Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Organizing kids

My beautiful little girl went to school this morning in her old shoes that I should have put in the trash. Why? She couldn't find her newer shoes because she didn't put them away, and Ali just loves to wear other people's shoes and pretend to be them.

We were late getting ready because Becca was still doing homework this morning. I've come up with a plan, though.

I am making a chart. It's a chore chart that all the kids can check off when they do things. When all their check marks are in place, they can play or watch tv or anything else that they want to do. We already have the do homework before watching tv rule, but since Becca's homework isn't really organized for each day, I'll have to check her stuff when she gets it and organize it so that she does a little each day. Micah is going to need it so that he remembers his chores. Becca usually remembers her chores, but puts off her homework. I figure I'll put the twins on there, but their only chore is to pick up their toys so far, and I'll have to come up with something to work for homework because I know that they are going to want to do that, too. They already asked for homework yesterday. I am debating putting Cassidy on there, too. She's only here in the morning, but if the twins start getting into it, Cassidy will probably need to have something to do, too. I may just give her homework or something. The girls like to color, we may just do some of that every day with an occasional craft project or something.

I haven't totally figured it out. I know that it will have to be big, or no one will remember it. I may have to make separate charts for each child just because their activites are so different. Hmm...I don't know. I do know that the 99 cent store has poster board real cheap, so I could try things out. Still, if it is going to be reusable, I'll probably have to laminate it or something.

Remember when I said I am a walking disaster? I meant it. I am no good at this organizational stuff. I can intelectually fathom the idea for organization, I just don't do it. Yeah, that's where my kids get it from. Micah actually is more organized than I am. He has his routine and will remind me of things if I forget. If I start this chart thing and do it with both kids together, my hope is that he will begin to remind Becca. It's pretty fair that he should help teach her organization since she teaches him all the time about interacting with people. They are therapy for each other.

Well, that's my plan. I should probably write down all the rules for them, too. I did stuff like this when I was teaching preschool, you would think that I could put it into place with no problem in my own home. It kinda sounds like a verse I read recently:

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15

That passage is about sin and the struggle with it. When I read it, I usually have to read it over and over a few times because it kinda gets confusing, but its really worth it. I recommend reading the whole chapter.

1 comment:

Jennifer said...

I did a chore chart for Kya when she was two years old. It had simple things on it like, pick up toys, brush teeth, dust, etc. She loved it because it gave her a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of responsibility.

Now I think I better make one for Seth too.

As far as Becca's homework, when I was a kid my mom let me have a snack when I came home from school and then I was to do my homework immediately afterwards. Once I was done she would review it for me. It was always homework before chores, but it all had to be done before bedtime.