Helping Kids With Time Management

If you are like most parents, you are probably tired of asking your kid to brush their teeth for the 30th time or to complete their homework before the due date. Kids struggle with managing their time because time management isn’t something kids are born knowing how to do. It’s a skill just like learning to ride a bike or tie shoelace and it takes time, guidance, and practice to develop. So how do we help young children begin building time awareness and structure in a way that doesn’t feel stressful or overwhelming? Here are some strategies that may help your kid manage their time better:

• Create a Visual Routine- Children thrive on structure and predictability, but they can’t always remember what’s next or how long something takes. That’s where visual schedules come in. A visual routine is simply a daily schedule made with pictures and simple words that represent each part of the child’s day (like waking up, brushing teeth, school, snack, playtime, bedtime, etc.). These schedules help reduce confusion, transitions, and power struggles. Making a schedule can be a fun project that you do together. Let your child color, add stickers, or pick out the images. When kids feel ownership over their routine, they’re more invested in following it. Post it somewhere visible, like the fridge or their bedroom door, and refer to it regularly. 

  
  

• Use Timers to Teach Time Awareness- One of the biggest challenges young kids face is understanding how long things take. "Five more minutes" is an abstract idea unless they can see or feel it. Using visual or auditory timers can help children develop a sense of time. For example:

  
  

o   Use a sand timer during teeth brushing or clean-up time.

o   Try a visual countdown timer app which can show time slowly disappearing.

o   Play “beat the clock” games: “Let’s see if you can put your pajamas on before the timer runs out!”

Timers aren’t just about speed, they help kids develop internal pacing and focus. Eventually, the goal is for them to manage time independently, but in the beginning, the external structure makes a big difference.

• Break Big Tasks into Bite-Sized Steps - Ever told a 6-year-old to “clean your room” and then walked back in to find them playing with a sock on their head? That’s because multi-step tasks can feel overwhelming without clear guidance. Instead of giving one big instruction, chunk it into small, manageable pieces. Try:

  
  

o   “First, pick up the stuffed animals.”

o   “Then, put your books on the shelf.”

o   “Last, put the dirty clothes in the hamper.”

Breaking tasks down also helps build executive functioning skills, including planning, sequencing, and organization.

• Talk About Time—A Lot - Time is a concept we often take for granted, but it’s not always intuitive to children. The more we talk about time in natural, everyday ways, the more kids start to understand it. Try weaving time talk into your daily routines. This might look like:

  
  

o   “We’re leaving in 10 minutes. That’s how long it takes to eat a snack.”

o   “You’ll have 30 minutes of screen time, that’s about one episode of your show.”

o   “Brushing teeth takes two minutes, let’s play a song while you do it!”

Kids will begin to associate time with events, routines, and transitions. Over time, this helps them anticipate what’s coming and plan their behavior accordingly.

• Practice Decision-Making with Time - Giving kids some control over their schedule helps them feel empowered and more engaged. When they get to make small time-related choices, they begin to internalize how time works and how to prioritize. Try giving two options with built-in time awareness:

  
  

o   “Would you like to do homework now and then play, or play for 20 minutes and then do homework?”

o   “You have 15 minutes before dinner, would you rather read a book or play with blocks?

These choices still keep the boundaries and expectations clear, but they give your child a sense of autonomy, which reduces resistance and builds confidence.

• Model the Behavior You Want to See - Children are incredible observers. They pick up on how we manage our own time, how we respond to stress, and how we plan, or don’t plan, our day. Let your child see you:

  
  

o   Make to-do lists

o   Set timers for tasks

o   Say things like: “I’m going to set a reminder so I don’t forget” or “I need to leave by 3:00, so I’ll start getting ready at 2:30.

When we model time management strategies openly, we’re not only teaching the skills we’re showing that even grown-ups need tools to stay on track.

Building time management skills in kids can help them feel safe, capable, and confident in managing their day. When we use tools like routines, visual aids, and gentle coaching, we’re supporting their emotional development as much as their practical skills. Remember, this is a process. There will be messy mornings, forgotten library books, and pajama stand-offs. That’s okay. With consistency, support, and a healthy dose of patience, your child will begin to develop time awareness.

Written By,

Tierney Puig, LPC

www.cuttingedge-therapy.com