Question:

organize

GROUP ACTIVITY

When you have children of various ages and have to find something that everyone would enjoy to keep them happy, consider these activities that are enjoyed my many.

1. Go outside for a walk. Collect leaves, grasses, rocks and other "treasures". At home, glue them into a large piece of paper making a collage. Enjoy the sandbox outside or in winter play in the snow.

2. Puzzles are fun. Have a variety of puzzles on hand of various difficulties.

3. Have a story time. All children love to hear a story.

4. Music time! Put on your favourite music and let the children dance. Even babies love to move to the music.

5. Creative art time. Cutting and pasting, fingerpainting, and painting are loved by children of all ages. You may have to simplify activities for yournger children, for example, precut the shapes for pasting

6. Bake or cook something. A great multi age activity. There is something every age child can do, like stirring or measuring. Give very young children a bowl and spoon to keep them occupied between their "jobs".

7. Nuturing is a "job" activity that can involve everyone. Water, feed or walk the dog (cat or fish). Water the houseplants. Sing to the baby.

8. Consider helping around the house an activity!
Setting the table, tidying, sort or fold laundry (I have been known to take dishtowels out of the drawer for a 3 year old to fold while I finish making a meal), and sweeping is very popular.

Even babies that cannot take part in these activities will enjoy watching, especially if you talk to them about what is going on.

MORNING MADNESS

Are you find getting out the door in the morning is mass confusion? Kids going to daycare or school, lunches to pack, kids to dress, things to remember....you're probably wondering what you can do to make it easier. There just isn't one set answer for you, but there are dozens of little things you can do to make it easier. Here are a few things that work. Pack the night before. You can even make it part of the bedtime routine and get the kids involved. Pack their lunches after supper and put in the refrigerator until the morning. Get help from your partner. Share the load, even the kids can help. One does the dishes and one packs lunch. One bathes the children and one lays out the clothes and tells the bedtime story. Trim the edges. It doesn't matter if the socks don't match. As long as they are dressed properly for the weather they will get through the day. Pick your battles carefully. Prioritize. There are some days, and we've all had them, that you just have to get through.
The best tip I can give you is that the children take their cue from you, If you are frazzled so are they.

FAMILY MEETING

Tell the kids (& spouse, if need be) "Thanks, but I'm not really Super Mom/Dad. I/we need your help. You need to learn the survival skills. Here's the list of chores. Would you like to choose which ones you'll do, or shall I choose for you?" Plus, if they have to help keep the house clean, they'll be less inclined to mess it up.

Reprinted with permission from Maria Gracia's FREE Get Organized Now! Newsletter. Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak and Newsletter, filled with tips and ideas to help you get better organized, at the Get Organized Now! Web site. http://www.getorganizednow.com

FAMILY CALENDAR

Make a family calendar and post it where it is handy to all. Add children's appointments, lessons, team practices, deadlines for homework or tests, events, and family outings. Use a calendar with large squares. Post the children's chores and responsibilities on another calendar posted in the same area. If you can combine the two, great! Have your older children add updates on their own.

LAUNDRY BASKET ORGANIZING

To make sorting clean laundry less of a hassle, have a separate laundry basket for each member of the family. I let my daughter pick out which color she wanted and she decorated it with bows. Each family member is responsible for putting away their clean clothes once the basket is filled.

NECESSARY BALANCE

No matter the age, a balance is always necessary in life. A balance between school (academic), social, excercise, and entertainment. Pushing one section of the balance too far, for example talking on the phone to your friends, or staying outside and playing basketball too long, will cause a problem somewhere else in the balance, in your schoolwork, for example. Time management skills are necessary to make sure that this balance stays intact.

GET KIDS ORGANIZED

CHART IT. Make a chart with rows for each day of the week, and columns for Chores, Homework, Activities and Assignments, and "I Want to...". Complete one for each person, or use color-coding to summarize on one chart. Then post on the fridge or keep in a family organizer. When they've completed their required tasks, they should be free to do their (reasonable) "I Want to..."s. This linking privileges with responsibilities is a crucial values lesson.

Reprinted with permission from Maria Gracia's FREE Get Organized Now! Newsletter. Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak and Newsletter, filled with tips and ideas to help you get better organized, at the Get Organized Now! Web site. http://www.getorganizednow.com

A SOLUTION FOR STORING HAIR ACCESSORIES

If you have daughters that use hair barrettes and bobbles you may find them all over the place. Having a jar on their dresser works for some, but, then she may have to "dump" them out to find the pair she wants. Try this idea. She can make a nice, decorative storage utility from the following 3 ideas.
1. Hang a pretty ribbon on the back of her bedroom or bathroom door. Clip the barrettes to the ribbon. They are easy to access and use.
2. Make a dolly face from a paper plate and glue "yarn braids" to the sides of the plate.
3. Clip the barrettes to the braids and hang on her bedroom wall.
A belt that no longer fits your daughter is easy to hang from the buckle, and when the barrettes are clipped onto it. It can be hung in her closet for storage!

INCLUDE THE KIDS IN YOUR ACTIVITIES

Combine family time with chore or hobby time. Studies have shown that kids actually enjoy the time spent working with parents, even if they complain about it before and during. Additionally, it shows them their contributions are valuable-very good for self-esteem! Working together is quality time!

