One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions is “To Not Be Late”. The resolve is strong during this first month of the year, but it wanes as the year gets older.  Why it goes to the top of the list as a resolution is simple – because it is a perennial problem all over the universe, regardless of age or status.

In schools, where there are so many set deadlines, rules and structures, the issue of tardiness is very common.  It is not just a problem but usually the root of many problems:  Why did a student miss a lesson?  He was always late.  Why did the student’s grade go down?  His home works and projects are turned in late.   And so on…

One of my daily duties as principal is to see and talk to all students who are coming to school late.  Although reasons are usually the same – traffic, woke up late, did not prepare; there are just those with far more creative minds and interesting stories like neighbors of drivers dying, parents having super slow driving skills, and beds moving throughout the night.  No matter how entertained I get, in the end, I get seriously serious.  And students know how seriously serious I can get when it comes to tardiness.

Why is punctuality so important?    Punctuality is one reflection of a person’s character.  It shows respect one has for another.  It demonstrates concern; and gauges one’s sensitivity. Hence, a person who doesn’t value punctuality usually does not show respect, may be deemed as someone who doesn’t care and even insensitive.  People who are habitually late are almost never depended on by peers and heads.  They are never given important assignment for fear that they are not up to the job.

Fortunately, punctuality is a habit to be formed. Training starts early; and through years of practice, habit eventually becomes character. On the contrary, unfortunately, so is tardiness. If “being late” becomes habit, expect it to become one’s character.  That is why tardiness is one thing teachers and adults shouldn’t tolerate with kids. As early as grade school and high school, students should learn the value of punctuality or else it will stick to them like an incurable body odor.  If we allow them to take it for granted, if we make them feel being late is ok, then we also tell them not to care for other people.

How do we help kids develop punctuality? Here are 10 tips:

1. Acknowledge that you are a person who is having a hard time being punctual. As with any problem, you cannot fix it if you’re in denial that it’s a problem at all. Admit that you need to build punctuality.
2. Understand the importance of being on time.
3. Be conscious of the time. Keep your watch accurate.
4. Wake up when you’re supposed to wake up. Don’t hit the snooze button, linger in bed, and watch TV at the very start of your day.
5. Commit yourself to being 15 minutes early for everything.
6. Keep organized. Plan ahead. Pick out your clothes the night before (don’t forget your underclothes and shoes!).
7. Communicate any problems. If your bus is always late or you have to take your little brother to school and it always makes you late, discuss this with the concerned people and do something about it.
8. Have a backup plan for your transportation. If you normally ride to school with a friend, think ahead and plan what to do if your friend gets sick.
9. Set your clocks forward by ten minutes. This is a dirty little psychological trick that many people play on themselves. The funny thing is, it really works
10. Lastly, (and this one is the most likely to motivate), come up with a consequence for yourself and/or others.