"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no delay, no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow
what you can do today."— Lord Chesterfield
Being punctual means showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time. Being punctual shows respect for the people in your life and avoids the loss of time and energy that results from keeping others waiting.
In your home, model punctuality by giving priority to appointments made with family members and helping to lift the burdens of family members so that they can get where they need to be on time. You can also ensure that family members go to bed on time in order to facilitate getting up on time the next day, and make sure you are in the car in time so as not to make the entire family late for an event or appointment. Encourage family members to promptly respond to letters and phone calls and not keep others waiting.
Encourage punctuality in your family by saying these “I will” statements aloud with your children and applying them to everyday life:
I will:
- be at the right place at the right time
- prepare for unexpected delays
- do my work ahead of time
- plan a daily schedule and keep it
- not fall into the trap of “just one more”
Read about punctuality to bring the lesson home to your kids:
- In Little Miss Late (by Roger Hargreaves), early readers learn from the title character why it’s important to be on time.
- In My Big Lie (by Bill Cosby), Little Bill finds big trouble lying about why he’s late.
- The Berenstain Bears Catch the Bus (by Stan and Jan Berenstain) introduces the concept of time to early readers.
Courtesy of Character First, www.characterfirst.com.
