Tips for getting organised!
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Topic: Tips for getting organised!
Posted By: Mum_me
Subject: Tips for getting organised!
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 12:00pm
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Next term my DS starts school, this morning I was in a panic about how disorganised our household is. Almost every morning we are late to kindy, things are always getting forgotten (from kindy lunches to groceries at the supermarket), I just feel like I am running in the morning (and most of the day) to try to get ready - there must be a better way!
I was thinking of dedicating a week in the holidays to getting organised. This is what I have come up with so far: - weekly meal plans to cut back to once a week grocery shopping - a picture 'routine' for DS to teach him to be responsible for getting ready in the morning. Anyone have any other tips? I am already packing kindy bags and putting out clothes the night before... Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 12:11pm
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I don't get things ready the night before but I'm always sitting around waiting until we can leave for daycare (at 8:30). We just have a routine we do every morning..
Everyone is up by 7:20, Alex is dressed.. all have breakfast together. DH finishes his and goes and has a shower while I'm still dealing with kids. He gets out by around 7:50 by which time I'm cleaning up after breakfast. He starts making his and Daniels lunch while I'm in the shower. I'm out and ready/dressed by 8:10am and then if Daniels bag needs repacking it gets done. Daniel gets dressed either by DH if hes got time while I'm in the shower or I do it after I get out of the shower. DH leaves for work at 8:15 and we are all ready to go so I just do some general tidying up so I don't have to do it when I get home |
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 1:12pm
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My two littlies and I have to leave the house by 7.15am on two days of the week so that I can get to work. I hate rushing and feeling disorganised so I have clothes for all of us out (including coats and hats etc) and bags packed and ready to go. That way it is really just shower, dress and eat and we can be out the door. I don't have to deal with lunches except for myself so lunch for me is leftovers generally and I have that sitting in the fridge ready to go too. At the other end of the day I always unpack bags and put things in the wash or wherever they need to go. In terms of generally being organised I semi meal plan and always write a list of groceries to take with me when I shop ( I don't always stick to either though!). I've seen some quite neat ideas for making sure you don't forget items for kindy etc. The best was just a fancy looking check list for each person - you could put it on the fridge. That way you don't have to really on memory to make sure you have things - you just check each persons list and tick them off as you go. |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 1:39pm
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I have 3 children & need a routine plus I like being organised.
I split all my jobs up & allow 10mins (give or take)I find this makes them less daunting than doing everything at once. DH & I are up at 6am (kids soon after) DH has shower & I make us a cuppa & lunch for DH & the kids. DH leave at 6.30am for work B'fast for the kids. Finish packing school bags & put by front door Dress kids & they wash face & teeth. Make my bed & clear the floor. Make the boys beds & clear the floor. Stack or unstack or both the dishwasher. Hang washing out/put load on if needed. Wipe bench leave kitchen tidy. Wipe down table. Kids pick up toys & we walk to school leaving 8.15am, it takes approx 30mins. I leave school when bell rings after settling DS3 in to his class(a slow process)I then go for a walk at least 6km. When home I will finish my 10mins jobs...dust, wipe the basins down, clean toilets, vacuum upstairs (downstairs 2x a week) mop floors (every other day). So everyday I do housework, I set 10mins to do each task & that how I stay on top of it. I have a list of big jobs I set time for weekly when ever I am in the mood like, windows, pantry, sorting out stuff to get rid of, sorting clothes & I usually pick a shelf or box to do at a time or a couple of windows in 1 room so not spending hrs doing something. I have a set time when I do nothing or what ever I want, usually end up folding washing while watching tv, around mid day. I walk to pick the kids up from school & back home by 3.45pm. Then homework, shower/baths, kids play or tv time I do dinner if not done it during the day (crock pot or pre made). Kids in bed 7.00-7.30pm & get reading time then lights out...& the night is mine...& DH's  I do get bags partly ready but putting in homework & water bottles filled & in fridge. I also have the boys uniform ready at night & put them in the hot water cupboard ready for morning.
I have a planner & write down everything needed doing, from shopping to emails etc. We meal plan in the weekends usually & are trying 1 shop a fortnight (trying to save money & not waste so much). I also believe if you are organised & the place is tidy/clean then stress is lower..well it is for me
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 1:43pm
That's a good idea & it works. I have a list on my fridge with the days the kids have library & another school activity or if they need to take something on a certain day. |
happymumma wrote:Posted By: marija
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 4:14pm
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I have no great tips. Maybe spread the load (if you can) with hubby.
