In the past, my school days were filled with nagging phrases like these....
- Stay focused!
- Get your work done!
- What are you supposed to be doing right now?
- Have you finished your school work?
- No free time if your work's not done by 4:00!
- Etc, Etc, Etc.
I doubt I'm the only homeschooler (or mom) who struggles with their kid's time management. So, this year I decided to do something about it not only my kid's benefit, but also for my blood pressure.
Introducing..... The Time Management Clock!
In this article I will walk you through how you can make one of these awesome tools for your child in less than ten steps!
Step 1: Purchase an inexpensive clock, make sure it has a white background. I picked this one up at Walmart for $3.88.
Step 2: Disassemble the clock. For this particular clock this involved removing (4) screws. Pry off the front plastic piece. I used a flat head screwdriver and it came off pretty easily. Also, remove the battery. You don't want the clock hands ticking around during the next few steps.
Step 3: Create a reasonable schedule for your child. Here's an example of our homeschool day. Every family is different, do what works for you.
Step 4: Using a small ruler or index card, draw in pencil the sections on the clock for your schedule.
Step 5: Count how many sections you have and choose the colors you want. I suggest choosing bold colors, and laying them out in order so that like colors are not touching.
Step 6: Color!
Step 7: Reassemble the clock.
Step 8: Create a guide for your schedule.
Step 9: Hang it on your wall!
A clock like this has countless benefits for children of all ages. I completed this project in about 30 minutes. If you have an older kid, or one that's artistically inclined; you could even hand this project off to them to complete! It's also great for kids in public / private schools. Here's an example of one created by a different mom for her child's after-school time.
I made two identical clocks for my child. I hung one in our family area, and one in his room. That way, there's no excuses for knowing what he needs to be doing! I also made another one for myself to serve as a visual reminder, and to also help better manage my time. Fair's, fair right?!
I hope you found this article helpful, comment and let me know what you think about this idea, and what tools you use to manage your time!
Photo Credit
After School Clock