The magic amount of time needed to schedule with each of our children daily is 15 minutes. Yes, this may be a challenge especially if you have more than one child. But before you decide this is not possible, please look at the various options that can be implemented that allow for these personal contacts to happen. Squeezing in 15 minutes with each child is actually easier than you might think. The trick is to use the time you already have to be with your child.

Here are some ideas to get you started on your planning process.

• Chatting in the car.
• Helping with homework.
• Listening to your child read or do math flash cards.
• Taking extra time to put each child to bed.
• Folding laundry together.
• Prepping dinner (setting the table, helping prepare the meal, clearing off the table, washing dishes/putting dishes in the dishwasher).
• Eating after-school snacks together.
• Making after-school snacks.
• Making craft items.
• Decorating with seasonal items.
• Groceries: make the list, find items in store, put away groceries
• Having map races (post United States map on wall behind kitchen table, challenge children to find age-appropriate locations: states, state capitals, federal parks, main rivers.)

In the next topics in this section, we’ll cover some specific time management strategies that parents need to know and consider using in order to gain more time with their children.