Parenting Information

Is Your Teen Swamped with Homework and Tests?


I hear from many parents that their child is stressed out with schoolwork, tests, finals, finding time to study, and extracurricular activities.

I do not like seeing overstressed children and teenagers. Stress takes a dangerous toll on us-we must prevent it early on.

Sit down with your child and do these three things:

1. Pick out a paper or electronic planner for them to record their appointments, assignments, and to-dos. I like using a paper planner in conjunction WITH something electronic to record all phone numbers, addresses and set appointments.

2. Talk about Priorities and map them out.What are your child's priorities? Typical student priorities are academics, family life, after-school activities, friends, relaxing, religion, pets, etc.

Have them rate their priorities according to level of importance. Then track the time they've been spending on things. For example, does the amount of time spent on schoolwork reflect the number 3 that your child gave it?

Draw a schedule with your child. Put the days of the week on top and the time of the day on the left hand side. Draw squares for the chunks of time that are occupied currently. Much of the time will be "school". Include squares for travel to and from school time, wake-up and dress, snack time, and after-school activities.

Once you draw it all out, you can see how much time is left. Having this visual really helps to see when is the best time to sign up for another class or hang out with friends.

3. WADE through the piles of to-dos (Morgenstern)

Write it down-write down the task at hand. A test, a paper due date, a dance rehearsal. Get it in your planner.

Add it Up-Estimate how long it will take. A dance rehearsal that is an hour really can be an hour 1/2 when you include travel time. Overestimate.

Here's an example-A final exam in 12 weeks requring 200 pages of reading. If you read 20 pages a week for 2 hours, you can get it done with 2 days of review time.

Decide when to do the task based on your time map.

Execute- Do it. Reward yourself. Take babysteps and start the project. Work in 30 minute increments. Silence your inner perfectionist!

For further assistance with teen time management, I know of a summer camp that excels in teaching students skills that encourage maturity, responsibility, good study habits, motivation, and time management. I strongly recommend outside help with teaching kids these important life skills, because part of the challenge with kids is getting them to listen to their parents in the first place! You can eliminate that struggle with a fun, extracurricular program such as a summer camp.

Please contact me for more details or go to http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com/self-esteem-teen-summer-camp.html.

It is my hope that with these tips and recommended resources for teens time management, you can help de-stress your child and provide them with the skills they need when homework overload hits!

Rebekah Slatkin is a professional organizer dedicated to getting people organized through hands-on decluttering sessions, teleconferencing, coaching, and her website http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com

Visit http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com and subscribe to Organewz, her ezine dedicated to organized living and get organizing tips and downloads- free.


MORE RESOURCES:

Anderson court records detail accused killer's commitment to parenting
Anderson Independent Mail, SC - 4 hours ago
In 2006, family court officials ordered both parents to submit to drug tests and to comply with court-ordered behaviors, including the exposure of their ...


Examiner.com

Parenting Tip of the Day: Watch the sugar
Examiner.com - 4 hours ago
by Terreece Clarke, Parenting Examiner Though I'm writing this with the holidays in mind, this is actually a good tip for any time - watch the amount of ...


NEWS.com.au

The TV channel to good parenting
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 8 hours ago
I AM not ashamed to say that TV makes me a better parent. Too much TV isn't good for kids, but a bit of it sure is good for mums and dads. ...
Parents defy experts on television and computers Melbourne Herald Sun
all 24 news articles


Examiner.com

(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco parenting)
Examiner.com - 9 hours ago
My parents gave me a magic kit one Christmas. In it was a little tube of gooey salve that if you rubbed between your fingers, smoke would rise up. ...


Should Schools Close on Inauguration Day?
Washington Post, United States - 3 hours ago
Let us know in the comments here or on the On Parenting blog. Stay on top of the latest from Inauguration Watch! This easy-to-use widget is simple to add to ...


Interaction of Parenting Experiences and Brain Structure in the ...
Archives of General Psychiatry - 1 hour ago
Objective To examine the influence of adverse parenting as an environmental moderator of the association between brain structure and depressive symptoms. ...


(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco parenting)
Examiner.com - 9 hours ago
by Mark Donovan, Boston Bars & Clubs Examiner This Friday will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. And you know what that means: Debauchery ...


Telegraph.co.uk

Parenting: The Idle Parent
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 10 hours ago
It is highly critical, for example, of full-time day care for small children, arguing that, in the early years, the child needs its parents to be close by. ...


(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco parenting)
Examiner.com - 9 hours ago
by Onajide Shabaka, Miami Visual Art Examiner by Onajide Shabaka Is it really been 10 years that Locust Projects has been part of our cultural landscape? ...


(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco parenting)
Examiner.com - 9 hours ago
by Mary Purdey, Allston Community Examiner Thanksgiving is now over for another year. I hope that everyone had a good time this past week, ...

Parenting - Google News

home | site map
© 2006