Still think that time management only applies to adults and to the workplace? Well, parenting experts are asking you to think again.

Studies show 20% of the average workday is spent on ‘crucial’ and ‘important’ things, while 80% of the average workday is spent on things that have ‘little or no value.’ And Kelvin Ngo, Operations Manager of Kids Watch Central asserts that this could have been prevented – if only these adults were taught the discipline of time management early on. “If we don’t train them to have good habits while they are young, they will spend the rest of their lives trying to shake the bad ones.”

Ngo notes that while at first, being able to tell time guides kids on when to catch their favorite cartoon; they can apply the skill to more important things such as homework and eventually to work deadlines and client presentations.

So give your kids a head start on success — here are some easy steps you can follow in teaching them the value of time and the discipline of time management:

Be armed with the basics!

The Chinese adage of the longest journey starting with a single step is also true for teaching your kids—and in this case, you first have to make them grasp the concept of ‘time.’

“Time is an abstract concept,” observes Ngo “So to make it more ‘real’ for children especially, concrete time telling tools such as a wrist watch is a must.” Ngo notes that it would help if these timepieces are visually appealing or interesting to the kids themselves. “If their favorite character is Spiderman or Barbie of course, they’re likely to be more interested in looking at watches that feature these characters as opposed to a plain-faced one. It’s about adding an element of ‘fun’ to a visual representation of time.”

Kids Watch Central –a retail outlet that specializes in kid’s watches—for instance, is one place where parents can source trendy and colorful character timepieces. Here characters such as Transformers, Hello Kitty, Barbie and Ben10 come alive to teach children the value of time and the discipline of time management. Kids Watch Central outlets are located inside the Children’s Accessories of leading department stores.

Prioritize and optimize

Ngo shares that another important tip is to encourage children to categorize their tasks as either ‘Important’, ‘Urgent’ or ‘Both.’ Important means that the task needed considerable attention to detail or research before it could be completed, while Urgent meant that it’s due soon. The option ‘Both’ means that they have a great deal of work to do in a short time.

“The point of this exercise is to help children prioritize – if they themselves classify homework for tomorrow as ‘urgent’ or attending soccer practice as ‘important;’ then they can delegate their time and optimize their efforts accordingly.”

Experiment and Customize

The parenting expert notes that each child is different so in teaching them to manage their time, it’s also important to consider their temperament and personality.

“Some children need a break when getting home from school, while others lose steam if they don’t do their assignments right away,” observes Ngo. “Experiment with different times to do homework and see where you have the greatest success. Once the study time has been determined, create a consistent routine based on what works best for your child.”

The value of time and the discipline of management

“Time management is about self management,” says Ngo “Of course, children shouldn’t abandon their sense of fun or spontaneity; however, some basic planning strategies can help a lot. And it’s a skill that that can go a long way to help them achieve success when they grow up.

Kids Watch Central is located inside the Children’s Accessories area in leading department stores such as SM, The Landmark, and Rustan’s.

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