How to Teach Teens to Prioritize This Summer (With a 15-Second Game That Works)

"## Teaching Teens to Prioritize: A Path to Success

Right now, your teen is probably sleeping in, wearing the same hoodie for three days, and insisting they have nothing to do. All the while, they're juggling camp, sports, family trips, and the dozen other things you’re managing in the background.

Summer: A Time for Growth

Summer is breathing room, but it’s also the perfect time to build core life skills. For instance, learning prioritizing skills without the added pressure of schoolwork piling up is crucial.

If your teen struggled with procrastination, test stress, or the feeling of being “busy but not productive” last year, this is the moment to gently reset. Once the school year begins again, old habits tend to sprint back.

So before the chaos returns, let’s talk about how to help your teen learn to prioritize what matters most, and how one simple 15-second game can open that door.

The Sunday Night Spiral: Why Prioritizing Matters

It’s Sunday night. You’ve finally collapsed on the couch with your tea, remote in hand, and the dog curled up at your feet, when you hear it.

“Mom! Do we have glue sticks?! My science project is due tomorrow!”

You pause in surprise. “Wait… what science project?”

And before you can stand up, the avalanche begins.

• A poster board that still needs glitter

• A math test on Tuesday that hasn’t been looked at

• An English essay due in twelve hours

• And what is she working on right now? Re-editing a history video that’s due on Friday.

  
  

You look at her planner. She has one! It’s color-coded, full of lists and reminders. But somehow, the most urgent tasks keep getting buried under glitter and group projects.

This isn’t just a time management issue; it’s a prioritizing issue. And no, it’s not just her. You are definitely not alone in this.

Common Questions from Parents

I hear these questions from parents on a weekly basis:

• “She’s working nonstop, but still misses deadlines.”

• “He’s overwhelmed, but won’t let go of anything, even the fluff.”

• “She lists everything out… but somehow still ends up panicking before every test.”

  
  

These kids aren’t lazy. They are actually doing a lot. However, they have never been taught how to filter through the noise. They need to learn how to focus on what truly matters right now. That’s where the skill of prioritizing comes into play. It’s powerful. When we teach teens to prioritize early, it’s like watching fog lift.

Positive Outcomes When Teens Learn to Prioritize

Sometimes, it’s better to let the kids speak for themselves.

“I thought I didn’t have enough time for baseball and studying for Milestones. I used to rush through everything after school, just hoping I could fit it all in. But then I used this schedule sheet to plan my time. It helped me stay focused and see what actually mattered first. I realized I could manage both without feeling overwhelmed. Since using this strategy, I’ve figured out how much time I really have and how many opportunities I can fit into a single day!” - Allen, 8th grade

Let’s Play a Game: Learning Through Fun

Yes, a game. Teens (and let’s be honest, adults) learn best when they feel something, not just when they hear about it.

This is one of my favorite quick activities to help kids experience the difference between movement and meaning. And it only takes 15 seconds.

The 15-Second Priority Game (AKA: Controlled Chaos)

This game is fun, fast, and wildly revealing. Here’s how it works:

Step 1:

Set a timer for 15 seconds.

Step 2:

Read the action list below to your teen and say: “You have 15 seconds. Your goal is to achieve the HIGHEST score possible by completing as many of these actions as you can.” Ready? Go!

The Action List:

1. Clap your hands – 3 points

2. Spin in a circle – 2 points

3. Touch your nose – 4 points

4. Jump once – 1 point

5. Say your favorite food – 2 points

6. Blink rapidly – 1 point

7. Do a little dance – 5 points

8. Do a fist bump – 3 points

9. Snap your fingers – 2 points

10. Sit silently for the full 15 seconds for 100 points.

What Just Happened?

Let the timer run. Watch the flurry of movement—clapping, jumping, spinning. Then, stop the clock.

You ask: “Did you get the 100-point one?”

Usually, the answer is: “Wait… what 100-point one?”

Here’s the lesson: Sitting still for 15 seconds wasn’t top of the list, so it didn’t even register. It wasn’t loud or flashy. In the rush to do more, it was skipped entirely.

That’s exactly what happens in real life. When under pressure, we jump to whatever is most immediate. We tend to overlook what’s truly important.

Why Prioritizing is a Challenge for Teens (And Why It’s Not Their Fault)

When under time pressure, the brain defaults to action. We go for the easiest or fastest tasks, not necessarily what’s most important.

If our teens aren’t taught how to pause and weigh their decisions, they will just keep reacting. That’s where the Eisenhower Matrix comes in.

Introducing the Eisenhower Matrix: A Game-Changing Tool

This simple 2x2 chart, inspired by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, states:

“What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.”

Translation? Just because something is loud, doesn’t mean it matters.

Here’s what the matrix looks like:

	URGENT	NOT URGENT
IMPORTANT	DO FIRST	PLAN FOR LATER
	(Test tomorrow, essay due tonight)	(SAT prep, college apps, weekly workout)
NOT IMPORTANT	LIMIT OR DELEGATE	DELETE OR DO FOR FUN

How to Implement This Tool Effectively (Without the Eye Rolls)

This doesn’t have to be a whole production. No need for PowerPoints or lectures. Make it part of a weekly routine—a casual, low-pressure activity.

Sunday evening? Designate it as “Snack & Sort” time. Grab a comfy seat and some popcorn or hot chocolate (bribery can be effective), and either print out the matrix or draw it on a whiteboard.

Then ask your teen:“Okay, what’s on your plate this week?” Not just school tasks—everything: tests, practices, birthday parties, that bizarre group project that no one has started.

Once it’s all laid out, work together to sort each task into one of the four boxes. No judgment. Just help them see the difference between what’s loud and what actually matters.

From that point:

• Highlight the top 3 tasks in the “Do First” box.

• Add the “Plan for Later” items into their calendar or planner.

• Discuss what can be postponed, skipped, or done just for fun.

  
  

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s clarity. One of the most valuable lessons for your teen is that saying “no” to fluff is empowering, not a failure.

Prioritizing: It’s Not About Perfection, It’s About Power

Here’s the truth: many adults fall into the same trap. We tidy the sock drawer instead of tackling that crucial work project. We answer emails rather than making the phone call that truly matters.

So, let’s not expect our kids to be perfect. Let’s help them notice. Notice what’s noise. Notice what’s urgent but not important. And most importantly, help them notice what matters enough to take a moment for.

Because that’s where their power lives—not in doing more, but in doing what matters first.

Ready to Go the Extra Mile?

If prioritizing is the “what,” then time management is the “when.”

Our follow-up post outlines a super simple, 4-step strategy to help your teen map out their week based on real availability, not the imaginary 43-hour days they think they have.

👉 Click here to read: The Teen Time Management Strategy That Actually Works

Prioritizing is powerful. But when paired with a clear plan? That’s how your teen transforms from spinning their wheels to actually moving forward.