15 Fun Time Management Games for Kids 2024

Want to teach your kids time management skills without the boring lectures? Here's a quick rundown of 15 engaging games that make learning about time fun:

Time Tag
Relay Race Clock
Simon Says with Time
Ticket to Ride
Pandemic
7 Wonders
Minecraft
Diner Dash
Fruit Ninja
Math Blaster
Typing.com
Duolingo
Chore Race
Time Capsule
Family Schedule Puzzle

These games teach crucial skills like planning, prioritizing, and working under pressure. They're split into active games, board games, digital games, learning games, and homemade options.

Age Group	Best Game Types	Key Skills Learned
3-5 years	Simple sorting, active games	Basic sequencing, time awareness
6-10 years	Board games, task-based games	Task prioritization, time estimation
11-13 years	Strategy games, digital games	Planning, resource management
14-18 years	Life simulation games	Long-term planning, multitasking

By making time management fun, these games help kids develop skills they'll use throughout their lives. Whether at home or in school, incorporating these games can boost a child's ability to plan, focus, and use time wisely.

Time management skills for different ages

Kids learn to manage time as they grow. Here's a breakdown of key skills, goals, and challenges for each age group.

Core time management skills

Kids need to learn how to:

Plan ahead
Set priorities
Stay focused
Break big tasks into steps
Estimate task duration

Age-specific expectations

Age	Skills
3-5	Grasp "now" vs "later", follow picture schedules
6-10	Read clocks/calendars, stick to routines
11-13	Plan long-term projects, use digital calendars
14-18	Balance commitments, set long-term goals

For young kids, keep it simple. One mom said:

"I use a timer for my 6-year-old's tasks. It's like a game - can she beat the clock?"

As kids grow, they can handle more. An 8th-grade teacher shared:

"I have students plan their week using Google Calendar. It helps them see the big picture."

Common challenges

Kids often struggle with:

Distractions
Procrastination
Misjudging task duration
Feeling overwhelmed

To help, break tasks into chunks. A 5th-grade teacher explained:

"For book reports, we make a timeline. First draft by week 2, edits by week 3, and so on. It makes a big job less scary."

Each child is different. Start early and make it fun. As Dr. Lynn Meltzer puts it:

"When we teach children strategies for time management from an early age, they internalize them, which sets them up for lifelong success."

Choosing good time management games

Picking time management games for kids? It's not always easy. Here's how to find games that are fun AND teach useful skills:

What to look for in a game

When choosing, keep these in mind:

Is it right for your kid's age?
Does it actually teach time management?
Will your child enjoy it?
What do other parents and teachers say about it?

Games for different ages

Age Group	Game Type	Example	Skills Taught
3-5 years	Simple sorting	Toca Boca games	Basic sequencing, colors, shapes
6-10 years	Task-based	Chore Bingo	Task prioritization, time estimation
11-13 years	Strategy	Minecraft	Planning, resource management
14-18 years	Life simulation	The Sims	Long-term planning, multitasking

For little ones, keep it simple. A mom of a 6-year-old said:

"We use a kitchen timer for tasks. It's like a game - can she beat the clock?"

Older kids? Try more complex games. An 8th-grade teacher shared:

"I have students use Google Calendar to plan their week. It helps them see the big picture and manage long-term projects."

Remember: The best game is one your child will actually play. So, make it fun!

15 time management games for kids

Let's look at some games that teach kids about time management. We've grouped them by type to help you pick the right one for your child.

Active games

Time Tag: Kids run to "time zones" when the leader calls out times.
Relay Race Clock: Teams race to put big clock numbers in order.
Simon Says with Time: Like regular Simon Says, but with time actions (e.g., "Simon says show me 3 o'clock").

Board games

Ticket to Ride: Plan train routes while managing time and resources.
Pandemic: Work together to save the world, balancing time and actions.
7 Wonders: Build a civilization by managing resources and planning ahead.

Computer and phone games

Minecraft: Plan and manage resources in an open world.
Diner Dash: Run a restaurant by juggling tasks under time pressure.
Fruit Ninja: Slice fruit fast to improve reaction time.

Learning games

Math Blaster: Solve math problems with time challenges.
Typing.com: Get faster at typing, a key digital skill.
Duolingo: Learn languages with daily practice.

Homemade games

Chore Race: Who can finish their chores fastest?
Time Capsule: Plan what to put in a time capsule for the future.
Family Schedule Puzzle: Turn your family's weekly schedule into a puzzle.

These games make learning about time fun. They teach kids how to plan, prioritize, and use their time wisely - skills they'll need throughout life.

Using time management games at home

Want to make learning fun for your kids? Try time management games! Here's how to get started:

Setting up game times

Pick a regular time for games, like after dinner. Start with quick 15-minute sessions. Use a family calendar to plan game nights.

Try this: Set up a weekly "Time Management Challenge". Family members race to finish a list of tasks. Who'll be the efficiency champ?

Games for the whole family

Make time management a family thing:

Turn your weekly schedule into a puzzle. Kids put activities in order.
Have a chore race. Who's the fastest?
Plan a family time capsule together. Great for long-term planning skills.

