Task timer challenge

Building persistence with non-preferred tasks

Does your child resist non-preferred tasks like tidying her room, doing homework, or practising the piano? The Task-Timer Challenge makes these activities manageable by breaking them into short, achievable intervals. Over time, this approach helps her build persistence and develop a habit of sticking with tasks, even when they’re not her favourites.

Materials needed

• A simple timer (kitchen timer, stopwatch, phone timer, or hourglass)
• Habit tracker (calendar, sticker chart, or notebook for marking progress)

Introduction

Does your child resist non-preferred tasks like tidying her room, doing homework, or practicing the piano? The Task Timer Challenge makes these activities manageable by breaking them into short, achievable intervals. Over time, this approach helps her build persistence and develop a habit of sticking with tasks, even when they’re not her favourites.

Instructions

1. Introduce the challenge. Say, "Let’s see how much we can tidy your room in one minute! I’ll set the timer."
2. Start with a short time. Set the timer for a brief period (e.g., 1 minute) that feels manageable to her. Encourage her to focus on the task until the timer rings.
3. Celebrate success. When the timer ends, acknowledge her effort: "Wow, look how much we did in just one minute!"
4. Gradually increase the time. Once she’s comfortable, extend the timer in small increments (e.g., to two or three minutes) to encourage persistence.
5. Track progress. Use a habit tracker to record her effort. For example, let her add a sticker or a tick to a calendar each day she completes the agreed time for her task.

Tips

• Keep it positive. Emphasise effort rather than outcomes to build her confidence in tackling non-preferred tasks.
• Involve her in planning. Let her choose which task to focus on and how to track her progress.
• Use playful language. Frame the challenge as a game or competition, e.g., "Let’s see how fast we can clean up the toys!"
• Set clear end goals. Be clear about what happens after the timer ends. For example, "When we’re done, we’ll play a game together."
• Track rewards. Celebrate milestones (e.g., completing a week of daily one-minute efforts) with small rewards like a special activity or treat.

Expected outcome

• Improved persistence. Teaches your child to stick with tasks, even ones she may not enjoy.
• Time awareness. Develops her sense of how long tasks take.
• Builds habits. Encourages consistent practice that compounds over time.

Why this works

The Task Timer Challenge applies the principles of the Pomodoro Technique, a time management strategy where tasks are divided into short intervals with breaks in between. This method reduces the psychological barrier to starting a task by making it seem less daunting. For children, starting with just one minute feels achievable, and incremental increases build their "persistence muscle" over time.

By using a timer, your child experiences the satisfaction of completion within a defined time, which can help her overcome resistance to tasks. Habit tracking adds an element of positive reinforcement, making the activity rewarding and visually highlighting her progress.

Over time, this approach can help your child form a habit of engaging with non-preferred tasks without feeling overwhelmed. It’s also a valuable skill that can generalise to managing more complex responsibilities as she grows.

Further Reading

For more on breaking tasks into manageable intervals and habit formation, check out Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo.

Final word

The Task Timer Challenge turns resistance into small wins, helping your child develop persistence and confidence in tackling tasks she might otherwise avoid. Start small, celebrate her efforts, and watch her progress compound over time. Share your experiences in the comments below, and subscribe to our newsletter for more tools to support your child’s growth and independence.