First things First

A common phrase in our house was, "Do the things you have to do first." You can ask any of my kids today and they will still tell you that this was a phrase they heard often. We want to be teaching our children to develop a good economy of time.

Concise expressions help children remember what you are training them to do. Of course we teach them the details, but make a summary statement that will stick with them through the years. Whether they are considering playing video games for hours and putting off  that homework assignment or whether they are procrastinating the completion of a college application, the essence of "Do the things you have to do first" is a lifelong principle.