I do the uniforms (from ensuring they are washed, ironed and read) He does the lunches and prepares the snack box for after school. We swap jobs midyear. We have a routine. I yell he yells LOL. I think the major time organizer we have that has helped immensely is that ALL of us know what time the car is leaving and ALL must be ready by that time. After school the kids have to empty lunchboxes and place in their spot and clean out bags, homework/readers on table, hang up or put in washing their uniforms and make sure their shoes are under their bag. I spent many years listening to "I cant find my shoe" that I could have had a breakdown if I had to hear it again!! While they eat, I cook dinner. They play, I tidy. (my kids are older though....12, 10, 9 and 8) |
Posted By: Mum_me
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 4:29pm
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gosh, everyone seems so organised!
DH leaves for work before the kids get up in the morning, so it is just me. I think our problem is mostly that DS sleeps too late, I have to ask DS to do everything 50times, and there is too much play time in the morning, plus I can't bear to leave an untidy house behind. This has given me the motivation I need! (keep the tips rolling in please!) |
Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 7:49pm
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DD and I leave the house at 7.30am so we can get to daycare and work on time.
I make my lunch for the next day when I am making dinner at night. I set the bowls out for breakfast when I have done the dishes at night and put the cereal containers on the bench. DD stands on her stool next to me and makes her own breakfast (with some supervision) while I make mine. We repack our bags as soon as we walk in the door at night. We get up early! Sounds silly but even gettting up an extra 10 minutes earlier makes a difference. We put our shoes on when we get dressed in the morning. Saves the arguement/time wasting looking for shoes. DD used to be chronic for wandering around for 5-10 minutes playing after I'd asked her to go and put them on. We do exactly the same thing in the same order every day so I don't have to think about it. This means I know we need to sit down by 6.45am to finish breakfast on time (DD eats slowly). If there is something I need to remember (appointments, errands, chores) I write it in my diary which is on the bench in the kitchen ready for me to check every morning. ETA to add that DD is only 2.5 and she also loads her own dishes into the dishwasher as well as making her own breakfast and making her bed every morning. I have explained to her that those are her special responsibilities and she loves that she is grown up enough to help. I have to supervise but I'm hoping that in a year or so she won't need me to. It's never to early to start getting your kids to help out so things are easier. My theory is everyone who lives in the house (in my case just me and her) is responsible for making it run smoothly, not just me. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: marija
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 8:16pm
My kids arent allowed to sleep in LOL. I know they can get ready within half an hour so I let them sleep till half an hour before we leave. However they are not allowed to watch TV until EVERYONE is ready. My kids are usually up early so its not an everyday issue. I miss my sleep in...now a sleep in is 8am, boo!! Chin up...I may be organized now, but I was far from that for many years LMAO. Also....housework will always be there, kids need to be on time within the school system and its a habit you should break now rather than later :-) |
Posted By: floss
Date Posted: 05 July 2011 at 8:58pm
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I start work at 7 so all 3 kids and I have to leave a 6.45am.
So our morning goes My alarm at 6 I am dressed with hair and make-up done by 6.10 The kids get up and get themselves dressed (clothes are already out the night before) While they are getting dressed I make their breakky so its ready by the time they are dressed. They eat while I brush the girls hair. I finish Sienna's lunch most of its packed the night before except the sammie. They all go to the toilet In the car at 6.45 At night as soon as we get in I get any wet clothes out of Noah and Lolas bag and repack, so their bags never get out of the car Sienna gets her bag out and takes lunch box out, they play while I sort dinner and pack most of Sienna's lunch After dinner Sienna does her homework then it goes stright back in her bag Clothes and shoes are sorted for the next day and ready to be put on. As for housework that gets done on the weekends. Except washing which I put on at night after everyone is clean then in the summer I hang it out in the winter it normally goes in front of the fire. I do a meal plan for the week which includes lunches for Hubby, Sienna and I. Hope some of this helps ------------- My beautiful big girl Sienna 15.04.06 Double the trouble double the fun Noah & Lola 10/11/07 |
Posted By: mikec
Date Posted: 08 July 2011 at 1:06am
| This is usually a problem for those who are just starting out with their kids going to school. I would suggest that you set specific places where things would be placed, picked up and returned. What I mean is, there should be a strategic place where you could place their lunch box so that they would never leave it. Probably on the way out to the door. Or beside the car keys if you drop them off to school. You can also leave the responsibility to your kid. It's their lunch anyway. |