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Blog: Helping Kids Become Organized
 The ABC's of Organizing Kids: N is for Not Enough Time
How many of you made a New Years Resolution to do something this year that you were not able to accomplish last year? Well, one big reason we feel like we don't accomplish these goals is that we feel, "we do NOT have Enough Time. Am I right? Some of us might say we do not have enough money but I still think the majority of us are really lacking time. Most of us focus on wanting more money but the truth of it all is that time is what is really the most precious commodity. It is much more valuable than money. Time is a resource that we cannot gain any more of no matter how we try or how much money we have. We can live longer by taking care of ourselves, yes, but to just add more time to our days or our lives is not in our control.
So what do we do with the fact that we all feel like there is Not Enough Time? The key is to use the time we have for those things that are really important; that are our true core values. Now, how does that translate to our children? Well, interestingly there are two ways to look at it. There is a lesson where we can learn from them because it is easy for children to spend time on what "they" consider important. We can learn to think a little more like them but at the same time we need to help them make those important decisions on how to manage the use of their time so they do not grow to be overwhelmed with the feeling that there is not enough of it.
It is often said and I believe to be true that those who have more to do get more done. The reason is that if you have more to do you have to make more of an effort to plan for your days, weeks, etc. versus those who have less to do and can just let life happen. In a way that sounds nice to just let life happen but the reality is, we have to be prepared to get the things done that we need to and then allow some time for life to just happen. If we don't we will find out that other people and things will completely be control what we do. Have you ever heard the phrase, "poor planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on mine"? That is what people do to us and we do to others when we do not plan.
Teach your children to plan ahead for the things that they need to do each week. I recommend teaching them to set aside one day a week to do planning for the week, then they can refine the days as they come, where schedules change and tasks are added and taken way. When they list what they have to do each week, they can do more homework on days when they have less extra curricular activities, they can have the supplies well within time for projects, they can plan enough time for projects to be completed on time, they can have clothes clean when they need them, they can save enough money for things they want to do or have, they can learn to be in control of their time. This will also help them in understanding delayed gratification; which is quickly becoming an extinct ability amongst children. Teaching our children that there are things worth waiting for and how some of this planning can play a key role in that is immensely important; not only in their not feeling like there is not enough time but in their being able to become financially comfortable. As always, we are teaching our children a process to add to their toolbox, to use as they need it and that will allow them to remain flexible in making the most out of what life throws them.
posted on: 1/7/2008 9:00:00 AM by Rosanne Larkins
category: Family
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Helping Kids Become Organized
by Rosanne Larkins
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About Rosanne:
Rosanne Larkins, Defining Time & Space Professional Organizing, Helping people put peace into their life through simplifying things around them. Reduce stress through creating order, save money knowing what you have, save time knowing where to find things.
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