 |
| source |
If you have a child between preschool and college age and live in the US, you are well aware that school is just around the corner. Soon we will say goodbye to the swimming pool, later bedtimes, and lax schedules. While I am sad to put summer behind us, I am excited for what this school year holds!
This week will begin a several-week long series to help you prepare for the school year. In this “Preparing to Impress” series we will cover:
- Preparing Mom
- Preparing Your Home
- Preparing Supplies
- Preparing Curriculum
- Preparing Children
- Preparing Family
- Preparing Your Schedule
Each post will contain specific activities that I am doing to get ready for my four kiddos to begin elementary school and the ABCJLM 2 Year & 5 Year preschool curricula. I encourage you to add your thoughts in the comment section of this blog and on the ABC Jesus Loves Me Facebook Group. Sprinkled throughout the posts will be “Home Hints” that I have gathered along my journey.
To wet your appetite, I will share the first Home Hint.
ABCJLM Home Hint #1
Whenever possible, I color code things for my children. It sounds simple but it has made a huge difference our family. No more questioning who the item belongs to.
Below are the colors for our kiddos:
Bubs is green
Sweet Pea is pink
Little Man is blue
Peanut is purple
Understand that there is not a rule that each child must have belongings of only this color but in items that I can easily color code, I do! Having objects color coded cuts down on my brain work. It also reduces the argument because everyone knows exactly which items belong to which child.
- Cups
- Towels
- Folders
- Toothbrushes
- Beanbags
- Washcloths
- Colored rubber bands to place around items
My favorite place to use color coding is in kitchen. (Probably because I hate dishes!) When a new cup is taken from the cabinet, the kids immediately put the corresponding rubber band around it. This identifies the cup with a certain child. If a child chooses not to finish a meal, his leftovers are placed in a small container with the correct rubber band around it to be eaten the next meal. When lunches are prepared for school, we place rubber bands around each container so the child can quickly grab their pieces the next morning. The rubber bands are held in a divided Rubbermaid container for easy assess of the kids.
Give color coding a try and let me know what you think! Also be sure to “Subscribe and Follow” this blog so that you don’t miss any tips. We’d love to have you share this series with your friends through Facebook and Pinterest (buttons above).
Tomorrow…Why the “Preparing to Impress…” name?
What topics and questions would you like me to cover in this series?
Love your rubber band idea for the kitchen. Thanks for sharing!
We color code laundry basket but I think the color coding other stuff would be really helpful. I really like the idea of using rubber bands to indicate color rather than buying everything in those colors.
I bought those use & throw cups for my littlest kiddos – M is Pink, G is purple & Connor gets all the boy colors. I have matching lunchable containers for the girls too. Ive heard of daycares that are required for each child to have their own hand towels and each child is assigned a certain color to use every day – so if Johnny is blue he uses a blue towell, name tag, basket, toothbrush, washcloth, cup,plate and so on. You can see at a glass who didnt clear their plate or hangup their towell after washing their hands. 🙂
That's interesting Tina. I haven't heard of that but I could see why it would be very helpful!