#TIMELINE SCHEDULING DAILY FOR KIDS HOW TO#

Even if it's just putting aside an hour each night to eat dinner together, make sure you and your child also add that to the schedule.

However, spending time as a family should be a priority. Today, everyone - even kids - is super-busy and constantly on the go. Most importantly, don't forget to schedule in family time. Sometimes kids just need to be kids, so make sure that you leave them the time to do just that. Remember that your kids don't need to be overscheduled - it can stress them out a lot.

#TIMELINE SCHEDULING DAILY FOR KIDS HOW TO#

Feel free to consult with your child about how to best spend that free time. This way you and your son or daughter will know that Tuesdays and Fridays are soccer days, Monday is dance class, Thursday is Hebrew school, and Wednesday is a free day. The best way to ensure your children buy into rules for after-school time is to involve them in the decision-making process.

Ensure your child is completely clear on what appliances he or she is allowed to use (i.e, microwave - yes, oven - no).

If your child has regular chores, make sure a chore wheel or chart is posted as well.

Make a policy on whether or not your child can have friends over.

Prepare or let your child know what kind of snack he or she is permitted to have.

Should homework be completed before anything else, or are there some chores that need to happen first?

Decide whether or not video games, television and DVDs are allowed.

Put up a list of rules where everyone in the family can see them.

And make sure you have rides, carpooling, and details like clean uniforms worked out so there are no unpleasant surprises. You could even make a poster board or whiteboard schedule together to hang in your child's room or in the kitchen so everyone knows what's on his or her plate every day. Take some time every weekend to go over the next week's schedule with your child so he or she knows what to expect. Scheduling and organization are key when you're dealing with lots of activities and several children. Look for signs that your child is tired or overwhelmed - or if you are!

Just because you can sign up your child for seven different activities doesn't mean you should. But try to remember that everyone, especially kids, needs balance in their lives. Most communities have enough programs and activities to keep your children busy after school five days a week, and sometimes even on the weekend. Find out what interests your child, and help cultivate that interest. Of course, there are the typical activities - sports, dance, Girl or Boy Scouts, piano lessons, and the like. Some of these programs also offer healthy snacks, as most kids are pretty hungry after school. Many schools offer aftercare where children are able to complete their homework with access to assistance should they need it. Perhaps your son or daughter needs supervised homework time. So what kind of after-school program is best? Really, it depends on the personality and needs of your child.

Timeline scheduling daily for kids