By installing a few tools and implementing these tips, you will be able to help keep children organized and set them up for success.
Clocks and Calendars
Young children often find time a difficult concept to grasp. Spending hours doing something they enjoy is not long enough, yet spending seconds doing something they dislike is much too long. Try using coloured markers or stickers on a large clock to show kids what is supposed to happen and when. For example, add a picture of a rooster at 7 am for “wake-up time” and a drawing of the moon at 8 pm for “sleep time.”
Read my tips for maintaining a family calendar. Another useful calendar idea is to assign everyone a different colour of marker/crayon for events. Children can easily see their own events. For example, one parent could be green, another red, kids could be purple, blue, pink, brown, and any activity that involves the whole family could be black.
Another quick tip: If you have repeating events such as weekly piano lessons, use the computer to print the details on a sheet of return address labels. It will save time in having to write everything out over and over again.
No Hangers, No Lids
Have you ever seen coat hangers in a kindergarten classroom? Me neither! In my post on tricks to keep children’s rooms organized, I discuss removing the hanging bar in the closet and replacing it with hooks on the walls for younger children. As children grow, they should get into the habit of using hangers. You can explain that hangers help maintain the quality of clothing and extend its lifespan. However, leave a few hooks on the wall to keep in-between clothes from becoming clutter.
Bins are great for organizing kids’ toys, but kids and lids don’t mix. Children are more likely to put their belongings away if they don’t have to open the bin first. Use open baskets on shelves for storing toys and games. Choose “lidless” laundry hampers. For items that you do not frequently access, such as off-season clothes, lids are essential because they allow you to stack bins and take advantage of vertical space.
Create a DIY Kitchen Area
Assign one lower cupboard for children’s snacks and drinks. Use designated baskets to organize juice boxes, fruit cups, granola bars, etc. Store child-sized spoons in plastic cups or small drawer organizers. Make sure they have access to napkins to clean up any spills. Help them learn to tidy up by designating a spot to put dirty dishes and garbage/recycling if they cannot access the regular one on their own.
If you need help to keep children organized, Out of Chaos can provide customized services to suit your needs. Please send us an inquiry through our website.
Image courtesy Canadian Tire
