Does your teen recognize the importance of good time management?

It is very hard for teens to understand the concept of time. Research has found that the prefrontal cortex, the area of their brain involved in decision-making,
planning and self-control, is the last part to mature. Have you ever heard that the brain of a teenager continues to develop until he/she is 20 years old?. It will take them a while to have fully developed the capacity to think ahead of time.
That is why they could come home without their textbook and realize at bed time that they have a test the next day. They are also very good at procrastinating.
They are always waiting until the last possible second to complete a school science or math project. Time for them is not relevant. The problem is that the main characteristic of time is that it doesn’t recover. Once it passes it no longer returns. Procrastination could turn into a big problem later I life. A boss or a college professor might not accept late work or the excuses that come with delayed projects.
Most teens are not planning for their future because according to them graduation
is so far away that there is no need to hurry up. They are not keeping up to date with classes, and rather spend time partying, socializing or on the internet. They don’t realize that they are wasting precious time, and will regret it later. As a teacher, I talk to my students about these issues but am convinced that parents should be teaching their children good time management skills at home early in life.
Teens who don’t learn time management skills are at risk of becoming lifelong procrastinators. Waiting until the last possible minute to get things done could cause
problems ranging from high-stress levels to relationship trouble. 
As parents we should help them manage time wisely. We should be an example to them. It all starts with us being good managers of our time. If we are always running late, your teen will follow through. It is important to prioritized daily activities, establish and set standards at home where teens will know which is the time to play, to do homework, to be in the internet, and finally to rest.  It is very important to teach them how to use an agenda to keep up with important dates. As a teacher I see many students upset when graduation time comes,
because they missed important dates like for example the deadline to apply for admission to the College of their dreams, or to study for college entry exams, orto apply for scholarships. That is when they realized that they cannot take time back. Planning ahead of time will make it easier on them.

Some of the benefits of good time management are:

• Reduced anxiety in school at the time of turning in a school project, or taking a test.
• Better grades in school.
• Better decision making skills
• More time to relax and have fun.