Getting Your Kids Together

Do you constantly hear yourself saying : “Hurry up”, “We’re going to be late”, “How many times have I asked you to __________”?

Do you feel stressed when this happens? Well, chances are, your kids do too!

Is This You When It Comes to Getting Your Kids Together?

You don’t need that added strain. So here are a few tips.

1. Be ready yourself

If you are ready to walk out the door with your purse in hand…the kids will surely follow soon enough. If you find mornings particularly difficult (who doesn’t!) ensure everything is prepared the night before – lunches, breakfast on the table (whatever can be), clothes laid out for you and your kids, and school bags packed. This will take less then 15 minutes if done the night before and probably an hour in the morning.

Together Tip: Have your kids sleep in the clothes they will wear the next day! I know it sounds strange, but it works. It will take the stress of getting dressed away immediately.

2. Ensure you have correct storage

Children don’t necessarily know where to put their toys, so ensure they have adequate and easy-access storage in their rooms and playroom. Label them with drawings and words so that your child can understand what goes into each storage container. This goes the same for the grown-up items. If children learn “a place for everything and everything in it’s place” from an early age, they will grow up to understand the value of a clutter-free environment.

3. Make it a family affair

When it comes to cleaning the house, make a list of your daily and weekly “To Do’s” and let each person pick what they will be responsible for. Get everyone involved. Put some funky kid’s music on and most importantly reward them for a job well done! Whether it is extra praise, a special letter to Grandma about how well they helped Mom/Dad, an unusual family activity, or even an extra 25¢ in their allowance, recognition is the key to cooperation.

Together Tip: Don’t give them too much to do at once. For example: Saying “go put away all your toys” is too large a task for children. Instead, ask them to put away all the red toys first, then, when they are done that task, ask them to put away all the lego, and so on. Better yet, give them some power and ask them what they would like to organize first.

4. Donate, donate, donate

If you find there is not enough storage for your children’s belongings, it means it is time to purge. Donate anything that your children have grown out of: toys, clothes and furniture. Keep your kids involved so they understand the power of passing it on. If you keep those things around, even if in your basement, your kids will learn that clutter is ok. If you prefer to sell your unused items try eBay, craigslist.org or even your community newspaper. Be sure to pass items on before they are of no use to anyone.

5. Schools notices and artwork

This is often a disorganized part of a child’s school life. They bring notices home and they stay in school bags until…oops…it’s too late and they miss the fieldtrip.

Together Tip: Have a special basket/box for each child. Teach your child to remove their lunch bag, artwork and notices from their own school bag as soon as they get home and put it in “their basket”. Then you can empty the lunch bag, review their notices, sign their permissions and admire their artwork with lots of time to spare.

6. Teenagers…an entire subject unto itself!

First thing I would say is…don’t make them clean up their room. Most kids will sneer and make it very difficult for you. You may end up driving them away from you. Teenagers need to express their individuality more at this age than any other. Their room is helping to form who they are…believe it or not. Also remember, even though they live in “your” house, it is still “their” room and always has been. Take that literally because it is really important. Common areas are different though.

Together Tips: Keep their door closed when they are not home so you don’t have to see it. Create a quick and easy schedule by which they can live and clean the common areas! Ensure they clean their room once a month…to keep it hygienic. Same tips apply here as do for children with regard to family areas of the house. Make it fun to clean and make it a family affair. And teenagers, more than anyone (except Moms of course) need rewards. Note: teenagers should be monitored while at home what with easy internet access and early sexual encounters. Tell your teenager to keep their door slightly open. This is especially important when friends are over.

7. Don’t try to be superwoman!

If you get tired asking for help from your kids, try a different tactic. Don’t give up and do it all yourself…you will only resent yourself for it. Talk to your kids one-on-one and make them feel important and part of the solution instead of part of the problem. And remember don’t threaten to take something away if they don’t do it, instead offer reward and recognition for a job well done.

Teaching your children that “everything has its place” and that “less is more” are simple and concepts important. It will make everyone’s life much easier and you will have less stress.

Rowena List is an Image Organizer™, motivational speaker, CD author, writer, trainer and mentor in the fields of personal and business development. Based on her own personal trade secrets, Rowena provides training, coaching, tools and support for creating healthy reflections from the outside in. She focuses on “enhancing faces and clearing spaces” to provide the energy, productivity and confidence that are the foundations for her unique approach to Success Without Struggle™.

Rowena is available for keynote speaking engagements, workshops and one-on-one professional organizing and Image Organizing™.

For more information on Image Organizing™ or on Getting It Together please contact Rowena List.