Homework Tips: Time Management Strategies That Actually Work

At back-to-school night, the teacher said, “Homework should only take about 30 minutes each night.” But here you are… two hours into the nightly homework battle. 

Students with learning and attention challenges are master avoiders and delayers. Often, they deal with time blindness and struggle to estimate how long a task will take to complete, leading to overwhelming homework sessions that stretch on forever. 

Time management is a learned skill, not an innate ability. With the right strategies, we can teach students how to manage their time effectively, reduce the amount of time spent on homework, and ultimately end the nightly battle. 

The Problem with “Just Sit There Until It's Done”

Many students get stuck in homework like quicksand. The longer they sit, the less productive they become. Without time awareness, they:

• underestimate how long assignments will take

• lose focus during lengthy work sessions

• feel overwhelmed by open-ended time expectations

• develop negative associations with homework

Today, we’re changing that pattern with concrete time management tools. 

Strategy 1: The Time Sandwich

Before starting an assignment, create a “time sandwich.” Establish clear start and end times for the work. 

How it works:

1. Estimate the time needed to complete a specific task - let your child guess how long the assignment will take, even if their guess is way off. 

2. Set a realistic time limit - add a 20% buffer to their estimate

3. Use a timer - more on that below

4. If your child gets distracted, gently remind them of the timer and the task to complete in that time

5. Take a break when time’s up - regardless of completion status

Example: 

Your child estimates that a math worksheet will take 15 minutes to complete. Set a time for 20 minutes (15 min. estimate + buffer). If they get off track, simply say, “Our timer is running. Tell me after the timer goes off.” When the timer rings, take a break even if they are not finished with the worksheet. 

🧠 This strategy works well because:

• it prevents homework from expanding to fill unlimited time

• teaches realistic planning

• improves self-monitoring for attention

Strategy 2: Choose Your Timer Weapon

For Elementary Students (Ages 5-10): Visual Timers

Young students need to see time passing. Traditional digital timers are abstract and unhelpful. 

Best options:

⏲️ Time Timer (shows a color disappearing as time passes)

⏳ Sand timers (3, 5, 10, and 15-minute options)

⏱️ Timer apps or YouTube videos (many free options)

💡 Pro Tip: Let your child set the timer themselves. This gives them ownership and helps them internalize time awareness. 

For Middle/High School Students (Ages 11+): The Pomodoro Technique

This popular method breaks work into focused 25-minute chunks with 5-minute breaks. 

How to implement:

1. Choose one assignment

2. Set a timer for 25 minutes

3. Work with full focus (no phone, no distractions)

4. When the timer rings, take a 5-minute break

5. After 4 cycles, take a longer 15-30 minute break

🧠 Why this works: The brain can maintain intense focus for short bursts much better than hours of scattered attention. 

Strategy 3: Time Estimation Training

Help your child become a better time estimator with this practice:

• Pick a homework task

• Have your child estimate the time needed to complete

• Time for the actual work

• Compare estimate vs. reality

• Discuss what made tasks longer or shorter than expected

🎮 Gamify it: Make it a fun guessing game where you both estimate the time needed for the task, then see who is closer to the actual time

📊 Track patterns: Most students consistently under-estimate. Once you know their pattern, you can plan accordingly. 

Strategy 4: The Two-Minute Rule

For tasks that feel overwhelming, use this momentum starter:

“Let’s just work on this for 2 minutes.”

Often, starting is the hardest part. Once they begin, many students naturally continue beyond the 2 minutes. If not, that’s okay too. Two minutes of progress is better than none. 

Strategy 5: Time-Based vs. Task-Based Goals

Instead of “finish all math problems,” try:

• “Work on math for 20 minutes”

• “Complete as many problems as you can in 15 minutes”

• “Spend 10 minutes reviewing vocabulary words”

This removes the pressure of completion and focuses on effort and time investment.

Age-Appropriate Break Activities (5 minutes or less)

Elementary students:

• Jumping jacks or stretching

• Drawing or doodling

• Playing with fidget toys

• Getting a drink of water

Middle/High school students:

• Quick walk outside

• Listen to one of their favorite songs

• Do breathing exercises

• Light stretching or yoga poses

⚠️ Avoid: Social media, texting, or video games during breaks—these are too stimulating and hard to stop.

Action Plan

Choose ONE strategy to focus on this week:

1. If time estimation is the biggest issue: Practice the Time Sandwich Technique daily

2. If attention span is the challenge: Try age-appropriate timers (visual for younger, Pomodoro for older)

3. If getting started is hard: Use the Two-Minute Rule to build momentum

Remember: You're building new habits. Expect some resistance at first, but stick with it for at least a week before making adjustments.