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Getting Organized I see to many parents scratching their heads and wondering; “What can I do to get my kids organized?” I hope I can add some helpful tips to lessen your anxieties. Follow along with me parents but keep your kids close by, so you can share some ideas with them too. There are assignments for parents & children below as well… Let’s face it to
many kids these days aren’t learning how to “organize” their lives. It’s sad to
see them become adults at eighteen and not know the simple ways to get
organized. Being a parent myself of a twenty-two year old, I might qualify a
little in that area or at least I hope I do from my experiences. If I can help
even a little, it’s worth my time and my simple suggestions. Let’s start here…
#1. Kids need to accept their feelings for not wanting
to do something, acknowledge it, and then put an order to things and “just do
it!” If it seems overwhelming at first, make a list of importance and do (1)
thing at a time, one step at a time. Remember no one is “Superman” or
“Superwoman”. We all have stress too but can learn to let-go or alleviate it if
we really want to. Let’s go to sleep at night knowing we’ve accomplished things
one step at a time. Like climbing a ladder, you put one foot in front of the
other and take (1) step at a time. Take to many steps at once and what
happens? You lose your balance and fall!
#2. Remember; don’t try and remember everything.
It’s okay to write things down to remind yourself of the things you would have
overloaded your brain to remember. Pilots even use checklists before each
flight to remind them of things they might overlook. #3. Use a calendar book to jot down appointments, school assignments, and class events, birthdays, chore days and what they are and when. You can also hang a calendar on your refrigerator (where your kids are bound to go daily for food) with their names and a chores list. You can give them a colorful star and hug them when they complete it. Offer awards and incentives each day, week, month etc. after they do their chores and even another award when you don’t have to remind them to do it and they remember on their own.
#4. Once a month or whatever is appropriate for your
family, make it a fun day to go through and get rid of old-unused stuff that’s
collecting dust. Donate it with your children so they can see the joy on less
fortunate families’ eyes when they receive it. You can also donate to Goodwill,
Salvation Army, local Missions and so forth. Let your kids know they are making
room for “useful new items”. (“No they cannot get rid of the old family cat for
a new frog!”) I doubt that would ever happen, but just in case, you are on your
own in explaining that one. Sorry!
#5. Have a shoe rack for kids to place their shoes
within their reach and always explain the importance of each items place, so
they can find them in a hurry. For example it’s hard to go to school with one
shoe and one sock etc. Parents; kids can’t always guess the reasons for doing
these little tasks and you need to explain even the simplest things to them.
Place toy drawers in their rooms with easy access for their toys, stuffed
animals, etc. this way they can reach to put their own toys away. If they can’t
reach them, how can they put them away? Artwork and schoolwork can be kept
neatly in files or a file cabinet. Have kids participate and organize their
files. Reward often for their work and cleanliness with love, hugs, kisses,
praises and money if necessary. (Some older kids respond only to the last one,
keep it minimal like an allowance etc.) #6. Kids; parents are only human too and they do forget at times but we as parents try to organize our stressful lives one step at a time. Give us a much needed break and help us by organizing your rooms and your lives too. It’s rewarding to all of us in the long run. A loving, happy house is what we all strive for. We are teaching responsibility here and we all know how important that is in our adult lives too.
Here is a simple & fun assignment for you and your
kids. I’ll call it “Kidz Home Banking”. Give them a budget of X-Dollars (maybe
Monopoly money) and a list of monthly bills. (You can use fictitious ones like
rent, phone, electricity, gas, garbage, cell phone, car payment, computer,
education, food, toys and so forth… Keep the list realistic and give them an
“old unused checkbook” or make up your own and have your kids fill out their
checks each month to pay their bills out of their X-amount of say, “Monopoly
money”. Help them keep a check register and oversee that everything gets paid
to who, what, where, when and on time. Let them know the importance of writing
things down, keeping a calendar, calculator, notes, paying bills on time etc.
and the consequences when they don’t. Remember parents one day they all will
face these life challenges and after all “being prepared” is the Boy Scout motto
too. I see to many kids over their heads in debt at the age of eighteen with
credit cards, expensive new car payments, and so on. Remember they are
considered adults at eighteen and somewhat naive to unscrupulous and
unsuspecting sales practices.
#8. Parents; this is our wake-up call and I’m here to
keep you parents awake! One of my own mottos is “Read-Learn-Meditate- Educate.
I hope I was able to help educate all of you as this is something we can no
longer overlook.
#9. Another important ever changing area is “computer
skills.” They will need these skills in business, jobs, home and more. Kids
are much more willing and impressionable at a young age to “learn.” Monitor the
content your kids are able to view on the computer and keep them in
safe-kids-learning-sites for their age groups. Copyright 2001 by Author Patti Tricoli |
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