Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Mom, Where's the...?

As an Occupational Therapist, it has been my job to help people gain their highest level of independence. As a Mom I benefit when my kiddos can find toys or craft items on their own. I can’t even count how many times I hear “Mom, where’s the …?” So, I’m always looking for ways to make my life easier… Aa, I mean help my kids get their stuff. Yah, that’s what I mean.

You might have guessed from some of my other blog posts, like this one and this one, that I like to organize. So last weekend, while the hubby was out of town, the kiddos helped me organize all their craft stuff. I know I talked about using google images to make your own pictures when I talked about all those baby wipe bins. I don’t think I really explained how to do that trick. I learned how to do it thanks to my super cool, really smart friend. (Thanks C)

So here goes my attempt to pass the knowledge onto you.
Open a “word” or other type of word processing document. Minimize it so you can bring up the Internet at the same time.
Go to Google.
Across the top of the google page, you want to click on Images.
Then type in the object you are looking for i.e.; glue, scissors, pla-doh…
Then right click and a small menu window will pop up.
In there, click on “copy”
Now go to your document and right click, then click again on “paste.”
Ta Da!


I used the images I found to create labels that the kids could use to find their different craft supplies. I found this 4-drawer organizer on sale at target for $15.00. It fits perfectly under the desk in our kitchen. (Helpful hint, take a tape measurer with you and know how much space you have to work with).

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Manic Monday


School daze…
Getting our little ones up, fed, dressed and ready to go out the door can be a real magic act. One trick I found helpful, and something that I implemented the first month of kindergarten was a clothing cubby. Getting 3 kiddos out of bed, on the potty and seated at the breakfast table was my morning work out. Up the steps…down the steps…up the steps…down the steps. OK, running up and down the steps was getting out of hand. In an effort to reduce the number of times I chased my tale helping my little dependants and to make my overall planning-ahead job easier, I started placing a weeks worth of clothes into clothing cubbies. For around $20.00 from a mail order catalog, I cut one of my jobs from the morning “to do” list.
Each week, as I put the laundry away, I fill Monday thru Friday with completed outfits. I make sure that each bin gets socks and undies as well as the right clothing for the right day. Sweats and sneakers for gym class, the new shirt for casual day and a sweater on the day that the trusty weatherman is calling for a drop in temperature. Now, I can stay down stairs feeding the baby and coaxing the 3 year old to finish breakfast while the older one is up getting dressed independently. I think next, I’m going to hang a small picture of books as a reminder on the day that library is scheduled.
The best part is how easy it was to incorporate into our daily routine. I pulled the day of the week cubbies out of the delivery box and wrapped the Velcro hanger around the closet rod. Step one…DONE. I explained that it was something she could do “all by herself” and she couldn’t wait for the next school day. Step two…DONE. On Mondays she needs to get the step stool out of the bathroom to reach the top bin, but it barely even slows her down. This one gets filed under one of my best ideas ever. If only I had invented the day of the week cubbies….Ahhh that would be nice.
Let me know your manic Monday, “make life easier” ideas.