Not for Facebook please.
How do I stay organised with 2 children aged 5 and 7? My house is a mess. They pull out toys, colouring books, pencils and have them all over the floor. I say do it at the table and then when my back is turned they’ve started colouring on the floor again.
I have culled the toys & colouring in stuff as well. We have donated a lot and I also have some in boxes which we rotate every couple of weeks.
They don’t put washing in baskets, they don’t clear their breakfast plate or help pack the dishwasher.
We are1- 5 minutes late to school everyday because my 7 year old just seems to need so much prompting to get ready and takes no initiative. If I say get your socks on now, they never just think to put their shoes on at the same time? I need to prompt for each bit of clothing for example ‘shirt now, pants now, jumper now, socks now, shoes now, pack lunch away now, pack drink bottle away now, brush teeth now’.
My 5 year old does much better and is usually willing to help with household chores if asked. My 7 year old just throws entitled tantrums. And still has to tidy up regardless of the tantrum.
The kids do have consequences (no technology) and we do follow through with them, but there is still just tantrums everyday for my 7yo about tidying up after themselves or not wanting to get ready for school.
I’m just frustrated. The classroom doors open up 15- 20 minutes before we actually get to school and I want to be there early, not just as the bell goes.
How can I make school mornings easier and how do I keep an organised home when my 7 year old is so unwilling to help, even just to tidy up her own mess? Thanks
How to have organised school mornings.
How to have organised school mornings.
Posted in:
Kids
5 Replies
I get up 30 - 45 mins earlier to have a coffee, pack lunches and get myself ready before kids get up. The night before we have school clothes ready and bags packed. No tv or drawing until dressed, teeth brushed, chores done (beds made etc). Some mornings this goes well but others especially when we get to the end of the week things go pear shaped but I try and keep calm - not always easy. I find it easier to guide the kids if I’m sorted. Kids that age still need guidance / maybe a list on the fridge for help? Positive praise for when they do well!
Different kids mature at different ages and some kids just need a lot of supervision. It sounds like you need to simplify things.
At this age we seriously used to get changed for school in the lounge room. We’d have our school uniforms, shoes socks, nickers all lined up so mum could supervise us all together and verbally prompt quickly. It was only once we all could do it independently did we move to our separate bedrooms and mum was able to do something else while we got dressed.
So I’d take the fight out of things. Set yourself up so you aren’t multi-tasking.
I’d also get your 7 year old looked at by a pead/psychologist, because it seems she not making some logical leaps/associations.
Also have as much packed up ready for school the night before. Lunches made in the fridge, bags packed etc.
Have a chart - whether it be a chore chart or just a chart.
Wake up 6.30am
TV time til 7am
Breakfast 7.15am - put dishes in sink or dishwasher
Get dressed 7.30am - dirty clothes into washing basket
TV time/Play time - 7.45am
Tidy up - 8.15am
Leave - 8.30am
(Obviously adjust times accordingly).
Then prior to bed each night, have them lay out their clothes for the following day. Anything that wasn't put into a basket to be washed, they get to wear dirty and stinky to school. Make a deal about how it's yucky to re-wear it.
My son is very, very similar and I find routine and being able to visualise everything via a chart so so important :)
As for keeping on top of housework, use a robot vacuum whilst you aren't home, use a spray mop, utilise the dishwasher, try and cook things using minimal pans/pots (one pan dinners). This has made my life almost carefree in terms of housekeeping! Then once a month, have a cleaner come in for a bigger clean of bathrooms and what not!
I have bags packed and uniforms out the night before.
I wake up at 6:30, have a coffee and make my youngest child's lunch. Then wake my kids up at 7. They ONLY get ready for school. No TV, no phones, no laptop, no Xbox, no coloring or toys etc to be used on school mornings. They have breakfast, teeth brushed, oldest gets her own lunch ready, get dressed, hair done and we're out the door by 8 at the latest. I have to be organised af as I'm a single mum who works full time.
1. A visual schedule. 5 easy jobs.
Get dressed. Brush teeth. Wash face. Brush hair. Pack bag: lunch, hat and water bottle.
2. A 'time to stop playing and get ready'alarm.
3. Support and guidance through the visual schedule. Praise for doing parts themsleves.
4. Incentive. Reward being ready in good time. Allowed to play or colour again once completely ready or treat after school.
Get uniforms ready the night before qnd get dressed in the same place each day.
Get bags water and water bottles and homework or readers ready night before.
Pack lunches the night before. So you are calm and ready and can help them do their tasks.