Habit 3 - Put First Things First

“I spend time on what matters most.”

At Giles Junior School, we teach children that putting first things first means recognising what is important and making time for it. This includes learning, responsibilities, relationships and looking after ourselves.

Children are encouraged to organise their time, follow their plans and stay focused, even when distractions arise. They learn that balancing responsibilities with rest and enjoyment helps them work towards their goals.

In school, this might look like:

• Getting organised and ready for learning.

• Completing an important task before choosing a free-time activity.

• Breaking work into manageable steps.

• Returning to a task after a distraction.

• Making time to help others and care for shared spaces.

We recognise that prioritising and managing distractions can be challenging. Through clear routines, visual reminders and encouragement, we help every child develop these skills with the support they need.

At home, you can reinforce this habit by asking: “What needs to happen first?” or “How can we make time for both your responsibilities and the things you enjoy?”