Even though we’d like every child to be independent with managing time, not every learner may get there. At least not right away. Many adults continue to seek support and help to manage time effectively. There’s no reason to think that a differently-abled teen or young adult might need support also.
There’s a wide range of skills and abilities when it comes to time management.
While we’ve written this here before, it’s worth reiterating. Evidence supports that all individuals can make progress towards achieving executive functioning goals. Some individuals may need additional strategies and support to sustain success, especially when it comes to time management.
If your learner may need long-term strategies and supports, what’s the best place to start?
Surround Your Child with the Right Tools
Most adults use at least one tool to help manage their time. Collectively we spend thousands of dollars each year on planners, timers, and app-based systems to help us be more efficient and effective with our day. If you know your child may need long-term support to help manage weekly tasks, it’s best to start early on in identifying the right tools to help them succeed.
There are hundreds of different tools on the market right now geared towards teens and young adults with unique learning needs, including free options. Investigate and work with your child’s care team on low-tech tools like timers, a watch, a calendar, or a planner. Allow your child to choose the style or design, and then program it to fit their needs. If your child regularly uses a tablet or smartphone, investigate how you can use cloud-based time management tools or time management apps.
For a sample time management tool, download our easy-to-adapt, printable daily planner by entering your email below.
Stage the environment for success.
Along with providing your child with the best time management tools to succeed, surround your child with an environment that stages success. Some teens and young adults may be able to complete tasks independently, but may always need some support to identify the correct order and priorities. In that case, you may need to stage the environment your child lives in for better time management.
For example, if your child struggles to effectively manage time in the morning to arrive at school or work promptly, try staging the environment by storing required ‘gear’ near the door, so it’s easier to complete the routine. Arrange the items in order on a rack or shelves so your child can match their steps to the sequence of objects as they appear.
Whenever Possible, Use Visuals
Part of staging the environment may also include teaching your child to produce their own set of reminders. Creating task lists, checklists, visual timelines, and to-do lists are among the most effective long-term time management strategies. Have a visual timeline for your child of steps to complete a task. Create a checklist for each of the steps in one of their familiar routines. Show your child a visual of what a completed job should look like, so they have an idea of a finished product or end goal.
Some learners may need visuals created for them over the long term. Once built, though, they’re able to move along with tasks independently. Over time, some learners may be able to generate their lists and visual reminders without assistance. Every child is different, so it may take time to explore which strategies work the best.
Use your child’s interests to motivate.
Another long-term strategy to explore is building in your child’s interests into time management. We know that motivation and time management are closely tied to the success of teens and young adults. Finding ways to incorporate a child’s favorite leisure and recreational activities into teaching time management can be a way to connect the abstract concepts related to executive functioning in more concrete ways.
For example, if your child has challenges estimating how long a task should take or has challenges finishing less preferred jobs in a required time, arrange the task in the context of their favorite music. Let them know that they have one or two songs to finish the task. Or choose one song to listen to every time your child completes a particular activity, like ‘the getting ready song’ or the ‘homework prep song.’ When the song is up, your child has a clear signal to move on to the next item.
Does your child have a favorite sports figure, movie character, or celebrity they closely follow? Watch clips and videos online of how these figures use time management successfully. Talk with your child about how time management helps these characters be successful (score more points in a game, accomplish the goal of the plotline in a movie, etc.) and the consequences of what might happen if they don’t use time wisely (lose the game, not fulfill a mission, etc.)
You might also consider ways to build rewarding activities into teaching time management is another way to use your child’s preferred interests to motivate. Set up your child’s schedule so the natural consequence of effectively managing time is to have extra time to watch TV or YouTube, hang out with friends, or another favorite activity.
It’s okay to modify your expectations.
One final thing to consider about long-term strategies and supports for teaching time management skills is that it’s okay to allow your child to have additional time.
One of the downsides of heavily focusing on time management is that it can generate extra stress and anxiety for teens and young adults who always feel pressured to fit more into the day. For some tasks, it may instead be better for us to modify our expectations of how long a chore should take.
If your child takes 15 minutes to complete independently his or her morning routine instead of 10 minutes, but it’s independent and successful every time, is that so bad? Maybe it takes your child 30 minutes longer every day to finish homework than siblings or peers. But if those extra 30 minutes come without challenging behaviors and frustrating, why not just budget that time in your family’s schedule?
The point is when it comes to time management, it may be a better strategy to start slow and build up success. It may not happen overnight, but as long as your child continues to make progress, celebrate those successes.
Further Reading
- 18 Best Time Management Apps and Tools for 2020
- Basila, C. (2014). Good time management and motivation level predict student academic success in college online courses. International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning (IJCBPL), 4(3), 45-52.
- Manganello, R. E. (1994). Time management instruction for older students with learning disabilities. Teaching Exceptional Children, 26(2), 60-62.
- UCONN – Center for Students with Disabilities List of Organization/Time-Based Apps