“When 10 Minutes Doesn’t Feel Like 10 Minutes,” by Sarah Collins, Homeschool OT

Have you ever told your child, “You have 10 more minutes,” only to discover that they’re genuinely surprised when time is up? Or perhaps they insist an assignment will take an hour, but finish it in 15 minutes.

These struggles may be related to time blindness, a difficulty recognizing how much time has passed or estimating how long something will take.

Time management involves much more than knowing how to read a clock. Working memory, attention, processing speed, and our understanding of duration all play a role.

So how can we help?

Try a simple estimate-and-check activity. Before your child begins a familiar task, ask how long they think it will take. Write down their prediction, then time the activity. When they’re finished, compare the estimate with the actual time.

The goal isn’t to make your child work faster. It’s to help them develop a better understanding of time through experience.

In Episode 105 of The OT is IN, I talk with cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore about time blindness, why reminders and timers aren’t always enough, and practical ways to support children’s developing time-management skills.

Check out the video podcast!

Learn more about OT is INsiders: homeschoolot.com/otinsiders

Sarah Collins, founder of HomeschoolOT

About Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, occupational therapist, homeschool mom, author, and founder of HomeschoolOT. With more than 17 years of experience supporting children and families, she helps parents understand how learning, movement, sensory processing, executive functioning, and daily life skills work together.

Since beginning her own homeschool journey in 2017, Sarah has combined her professional expertise with real-life experience, helping families create learning environments that honor each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through HomeschoolOT and The OT is IN podcast, she shares practical strategies that help parents move beyond curriculum choices and better understand how their children learn best.

Sarah believes that homeschooling is not about recreating school at home. It is about helping children grow into capable, confident learners while building strong family relationships along the way.

Learn more: homeschoolot.com

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