By Dr. Robert Gordon, CPC
Faculty Member, Reverse Logistics Management and Government Contracting and Acquisition
Developing project management skills can benefit parents, since family life involves effective planning, organization and coordination. These skills can help parents better manage their time, especially if their children have busy schedules.
Although developing project management skills can take a long time, some of these skills can be gained with just some knowledge and practice. Here are some project management skills that apply to parenting.
Planning and Scheduling
Develop a plan of action to accomplish your family goals. Create a schedule that includes routines, school activities, appointments and family events. Utilize calendars, planners, or digital tools to keep track of important dates and deadlines.
Having a plan and building a family schedule can help you better understand all the requirements of your children’s activities. In addition, it helps you avoid scheduling conflicts or allowing your children’s activities to dominate the family schedule.
Goal Setting
Just like in project management, setting clear goals is crucial for parents. Determine what you want to achieve as a family, whether it’s related to education, extracurricular activities or personal development. Break down these goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
Goal setting can also apply to funding children’s activities. Implementing cost-saving goals or having children complete household chores can be useful in helping your family achieve larger goals.
Flexibility and Adaptability
Parenting often requires flexibility because plans change, unexpected situations arise or children’s needs shift. Adaptability and adjusting your approach can help you navigate these challenges more smoothly.
Parenting naturally comes with its share of uncertainties and challenges. Anticipate potential risks or obstacles — such as illnesses or scheduling conflicts — and develop contingency plans. Stay adaptable and be prepared to adjust your plans when unexpected situations occur.
Delegation and Communication
Delegating tasks to other family members teaches children about responsibility and distributes the workload. Assign age-appropriate tasks to your children and allow them to contribute to household chores or family projects. Delegating tasks fosters a sense of ownership and teamwork in children.
Communication is a fundamental project management skill that also applies to parenting as well. Clear communication is vital, as a parent needs to clearly communicate all delegated tasks.
Establish open and transparent communication channels with your partner, children and other family members. Regularly communicate expectations, progress and changes in plans. Active listening is also crucial for understanding and addressing your children’s needs.
Problem-Solving
Practical problem-solving skills are valuable for parents. Identify issues or conflicts within your family and work together to find solutions. Encourage your children to think critically and get them to participate in problem-solving discussions.
If an idea from a child is viable for solving a problem, then a parent needs to implement the solution. Allowing children to see an idea implemented as a family solution is encouraging and helps them improve self-esteem.
Celebration and Recognition
Just as project managers acknowledge milestones and celebrate successes, parents should celebrate achievements and memorable moments with their children. Recognize your children’s efforts, reward their accomplishments, and create a positive and motivating environment.
Ensuring everyone’s efforts are recognized and celebrated will bring a family closer together. Furthermore, it will show that the family appreciates and values everyone.
Incorporating project management skills into your parenting approach can enhance your ability to plan, organize and effectively manage the various aspects of family life. But parents also need to focus on time management, since it is an essential factor in project management. Proper time management for parents can help parents find time for their family members and also themselves.
Time Management for Parents
For parents, time management is crucial for balancing all of your responsibilities and maximizing your available time. Parents often face multiple responsibilities and time constraints. Developing effective time management skills help parents to prioritize tasks, allocate time for various activities and avoid procrastination.
Remember that procrastination can be challenging as some undesirable activities are often put off as long as possible. However, I have several tips to help you properly manage your time.
Establish Routines
Create consistent schedules for meals, bedtime and other regular activities. Routines help children understand expectations, can streamline daily tasks and will help a family to optimize its available time.
It’s also important to identify time-wasting activities that interfere with your family’s daily routine. By cutting out or minimizing these activities, the family routine will be less likely to be disrupted.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Leverage technology to automate or streamline household tasks. For instance, use online grocery shopping and delivery services, set up automatic bill payments, or use scheduling apps to coordinate family activities. Using technology to help your family be better organized and reduce the necessity for repetitive, time-consuming tasks.
Simplify Meal Preparation
Plan weekly menus, cook in batches or use a slow cooker to save time on meal preparation. You can also involve your children in age-appropriate cooking tasks, making it a family activity.
Ensuring all children can cook and prepare healthy meals will help them when they leave the family home as adults. Having your children learn how to fix a meal will also help them understand how time-consuming this task is for parents.
Practice Self-Care
Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is vital. Prioritize self-care activities like exercise, meditation or a hobby. Feeling balanced and rejuvenated makes you more productive and better equipped to handle your parental duties.
Find a way to make sure you have time for yourself. It might mean taking a class you like or regular exercise, but ensuring your needs are addressed will keep your life balanced.
Create Organized Spaces
Keep essential items and supplies easily accessible and well-organized. Designate specific areas for children’s toys, school supplies, and everyday essentials to reduce clutter and save time searching for things.
One strategy that my family has used for a long time is putting our keys on a hook or bowl near the door. Avoiding the need to look for a specific key all over the house has decreased our stress, since we know where to go to find a missing key.