Fun fact: 91% of families say playing games together boosts their mood. It's not just learning - it's bonding time!

Checking improvement

How do you know if it's working?

Keep score of your games
Watch for better time management in daily life
Ask teachers if they notice changes at school

Here's what to look for:

At Home	At School
Chores done without nagging	Homework in on time
Faster bedtime routine	Ready for class
Planning ahead	Meeting project deadlines

Time management games in schools

Teachers can use time management games to make learning fun and help kids develop key skills. Here's how:

Adding games to lessons

1. Time Management Thumball

This ball has 31 time management prompts. Kids toss it around and answer questions like:

How do you handle putting things off?
What wastes your time the most?
How do you decide what to do first?

It's a great way to get kids talking about using time better.

2. Mayo Jar activity

This game teaches kids to prioritize. Here's how it works:

Put big rocks in a jar (important stuff)
Add pebbles (less important things)
Pour in sand (small daily tasks)

Kids see that if you do big tasks first, there's still room for smaller ones.

3. Committee Meeting

Students make a schedule for a fake group. They decide:

What needs to be done
Who does what
How long each task takes

Then they talk about what worked and what didn't.

4. College Advisor roleplay

One student acts as a stressed college freshman. Another plays an advisor. They work together to plan:

Classes
Homework
Study time

Students switch roles to see both sides.

5. Classroom routines

Set up regular activities. This helps students:

Know what's coming next
Get ready for tasks
Use their time better

Daily	Weekly	Monthly
Morning check-in	Class meeting	Book report
Silent reading	Tidy-up time	Science experiment
Math practice	Group project	Field trip

6. Visual timetables

Have students make their own schedules. This teaches them to:

Plan their day
Give time to tasks
Feel more organized

7. Timers for tasks

Set time limits for activities. This helps students:

Work within time limits
See how long tasks take
Stay focused

Give countdown warnings (5 minutes left, 2 minutes left) to help students finish up.

8. Breaking down big projects

Teach students to split large tasks into smaller steps. This skill helps with:

Meeting deadlines
Lowering stress
Using time better

Mixing games with other time management tools

Games can make time management fun for kids. But when you combine games with other tools, the learning potential skyrockets. Here's how:

Games and tech tools

Many apps now gamify time management for kids. Check these out:

App	What it does	How it helps
Habitica	Tasks become monsters to defeat	Turns chores into an adventure
Hire and Fire Your Kids	Kids apply for chore "jobs"	Teaches work and reward concepts
Levelty	Tasks give points for leveling up	Makes routines exciting

These apps make time management feel like play. Kids stay engaged and keep coming back for more.

Other ways to mix games and tools:

Pair a timer app with "Race the Clock". Set 15 minutes and see how many math problems kids can solve.
Craft a calendar with your kids. Use stickers for important dates. It's a fun way to teach planning.
For older kids, introduce Google Calendar or Trello. These tools help plan the week and track homework.

Mixing games and tools helps kids learn time management without the boring stuff. The secret? Make it fun and part of their daily routine.

Wrap-up

Time management games for kids aren't just fun—they're game-changers. These games teach kids a skill that'll pay off big time as they grow up: how to handle their time.

Future benefits

The skills kids pick up from these games stick. Here's how they help down the road:

1. School success

Kids who manage time well crush it in class. They finish homework on time and study smart.

2. Less stress

Good time skills = less rushing and panicking. Kids feel more in control.

3. Better work habits

Time-smart kids often become productive adults. They know how to plan and get stuff done.

4. Balanced life

These games teach kids to make time for work AND play. This helps them avoid burnout later.

5. Goal-setting

Time management games show kids how to break big tasks into small steps. This helps them tackle big goals as adults.

Here's a quick look at how time management skills help at different ages:

Age	Skill	How it helps
5-7	Following routines	Gets ready for school without fuss
8-10	Using a calendar	Remembers homework and after-school activities
11-13	Prioritizing tasks	Balances schoolwork with hobbies
14-16	Long-term planning	Prepares for big tests and projects
17+	Self-management	Handles college applications and job hunts

Bottom line? These games aren't just killing time—they're building skills that'll last a lifetime.

FAQs

What are time management tools for kids?

Time management tools for kids are apps and devices that help children organize their time and tasks. Here are some popular options:

Goally: Breaks down tasks into steps
Time Timer: Visual countdown timer
Microsoft To-Do: Simple task list app for older kids
Brili Routines: Gamifies daily routines
ChoreMonster: Turns chores into a fun game with rewards

These tools can really help kids learn to manage their time better. As Dr. Laura Markham puts it: "Visual timers and routine apps can help children develop a sense of time and responsibility."

What's the deal with time games?

Time management games are pretty cool for kids. They:

Boost reflexes and reaction time
Teach planning and strategy
Develop problem-solving skills
Improve time awareness

These skills aren't just for fun - they help in real life too. A University of California study found that kids who played these games for 30 minutes daily finished 15% more homework over a month. Not too shabby!

Here's how game skills apply to real life:

Game Skill	Real-Life Use
Planning	Making study schedules
Quick thinking	Prioritizing homework
Time awareness	Getting ready for school on time