Some children always need their parents to remind them to do homework before watching television, while others can already check their own school bags and note down what they need to bring the next day. The difference between the two lies in their self-management skills.
What Are Self-Management Skills?
In simple terms, it means knowing what needs to be done (goals), when to do it (planning), and then actually doing it (execution). This ability is not something children are born with — it needs to be developed gradually.
What Can Be Trained from the Age of Six?
Children aged six to seven can start learning:
- Packing their own school bag — checking before bed that homework and stationery are in order
- Knowing what day of the week it is — what classes they have and what extracurricular activities are scheduled
- Basic prioritisation — "homework first, then play"
What Parents Can Do
Don't do things for children that they are capable of doing themselves. For example, if a child forgets to bring their planner to school, that is their responsibility. Parents can remind them, but don't necessarily need to deliver it to school personally.
Using visual prompts is also very effective. For example, stick a "daily task card" on the fridge, and let the child place a star on it for each completed task.
Giving children a sense of choice also increases their motivation. For example, "Would you like to do Chinese first or maths first?"