Begin by tracking how time is currently spent over several days. Create a simple time log dividing each day into one-hour blocks. Record what you do during each hour - school, homework, meals, activities, screen time, free play, sleep, and other activities. Be honest and specific. After tracking for three to five days, analyze the patterns together. How much time goes to different activities? Are you surprised by anything? Do you have enough time for schoolwork, sleep, activities you enjoy, and family time? Is significant time going to activities that are not particularly important or enjoyable? This awareness is the foundation for better time management - you cannot manage what you do not measure or understand. Discuss the concept of time as a limited resource - everyone gets the same 24 hours each day, and choices about how to spend time matter significantly. Help your child see that time management is not about cramming more into each day but about consciously choosing how to spend time on things that matter.

Based on time tracking insights, identify what you want to change or accomplish with better time management. Set specific goals - these might include completing homework without last-minute stress, having more time for hobbies or play, getting to bed on time consistently, reducing screen time, or balancing multiple activities without overwhelm. Write goals down clearly. Then identify priorities - what matters most in your life right now? Academic success, family time, specific activities or interests, friendships, health habits like sleep and exercise? Priorities help with decision-making when time is limited. Not everything can be a top priority - discuss the need to choose what matters most while acknowledging that other good things may get less time. Create a simple priority ranking - if you had to choose between homework and video games, which comes first? Between sleep and scrolling social media? Between organized activities and free play time? Having clear priorities removes the need to make these decisions repeatedly in the moment, reducing decision fatigue and conflict.

Establish a planning system appropriate for your child's age and needs. This might be a simple paper planner, a wall calendar, a digital calendar or planning app, or a combination. The system should capture commitments and deadlines - school assignments, activities, appointments, family events. It should include both scheduled time blocks and a task list of things to do. Practice using the planning system daily. Each evening or morning, review the plan for the day or week ahead. What needs to happen today? When will each activity occur? What tasks must be completed? Identify potential time conflicts or crunches before they become problems. Use the plan to allocate time intentionally - this hour for homework, this block for free time, this time for family dinner. Build in buffer time and transitions rather than scheduling every minute tightly. Include not just obligations but also valued activities like play time, exercise, or hobbies so they actually happen rather than getting squeezed out. Review and update the plan regularly as new commitments arise or circumstances change. The planning system is a tool to support your child, not a rigid constraint that adds stress.

Learn and practice specific time management strategies. Break large tasks into smaller steps that feel manageable - instead of write book report, list: choose book, read book, take notes, write outline, draft introduction, and so on. Use time blocking to allocate specific hours to specific activities rather than just having an undifferentiated to-do list. Employ the two-minute rule - if something takes less than two minutes, do it immediately rather than adding it to a list. Practice the Pomodoro Technique for focused work - work for 25 minutes with full focus, then take a 5-minute break. Learn to estimate how long tasks actually take rather than chronically underestimating and running out of time. Build in buffer time for unexpected delays or tasks taking longer than expected. Minimize multitasking, which reduces efficiency and quality - do one thing at a time with focus. Identify and limit time wasters - activities that consume time without providing value or enjoyment. Learn to say no to commitments when schedule is full rather than overcommitting. Regularly review and adjust these techniques based on what works for your particular child.

After practicing time management strategies for several weeks, reflect on progress toward initial goals. Compare current time use to earlier time tracking - what has improved? Are you accomplishing goals more consistently? Feeling less stressed or overwhelmed? Having more time for valued activities? Getting enough sleep? Celebrate specific successes and improvements, even if they are small. Identify remaining challenges and problem-solve together about strategies to address them. Discuss how time management is an ongoing practice, not a one-time lesson. Needs change as life circumstances change - different school years, new activities, developmental changes all require adjusting time management approaches. Commit to maintaining planning systems and techniques that work while remaining flexible and willing to adapt. Periodically repeat time tracking to assess whether time is being used in alignment with priorities and to identify new issues to address. Help your child understand that time management is a valuable life skill they will use throughout school, career, and personal life. Effective time management reduces stress, increases accomplishment, creates space for what matters, and builds a sense of control and competence.