Reprinted with permission from Maria Gracia's FREE Get Organized Now! Newsletter. Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak and Newsletter, filled with tips and ideas to help you get better organized, at the Get Organized Now! Web site. http://www.getorganizednow.com

10 MINUTE PICK-UP

Control the chaos. Schedule a consistent, '10 minute Pick-up' each night. Set a timer to sound an alarm in 10 minutes.

While the clock is ticking, all family members are responsible for clearing out and putting away their belongings from the main family area.

When the timer sounds, you're all done. Give yourselves a warm round of applause for all you've accomplished.

MAKE CLEAN UP A GAME

If you have younger children, play "Inspection Express" every evening before bedtime. Make a "hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you train." Choo-choo through the rooms, looking for things that need to be put away. Or set the timer and see who can clean up the fastest-and neatest. One family calls the old socks they dust with "Dust Puppets". Play music, singsongs.

Reprinted with permission from Maria Gracia's FREE Get Organized Now! Newsletter. Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak and Newsletter, filled with tips and ideas to help you get better organized, at the Get Organized Now! Web site. http://www.getorganizednow.com

Kid Frequently Asked Questions

quotes

Thanksgiving

games

snack

easy craft

Christmas craft

dough recipe

Halloween

lunches

quote

Christmas song or activity

Easter Activity

group games

valentineīs day craft

breakfast

COMMUNICATING

songs

craft idea

costumes

art experiences

hot dogs

hot dogs

organize

Easter eggs

science activity

family activity

halloween snack

fruit

valentineīs day snack

clay

hand eye coordination

educational activity

outdoor activities

musical instruments

paint activity

cookie recipe

Easter

valentineīs day song

play dough

party activities

apple

christmas snack

shoelace repair

cookie

dot to dot pictures

pop corn

friends

sensory toy

dehydration

Thanksgiving song

salad

Halloween decoration

fruit salad

pumpkin

peanut butter

bug guts

drinks

nature activities

relay race

imagination

hanukkah

crepe paper craft

paint recipe

halloween craft

GAME

momento

fruit punch

summer activity

family activity

bank

drink

halloween song

kid exercises

paper craft

ice cream

color activity

memory

frozen pops

studying

anger control

teacher communication

halloween game

water activity

CALM DOWN TECHNIQUES

SIBLING RIVALRY

egg cartons

banana

Art

Arbour Day

rules

homework

family memories

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY

indoor activities

numbers

bells

memory books

sun catcher

St. Patrickīs Day Craft

Sleepover party activities

costume

pie

mancala

sugar cube art

Pajama Party

Thanksgiving Game

RHYMES

collage

Kawanza

cream cheese

scavenger hunt

grace

guessing games

threading

pudding

bread

frame

hanukkah song

zoo

kids cooking

paper plates

jello

leaves

ICE PACKS

NOBODY LOVES ME

baby wipes

pretzels

special moments

imagination

rain painting

verbal skills

water games

paste

bubble wrap

fishing game

winter activity

eggs

crafting with kids

Ground hog day

learning alphabet

vocabulary building

math activity

GREAT GREEN GOBS

TONY KNOWS

valentineīs day game

apple cake

nature

hide and seek

HAVE YOU SEEN THE MUFFIN MAN

IMAGINATION

skeleton

windsock

slushies

no bake cookies

craft supplies

riddles

bird feeder

collage

flower art

shape recognition

six little ducks

paint tools

paint supplies

Pin the tail on the donkey

octopus

SAND & WATER TABLE TOYS

HOMEMADE INSTANT OATMEAL

glue

faux stained glass art

THE CROCODILE SONG

HUSH LITTLE BABY

Go tell Aunt Rhody

CHEERLEADING POM-POMS

milkshake

hobbies

placemats

family album

carving a pumpkin

hippie

oatmeal

gift idea

crayons

being popular

bubble activity

rainbows

dodge ball

tambourine

stamp art

snow globes

butter

Motherīs Day Craft

scissors

I WAS SNAPPING MY FINGERS

tricks

rock candy

fruit dip

sandwiches

MATH GAME

insect feeder

obsticle course

red rover

Miss Mary Mack

sunflower fort

juice can lids

PRE-MADE OATMEAL PACKETS

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

HEARING PROBLEM

rings

sand play

FATHERS DAY POEM/FOOTPRINTS

JUMP JIM JOE

craft sticks

kaleidoscope

Easter bonnet

teach kids colors

mask

sandbox

pipe cleaners

paper confetti

halloween trick

kick the can

How can I make an easy costume?

kazoo

holding scissors

soap

COTTONBALL RACES

Arbor Day

Trees

April Holidays

scarecrow

sherbert

no bake

sloppy joes

sloppy joes

menorah

puppets

popsicle sticks

TOUCH FOOTBALL

moving away

santa costume

bucket toss

ALTERNATIVE BUBBLE BLOWERS

limbo

Fatherīs Day

ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE HORSES

Slipper Socks

HOW TO CARRY SCISSORS

gardening

JULIUS SHAKES

bakerīs clay





Not finding the advice and tips you need on this Kid Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!


Guru Spotlight
Phyllis Serbes