Only 10 minutes a day

Spring always feels like a sprint. Though the school year is technically winding down, it doesn’t feel that way. Projects, tests, and papers are coming fast and furious, and spring sports and activities are ramping up. Many students are engaged in multiple after-school commitments. It’s a busy time. 

To help students feel more organized and in control of everything they need to accomplish, create an after-school schedule with them. In just 10 minutes a day, they will plan, organize, prioritize, initiate, think flexibly, and self-monitor their way to a schedule that makes sense and feels achievable. 

To start, create a day-planner that has 30-minute increments starting when your child finishes the school day so they can visualize their after-school hours. Or, download this EM version.

Then: 

1. Find a quiet time each day after school – or better, the night before – to map out a plan. 
2. Block out the immovable pieces: sports and activities.   
3. Identify an optimal bedtime and mark it down. Getting enough sleep is critical this time of year. 
4. In the remaining windows of time, schedule blocks for homework (and build in breaks), dinner, and relaxation. 

Generating a visual plan will create order from chaos, and your child will feel prepared to accomplish everything they need to get done in the after-school hours.