Time Management for Gifted Kids

Time Tools

Setting up a way to manage your gifted child's time depends in large part on how your child thinks.

Logical, analytical thinkers keep neat notebooks and like to organize. Their sock drawers are neat. Creative, holistic, or "feeling" thinkers have looser ways of keeping organized. They might keep their socks on the floor, over the door, and in the drawer -- but they know where they are!

Keeping your gifted child's mind in mind, here's your jumping off point for finding the right time-management tool. Play and experiment with the following examples. You and your child will have time right where you want it.

Charts and Pictures

Planning by Picture
One way to engage kids who are visual learners is to make a time chart that looks like a favorite topic.

For example, start with a large multi-tiered hamburger. In a 24-hour day, how much lettuce, cheese, or ketchup will he need? Is cheese the homework? Is the sauce his free time? Let your child have fun deciding.

Planning by Pie Chart
Try planning by pie chart! Here's an example.

Print out your own blank pizza chart to schedule on!

Use anything that will serve the end goal: a system for time management that keeps your child involved in her own successful planning.

Ready for more Resources? Try These:
CEC Approved and Suggested Books

Grids and Lists

Here are some examples for setting up a schedule. The priorities for each activity will change daily. One day, for example, the long-term research paper might not be as important as practicing for an upcoming recital. And remember to "plan for planning." Balancing long- and short-term goals takes energy, thought, and time!

Choose a few of the designs below, try them out with your gifted child, and decide together what's best for now. If you need to, you can reinvent your tool anytime. What's important is that you get started before school does.

Planning by Activity

Planning by Time

Planning by To-Do List

Brought to you by the Council for Exceptional Children