Getting Organized:
In your home and homeschool
Dear Friends,
Is it Thursday already? This week has felt different for me with the various challenges that we have had. My routines have been a comfort. Several of you have emailed me and encouraged me this week.
One question I had this week was about establishing routines with small children at home. This is one of my favorite things to talk about because I lived that life for a long time.
When you have little ones at home with you all day, you feel like you are the ringmaster of a 3-ring circus. You are directing your children and trying to tame the chaos around you.
Start with establishing a firm Before Bed Routine for yourself and the children. Have a consistent bedtime and lead into bedtime with the same routine.
Right after dinner once you have done the dishes and shined the sink, check the calendar, the weather, and lay out your clothes and help the children lay out their clothes. You will want to also include shoes and socks for each person. Hunting for lost shoes and socks in the morning sets your day off on the wrong foot. (Pun intended)
Put things at your Launch Pad that you and the children will need. Include them if you can. They can carry stuff to the Launch Pad. By keeping them with you, you are preventing them from making more messes.
Then have time set aside for playing, reading, and picking up toys. This can be as long as you want it to be.
Get their pajamas out and have bath time. This should signal a quieter part of your evening. Brush teeth and tuck them in bed.
If you get this routine down pat, then you are ready to work on another routine. If your husband is home in the evenings, work together on the evening routine. If you have activities outside of the house once in a while in the evenings, do an abbreviated evening routine.
I will repeat this one thing. Keep your children close to you while doing routines. It will teach them the routines, and it will keep them from making more messes.
Today’s Zone Mission is to put away all of the laundry and anything else that does not belong in your room.
Your Home Blessing for today is to declutter paper and magazines.
My menu plan for Thursday is chicken and a salad for me and corn dogs for the boys.
Have a great day!
