing each day into set obligations (school, homework, chores) and optional activities (TV, extracurricular activities, friend time). Hang a family calendar and mark it with all important family commitments, including school obligations and sports practices or games. For high school students, a day planner is an invaluable tool. Encourage your teen to record all assignments, upcoming tests, project deadlines, extracurricular commitments, and other tasks on a daily basis, and mark them off as they are completed. Life is full of many exciting opportunities, but whether your child wants to become an Olympic athlete or learn to play the guitar, he or she will need to apply self-discipline to achieve those dreams. Goal-setting and time management go hand in hand. Short-term goals may require more immediate planning, as in your child’s desire to create a scrapbook for a friend’s birthday. On the other hand, longterm goals may take months or years to accomplish, but still require regular effort. Take your child’s ambitions seriously by helping him or her break big goals down into smaller ones and assigning target completion dates to each one. A student who dreams of going to Harvard, for example, must take a number of smaller steps along the way. Teach your child to prioritize. Consider the following sample schedule: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. School 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Soccer practice 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. Walk home from school, snack 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. ? 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Dinner and chores 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ? 9:30 p.m. Bed This child’s schedule has approximately four and one half hours of available time for homework and other activities, but how will he or she spend it? Let’s say the child has a history test in two days, math homework due the next day, and a band concert in a week. Obviously the math homework should be first priority, followed by studying for the test. Remember that all children need some down time, but with their busy lives, it can’t hurt to plan ahead. In the above example, if the child wants to read or watch television in the 8:00 to 9:30 window, he or she should make sure to be efficient between 4 and 7. Help your child keep his or her schedule in mind when making plans with friends or joining a new club or team to avoid over-committing. Parents who want to teach their children to become good time managers must practice what they preach. Do your best to effectively manage your own schedule. Good time management skills will help your child achieve his or her goals, enjoy free time, avoid anxiety and stress, and most importantly, lead a productive life. Encourage these techniques early and your child will gain the most out of each day. This article was submitted by Dr. Raymond Huntington. Parents who want more information may call the local Huntington Learning Center at (201) 447-1200. Pinnacle Learning Center At the Ramapo Reformed Church Educational Building 109 West Ramapo Ave., Mahwah Conveniently located just off Route 17 #1 BASEBALL CAMP IN AMERICA Mahwah. Campers 7-17. Select one or more weeks June 22 thru Aug. 9. Overnight, Day Camp or Extended Day Camp. Major League Stars. College coaches. A/C dorm and campers lounge. Batting cages, indoor BASEBALL CAMPpool. All-you-can-eat meals. 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