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By Mary Frederick If you have a teenager, then you know firsthand just how chaotic things can be. To say that the teenage years are turbulent is an understatement. It is however important for you to get ahead of this and to create some order out of things, not just for you but for your teenager as well. It’s important to understand that as with any other stage of your child’s life, they crave order and structure. Though they may seem resistant to any sort of system or tools that you put in place, this is precisely what they need. If you work through the best ways to stay organized and handle time management with your teen, you are doing them a favor. Not only will these skills help them through these often turbulent years, but it will help them for years to come. Here are some excellent ways to help your teen manage their time effectively: Let Them Get InvolvedTeens aren’t going to respond to you telling them what works, especially when it comes to managing their time.Get them involved in the process, because if they feel like an owner in it then they will actually take pride in it. If you allow them to be involved in establishing their chart, schedule, and any other tools or systems, then it’s much more likely to stick for the long term. This is also an excellent way to help them develop systems that they can use in the future, so it’s a true “win win”. Work Off of a ScheduleSit down with your teen at the beginning of each school year or as a new activity begins in their life.Work off of an overall master schedule and let them pencil in every single activity that they are to be involved in. This should include all class schedules, games, events, deadlines for college applications—everything that they are going to be a part of. This may seem overwhelming. But as a teen can visualize what they have coming and the deadlines they have to work with, they are far more likely to stay involved and engaged. Allow Them to Make Important DecisionsIf they want to try out for the basketball team, then let them decide how that will fit into their schedule.Give them a little rope, as this is an important aspect of the teenage years. Let them decide upon the activities that they can handle, and what they may need to scale back on if they aren’t meeting important deadlines. This is fundamentally important in time management for teens, and an excellent lesson to learn in the teen years. Use a Prioritization System That Will Reach ThemReach out to them to attach some sort of prioritization code to each of the activities that they are involved in. Whether it is a grading system or a numeric code, work with them on how you attach a prioritization code to each of their activities.This will help them to decide upon which activities are absolutely essential, and which are considered to be more of niceties. Be sure to adjust these based on the number of activities in a given time period, as prioritization is constantly changing and is an important aspect of time management for teens. Ensure That There Are ConsequencesThey need to understand limits. That is what happens if they don’t complete a certain activity.If they don’t get their homework done or if they aren’t dedicating enough time to studying for a test, what happens? It’s important that you sit down with them at the beginning of the time management for teens initiative and let them know what the consequences are if they don’t complete something. This is part of being a parent, and though it may not be a popular lesson with your teen, it’s crucial in time management for teens. Get CreativeThere is no right or wrong way to teach time management for teens. If they are creative or if you have ideas that are outside of the box, then by all means cater to them.Get creative and make it as fun as possible for them. If they see time management for teens as something that they can take pride in and actually enjoy, instead of looking at it as a required activity, then they will stick with it well beyond the teen years. Think through the approach and system that is likely to reach your individual teen and their personality. Rework the System from Time to TimeEvery good system must change with the times. If they get involved in more activities or if the current system isn’t working, then change it accordingly.Time management isn’t stagnant, so the system that your teen uses shouldn’t be either. It’s important for your teen to understand that change is a big part of time management so they have to roll with it and adjust accordingly. Let them play an active role in reworking the system so that it is sure to work for them. Help Them to Understand Their RoleThe biggest difference between time management for kids and for teens is the active role that they play.Teens can and should play an active role in their time management system. While it should be something that you work through together as parent and child, if they act as an owner in the process then they can actually take pride in it when it works. If they act in a leadership role, they can learn the lessons firsthand—just provide them structure and direction to get them going. « Return to Time Management Tips from Time Management for Teens Related ArticlesTime Management for Kids Family Time Management Time Saving Tips for Moms Personal Time Management Help Kids Get Organized
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