My kitchen timer has seen a lot. Although it has been able of timing perfectly many delicious meals, its main purpose is to inspire me and my children to move and stay focused. We frequently play "beat the clock" and it takes us about 5 minutes to fill the dishwasher, and 15 minutes to fold the laundry. Because I have learned that it takes only 15 minutes to get an organized and tidy home, I use the Fly Lady 15-minute rule.
It's a form of magic at home and I've got an exciting news: a timer works like magic during homework too.
It's not as simple as setting the timer and hitting "go" to make your business off to a good start countdown timer however it will make your business more efficient. You need to keep a few vital points in your head to get the most out of your start timer.
Get Started
It helps my kids to get started when they are tired and are unable to start that mountain of homework. As an example, I tell them something like do math for fifteen minutes and let's see how much work you get finished. It's very effective and the students are generally pretty happy with how much work they've done in 15 minutes. My daughter completed her math homework in 9 minutes. I was able to point out that she spent longer complaining about it than she actually did it.
This was a sweet mom-mom moment.
Social Media Free
A time limit can make it easier for kids to keep social media on a separate page. If a child is aware that he can only check his phone for 15 to 20 minutes will be more likely to check it and be able to focus on the task at hand. Many children, including mine, have their phones next to them as they complete their homework. While they are terrified when they think their phones may be lost, even teenagers can still use their phone for up to 20 minutes to learn English. You can talk to your child by using a countdown timer. " You do science for 20 minutes then when the timer goes off you can go through your accounts on social media for 5 minutes." That's the least way they will have 20 minutes to focus on an assignment.
Decreases Panic
One of my sons has ADD and would be anxious at the thought of sitting for long periods of time to complete a long list of assignments. The timer worked for him. In middle school, we would set the timer for 15 minutes, and he did as hard as he could in 15 minutes. He went outside for five minutes to shoot baskets on the driveway at the end. Then he returned to his homework for the remaining 15 minutes. He grew older and the time limit of 15 minutes was extended to 30 minutes. However, he was always rewarded by something to do at the close. He's taken this method to college with him.
It is worth noting that the 15 minutes on 5 minutes off program did not perform for my son who is the oldest. He is a locomotive. It takes him a while to get up an entire head of steam and once he is able to do then he is able to run for a stretch before taking an interruption. If I had forced him to adhere to the same routine that I do with my ADD son, he never could have accomplished anything. Be attentive to your children and be a good role model.
Keeps Things Moving to help Perfectionists
A timer can help keep the work moving. Set an amount of time for each task. Start the timer, and allow them to go. After the online timer starts to go off, they should have finished their task. Then you can take a brief break or proceed to the next task. Students who are learning about how to manage their time or struggle with perfectionism require assistance in determining how long to spend on a task. A timer will help keep their attention and prevent them from becoming absorbed on one task all evening.
Good Practice for Timed Tests
Let's face the facts: many of the academic tasks that our children have to finish are timed. The obvious ones include standardized tests as well as college admissions tests, but remember that the tests that are given in classrooms, as well as homework assignments in class are also timed. The pressure of time can cause stress for children. One method to help them cope with the pressure is to keep a clock at home, while they complete their homework.
Do you have a timer in your home? Tell me what you do with your timer in the comments. If you are pleased with what you see, please forward it to your circle of friends.
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