Read on to learn time saving tricks by our UGG Organizing Expert Angèle Lord. Angèle will also be sharing her tips and trick on how to "De-clutter and De-stress" at the coming UGG in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, November 6 - 8, 2009.
As adults, we view January as the beginning of a new year, but for kids, September is really where their year begins. Most kids, if not all kids, love organizing their new school supplies, in their new school bag, shopping for new clothes and even sometimes, adopting a new look. So why not take advantage of this “new leaf” and instill some great organizing tricks into their lives. Here’s a few you might like to try with your crew. But remember, you also have to do it for yourself and your spouse. Don’t enforce something that you are not willing to do yourselves.
- Organize a space in your entrance hall for their school bag, a place to hang their coat, store their shoes and/or boots and hang their hats. Where do you set your keys, briefcase and purse down every night?
- Organize a small space on the kitchen counter to collect the lunch bags.
- Leave a file folder or small in-basket in your kitchen or entrance for them to leave all the important papers they may have for you.
- Have them prepare their own lunches for the next day while you’re preparing dinner and then take advantage of this time to discuss the day’s events with them.
- If at all possible, have a small desk for them to do their homework at in their own space so that this habit will take root very early in life. They’ll thank you when they reach high school or university. (Yeah, sometimes it takes that long!)
- If your son or daughter needs more time to get ready in the morning, because of a disability or just difficulty making decisions, have them lay their clothes out the night before.
- Forget perfection…but allow for lots of creativity and individualism. It may not be your way of doing things - but you’re also not letting them organize YOUR space and things either.
And remember to involve them in the decision making process whenever possible, so that they’ll “own” the new decisions and habits being instilled. Encourage them by reminding them of the benefits involved in the new habits. For example, “You won’t miss out on important field trips because I’ll have seen all the paperwork and sent my authorization!” Or, “You won’t be going off without a lunch, because we’ll know exactly where your lunch bag is!”
Do you have any area of your home that is problematic for you and you’d love to receive some help with? Let us know, we’ll be happy to send you some tips and tricks!
