How To Help Your Kids Stay On Task All Day

Parenting in this busy, high pressure age can be a little overwhelming. Preschool and elementary school has changed so much since I was young. Attention and focus are increasingly important for our kiddos to be successful. As my boys grow, I find myself thinking more and more about how I can help my kids stay on task better. Read on to see a few of the ways we’ve been working on it at our house!

Thank you to ihelpmoms.com and Joy Family Tech for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. 

IDEAS TO HELP KIDS STAY ON TASK

Calendars

Now that #thebigone is a strong reader, we find a written calendar helps him stay on schedule. He bounces between his dad’s house and my own midway through the week, so staying on track with that can be confusing. Now that he’s 7, he’s adding in play dates, and extracurricular activities like Boy Scouts or Lego Team. Having a calendar in his room to keep track of his obligations is a simple way to keep him in the loop and on task.

Chore Charts

When I found these magnetic responsibility charts, I knew they would perfect for keeping both my kids on task. I love that they feature images, so even #thelittleone can understand some of the tasks. Another favorite feature is that the responsibilities are not solely chores. I love the ideas of helping my boys learn to care for themselves independently. Magnets like ‘exercise’ and ‘hug your parents’ are perfect for raising healthy, well-rounded, independent kiddos.

I used some adhesive hook & loop tape to attach an old cookie sheet to a wall in our kitchen. Above them, I hung their magnetic task boards the same way. Using some washi tape, I divided the cookie sheet in half to separate the boys’ sets of magnets. I was careful to hang the cookie sheet and the boards low enough so each boy could reach them when they needed to. Hanging them in a public part of the house makes sure we’re all helping our kids stay on task and be accountable.

In the past, we’ve used paper chore charts and sticker charts successfully. A great hack to cut down on paper is to frame your paper task charts under glass and use a dry erase marker to track ‘done’ items.

Read Alouds

Especially for young children, read alouds are the perfect opportunity to review daily schedules. Story books and social stories are an ideal way to reinforce personal tasks in a way that doesn’t feel like teaching. When #thebigone was tiny, we read Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama Wakey Wake each morning before pulling him out of his crib. We ended each day by reading Llama Llama Nighty Night. #thelittleone is currently obsessed with Michael Dahl’s superhero themed series. Good Morning Superman, Bedtime for Batman, and Be A Star Wonder Woman are perfect reads to help my kids stay on task all day long.

Octopus by Joy

Octopus by Joy is definitely the coolest suggestion I have to share. It’s the one my boys are most excited by as well. Octopus is an icon based watch that kids feel grown up wearing. Parents can customize the tasks and schedule via an easy-to-navigate app. There are over 700  icons to choose from, so your family will find exactly what they need. Vibrations and images through out the day help keep kids on task. Alerts activate on the parent’s mobile device through out the day, so they are aware of what their children should be up to. Octopus is the perfect choice for kids that covet technology, since it brings it down to their level. #thebigone loves the feeling of independence he has when he’s wearing his watch.

#thebigone tends to well staying on task while he’s at school. When he’s home, the lure of Netflix, Roblox, or the next Boxcar Children book can easily leave him side tracked and behind schedule. To accommodate his needs, I made his before and after school schedules on Octopus very detailed- even listing some tasks at 5 minute intervals. His schedule during the school day is essentially blank. However, if he found transitions challenging, I wouldn’t hesitate to include school activities as well.

Octopus pairs with the cutest little charger called Companion, that doubles as a night light when the watch is docked. The watch itself is water resistant, sturdy and simple, with only one button.  I love that parents are able to program emergency contact information into the watch as well. We’ve loved watching #thebigone’s independence blossom thanks to Octopus, and will no doubt use this cool tool for #thelittleone when he’s old enough.

GOTTA HAVE AN OCTOPUS WATCH?!

You can grab one for your family right here! For one month only, use code ‘ihelpmoms2018′ to save 25%! 

How do you help your kids stay on task? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!