Take Advantage of Downtime
Utilize small pockets of time efficiently. Bring a book with you when you’re going to any doctor or dental appointment.
Using your downtime for reading can help you learn a new skill or understand the material for a course. It is better to spend some of your waiting time productively rather than mindlessly scrolling through social media.
Another option would be to use the time while you’re waiting to pick up your child from school; you can respond to emails or make phone calls. It is best to determine which waiting time should be used for what activity. For instance, you might have some spare time while you’re waiting for your children or for your own activities to begin.
Remember, every family is unique, and finding what works best for you is essential. Some parents might want to join a parenting group to share tips and experiences. Some benefits from building a supportive network can provide you with valuable insights and time-saving strategies.
You can experiment with different approaches to time management and adapt them to suit your specific circumstances and preferences. Whatever you decide, there will likely be some negotiation that you will have to do with your children to ensure that everyone in the family is addressed adequately.
How to Successfully Negotiate with Your Children
Negotiating with children can be a valuable skill for parents to develop. It fosters children’s independence, improves their problem-solving abilities and allows them to experience a sense of ownership over their decisions. There are several ways to effectively negotiate with your children.
Establish a Positive and Respectful Atmosphere
In your household, create an environment where open communication and mutual respect are valued. Approach any negotiations calmly and patiently, and encourage your children to express their thoughts and concerns.
Remain engaged in the conversation at all times, and if you are unclear on any points, seek clarification. Sometimes children have trouble explaining their position, but they can be just as passionate as parents.
Active Listening
Give your child your undivided attention when they want to discuss a problem or concern. Listen attentively to their perspectives, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings without interruption.
Active listening demonstrates to your children that their opinions are valued. Take the time to understand your child’s underlying needs, interests and position. Spending that time helps you find common ground with your children and identify solutions that address their needs and your concerns.
Clearly Define Negotiation Boundaries
Establish clear boundaries to guide the negotiation process. Let your child know what is open for discussion and where there may be non-negotiables.
If getting a puppy is not an option, for instance, then be prepared to make this position clear from the start. Avoid setting inappropriate expectations by being non-committal to some things that are not possible. Setting clear negotiation boundaries provides structure and prevents your children from developing unrealistic expectations.
Teach Children Problem-Solving Skills
Guide your children through the negotiation process by teaching them problem-solving skills. Encourage them to brainstorm potential solutions and consider the pros and cons of each option.
Help them evaluate the consequences of their choices. If an answer makes sense, work with your child to implement that solution.
Seek Win-Win Solutions
Aim for a resolution that satisfies both parties. Encourage your children to think creatively and propose solutions that meet their needs while considering your concerns as a parent.
Emphasize the importance of compromise and finding a middle ground. Demonstrate your willingness to negotiate by being open to considering your child’s perspective.
Be prepared to make concessions or compromises when it’s appropriate. Always seek a win-win solution to set a positive example for your child.
Teach Negotiation Etiquette and Assertiveness
Teach your children practical communication skills, such as using “I” statements to express their needs, maintaining a calm tone and respecting others’ perspectives. Encourage them to be assertive but not aggressive, emphasizing the importance of expressing themselves respectfully.
Help them to remain objective and logical and teach your children to resist name-calling or bullying. People sometimes resort to more aggressive behaviors if they feel they are losing a negotiation.
Explain that this path is unacceptable and help bring them back to a logical argument and position. If that strategy does not work, stop the negotiation with your children and advise that it can be restarted when they are calmer and ready to be more reasonable.
Set Clear Expectations and Follow Through on Commitments
Once a negotiation has been resolved, clearly communicate the agreed-upon terms and expectations. Follow through on your commitments and hold your children accountable for their own.
If you make a promise to your children, make sure to deliver on that promise. Keeping your promises builds trust and reinforces the importance of honoring agreements. Make sure to hold children accountable to their promises as well.
Reflect on the Process
After a negotiation, take the opportunity to self-reflect and discuss the experience with your children. Talk about what worked well and what could be improved.
Personal reflection helps children to develop their negotiation skills over time. Reflection will also help you improve your negotiating skills because you will get better insights into how other people might argue a position.
Every Family Is Unique
Remember that every family is unique, and finding what works best for you and your family is essential. Some parents might want to join a parenting group to share tips and experiences. Building a supportive network can provide you with valuable insights and time-saving strategies.
Raising children is a learning process for both parents and children. It requires patience, empathy and a willingness to find mutually beneficial solutions. By nurturing their negotiation skills, you empower your children to become effective communicators and problem solvers.
You can experiment with different approaches in terms of project management, time management, and negotiation with your children, and adapt those approaches to suit your specific circumstances and preferences. Whatever you decide, ensure that everyone’s needs are addressed adequately.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Gordon, CPC, is a faculty member of the Reverse Logistics Management and Government Contracting and Acquisition programs at the University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles; a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix; and a doctoral degree in management from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Gordon also holds graduate certificates in information technology project management, information technology security and logistics management from American Public University. He has four published books and has authored several chapters, numerous peer-reviewed articles, and hundreds of other publications.
