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Chore Charts that Work and Teaching Kids to Do Laundry
The theme for this week has been getting organized with kids, probably because this stretch of sunny weather we’re having has made it feel like spring! On Monday, I posted about planning a menu for the entire month and on Wednesday, I posted about building your own lockers and how it helped my kids stay organized.
Today, I thought I’d focus a little more on the chore side of things, since, really, when kids learn to help out “around here,” we’re all a little happier (and more organized). And unless you have babies who aren’t walking yet, your kids aren’t too small to help!
For kids 3 and up
A couple of years ago, I posted about taming the morning chaos with kids. Maybe our morning just seemed chaotic because I was walking around but still asleep and hadn’t taught my 4-year old to clear his own place at the table, yet. But whatever the reason, creating a ‘Good Morning’ job chart helped tremendously, as did teaching my 4-year old to pour his own milk and cereal. If that seems crazy, try doing it yourself while nursing an infant. Amusing, if nothing else. They can do it, I promise!
For kids 9 and up
Teach your kids to do a load of laundry! Practice sorting with them, then print out step-by-step instructions on how to do a load of laundry in your machine. I laminated ours and thumb-tacked them in the laundry room. Oh, the joy, of saying, “Honey, would you please go get the jeans load and put it into the washing machine?”! It’s a dream.
For all kids
Chore charts were the bane of my existence. I could never find one that was easy to use AND worked for our family. Once, I tried printing them off of the computer each week based on what jobs we’d need done each day. It was a disaster! Finally, I decided to create a chore chart system that worked for us. That was years ago and it hasn’t let me down yet. The key is in the complete flexibility–you can tailor it not only to your family, but to each day.
You already know I covet Laura’s skills over at Organizing Junkie. Do you have other chore tips to share, or other great organizing blogs I should know about?
How Do I Help Three Kids Stay Organized?
As I’ve said before, my family isn’t exactly a paragon of organization, but I’m trying here, friends, I’m trying. On Monday, I posted about how I’m planning a month of meals at a time, which is working out so much better than I expected.
Today, I thought I’d focus on kids’ papers, shoes, etc. This post on how we built our lockers remains one of my most popular–I even get emails about the dimensions!
Before we built these lockers, we had a messy closet, full of all sorts of randomness, topped by white wire shelves. We took the bifold doors off, the shelves out, measured, divided and drew up a design. There’s another row at the tip top, which you can’t see in this photo, so I actually have 6 little baskets at the top. The bottom three–the three you see here–are where we keep gloves, other seasonal gear, and art supplies. In the top three, I store everything from aprons to extra hand towels to back-up school supplies (need 100 pencils, anyone?). The kids use the bottom three bins for their shoes & boots, and hang their coats & backpacks on the hooks. We designed the ledge to stick out a bit, so the boys can sit their to tie their shoes or get their boots on.
This has worked out beautifully! The baskets are key–adding them has kept the kids’ lockers organized, which is wonderful–really, I love that they’re able to find their stuff on a regular basis!
But where do I put the stuff they bring home?
I have three places for it:
1) I have a large plastic bin for each boy’s artwork. I keep the ones I find lovely, or that they can’t part with, and store them in the bins. One day, in a land far, far, away, I hope to pare the stash down.
2) File folders. I have a metal bin with three hanging folders (one for each boy). In the hanging folders I have a folder for the year, ie “1st grade folder,” in which I keep tests, some writing assignments, and other important school work. In another folder, I keep papers that are only applicable for this school year: the teacher’s class rules, for example, or athletic schedule dates. That file gets tossed at the end of the year.
3) Trash.
This system has worked well for getting papers out of their backpacks and off of my desk or counters.
How about you? Can you share any tips for how you help your kids stay organized?