Planning and reviewing skills are a piece of building attention span and impulse control. In some of our classes, each week the children have to plan their 15 minute play time. This includes choosing where they will play (only 1 center each day) and planning three activities to occupy their time. Teachers check on their progress throughout and help children to meet each goal. This is something you can easily incorporate at home.
At clean up time, sit for a minute and ask your child to plan the effort. This includes details such as the order of the tasks and if they will work together. Draw or write a check list and help them to stay on task. At the end a pat on the back for completing the list. A more fun example – ask your child to plan their next playdate. Invite a friend over for an hour and have child (or children) come up with three or four activities they’d like to do during that time. Help them manage the time and move through the activities.
It is also helpful to take a plan-do-review approach to outings or other activities. If you are headed to the pumpkin patch this weekend, take some time to look at pictures from last year or visit their website, print the map and plan your trip together with your child. Talk about all the things they are seeing and doing while their. After, call a grandparent and encourage your child to tell them details about the trip. Review again with your child when you print the pictures.
Parenting by Dr. Rene 