Speaking Notes...DAY 1

I was so honored when the Mom's group that I attend asked me to speak this week. I thought, well, I've already done the work. I should post this on my blog. So, here are my notes for my speech on kids and organization. It's not the whole thing, but I'll post some throughout the week this week. This is the introduction and section on organizing children's bedrooms...
* Please note that I use the Managers of Their Homes book by Steve and Teri Maxwell for much of this great information.

Introduction
“ORDER” – God created the world using order and scheduling, then rested.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

I Corinthians 14:40 - “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

BUT, don’t let order become the idol of your life! (Example: You may get so frustrated when you’ve just cleaned the house from top to bottom, then children make a mess and you’ve become frustrated with them and then feel guilty yourself for getting frustrated.)

Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

Not managing our homes is one reason the enemy would have opportunity to slander us, our family and our ministry.

Scheduling enables you to focus on your God-given priorities. You will not reach the end of the day wishing you had spent your time differently. You may not get everything done that was on your list, but at least there’s a goal!

Scheduling gives direction to your children. They need to know what to do and when to do it.

Using a schedule allows normal routine to continue in your absence (babysitters, Daddy watches kids while you’re having a girls’ night out, etc.)


KIDS’ BEDROOMS

*Think of a classroom…different centers

1.) Dress up/housekeeping
Supplies: Dress up clothing, wallets, purses, shoes, hats, kid-safe jewelry, community helper outfits, silly outfits, wigs, make up, etc. Also…play kitchen, little aprons/chef’s hats, play food, telephones, play washer and dryer, iron, dollhouse with people and furniture, shopping basket/cart, baby dolls, strollers, doll clothing, bottles, diapers (real newborn ones are fun!), play potty.

To organize supplies: hooks on wall for clothing, bin with a lid for other dress up clothing, basket for play food near kitchen, basket or bin for dolly items.

2.) Arts/crafts

Supplies: crayons, markers, paints, glue, scissors, pencils, funky pens, stamps, stamp pads, sponges, pipe cleaners, glitter, sequence, beads, string, stickers, paper, coloring books, magazines to cut (go through them first!), etc.

To organize supplies: You can use a bathroom caddy, muffin tins, plastic pull-out
drawers from Walmart/Target, etc.

Get comfortable: an actual desk or table with a chair, bean bag chair with a lap desk
(Learning Express) or tray table.


3.) Blocks/Building

Supplies: blocks (legos, ABC blocks, etc.), cars, little people, train/train track,

To Organize supplies: pull out drawers, bookshelf, plastic bins

4.) Musical Instruments
Supplies: xylophone, wooden sticks, drums, tambourines, whistles, castanettes, etc.

5.) Games/Puzzles

*Keep on a shelf or somewhere where you can read the titles. We keep the majority of our family games in our living room on a bookshelf near a carpeted area and a table for the puzzles.
* If keeping puzzles in a ziplock bag, be sure to cut out the picture on the box and put it in as well.

6.) Kids’ clothing
Storage under bed (IKEA/Walmart/Target)
Hang in closet (it’s great if it’s within child’s reach)
Dresser (label drawers with pictures and words for little ones)

7.) Sleeping

Bunk beds or lofts are GREAT for space savers! Trundle beds too. Money is wasted on beds. If you’re planning on having a larger family, purchase bunkbeds from the start and train your little one to sleep in it. You can get a rail for the side and put pillows on the ground to protect them from falling. We trained our kids at 15 months and 18 months to sleep in a big bed.

8.) Books/Reading

Bookshelf for books; keep library books separate (we use a box with a label for “library books” on it). It’s great to keep books near child’s bed so they can read during a quiet time, before their set time to get out of bed in the morning or before they go to sleep at night. We also keep books all over our house in a basket in the living room (great alternative to watching tv), in the bathroom and in everyone’s bedroom.
Note: For quiet time, you can use a tent, a bathtub stuffed with pillows and comforters + quiet time box, a hammock out in the backyard, tree house…be creative! BUT, make sure the actual place isn’t too distracting for a child to stay put. You need your time, they need theirs and you don’t want to be interrupted! Be consistent.

9.) Computer/TV…keep in family room and engage with your child as they play games or watch an educational show. Keep it limited. Let kids earn screen time. You can use poker chips or tickets. Be sure that your children know what shows/games they are allowed to watch and why they are appropriate vs. why some shows/games are not.

“…let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” II Corinthians 7:1b

*YOU are the parent, YOU are in charge of what comes into your home and
YOU will be held accountable by God.

10.) Other: flannel board, dinosaurs, balls (baskets from the Dollar Store work great!), tools, Lincoln logs, puzzles, science “stuff”, Fisher Price’s Little People.