Now that the older kids

are in school and

YOU get YOUR TODDLERS

ALL TO YOURSELF

It’s time for Toddler Bootcamp!

The word “Bootcamp” is mostly for the mom’s

because raising a toddler takes a lot of work!

If you have a toddler you know they are BUSY little people

and very curious, to say the least.

“Terrible Two’s” is phrase you hear often when

you have a todder, and the “Three’s” are often filled with

the same adventures.

They want to know how everything works,

what it feels like,

and how to do new things.

This curiousity and desire to learn is what

gets them into a little trouble sometimes.

I LOVE to be around toddlers. They actually want to be

wherever you are . . . doing whatever you are doing.

They love to work

and they still think they’re parents are COOL!

To them JOBS are like a game or a new adventure

EVERY TIME

they get to try something new, and once they have

learned a new skill . . . it’s fun to see

their self-esteem blossom!

This chore system is perfect for training.

They can see the pictures and they can even pretend to read them.

Each chore picture says, “I CAN . . . “

and then it will show the picture as well as the word for the action

followed by the words “CAN YOU?”

They get so excited when they can answer, “YES!”

Have your toddler pick some of the jobs he or she would like to do.

I use anywhere from 5-10 cards at a time

depending on the child’s age.

(Boy)

(Girl)

(I think they’re are about 40 different chore options!)

The great thing is that they fit into the child’s hands and can be

carried with them from job to job.

When my boys where younger,

I would point to the words,

“I Can”

and have my boys “read” them out loud.

They began to recognize the words

even if they couldn’t actually read at the time.

Then they would see the picture and say what it was.

They loved pretending to read the big words at the bottom!

(That was back in the old days . . . now days, they’re born reading!)

No Pressure!!!

To Make the Toddler Charts

You Will Need:

To print the PDF.

Cut into individual cards.

Laminate the cards.

Punch a hole in the top of the cards.

You will also need to purchase a “C-Ring”

to keep the pictures together.

That’s it . . . the rest of the work has been done for you!

Boy Toddler Chart Pack-2

Girl Toddler Chart Packet

Remember to work along side your toddlers.

They will love the extra attention!

It’s the perfect time to

TEACH AND ENCOURAGE!

We created this artwork “JUST FOR YOU!”

For personal use in your OWN HOME ONLY and NOT

for RESALE . . . It’s got our copyright!

If you would like to share, please refer them to THIS blog!

Thank My Peeps!

The first half of step 7 deals with finances.  We have talked about the Family Bill Book as well as the the budget sheet and bill payment planner.  Before we move on to paper clutter and filing, I want to quickly touch on allowance pads and the Pig.

First, keeping track of allowance.  Part of being a parent (well most of being a parent – aside from feeding, clothing and keeping them safe) is to teach your children how to be a responsible member of society.  One way to teach them about finances is to give them an allowance.  Now, I have heard all kinds of debate on allowance.  Should they get allowance for doing chores?  How about for being a member of the family?  Maybe they should get allowance so that they have a set amount of money and you don’t have to continue to shell out money.  Whatever the reason it is probably wise to start allowance at a young age.  There are several different ways you can do allowance.  I’m not going to address any of those.  Personally, I think that you do chores because you are member of the family and you should do your part.  However, I also believe that children NEED to learn about money and how to manage their money.  Not teaching your children this skill will really hurt them in the long run.  Credit is still fairly easy to get and they could get into a lot of trouble quickly if they don’t understand how money works.  That said, I think allowance receipts are a great way to teach your children about money.  This is not anything fancy, just common sense.  Don’t you just love common sense?

If you don’t believe in allowance you could also use these as a way for them track money they earn for doing odd jobs.  Begin by writing down the amount of money they are starting with.  Teaching children to “live within their means” will be important for their future.  If they know how much money they have at any given moment, they will be more responsible in their spending.  I recently had a chat with my children about this.  My two oldest children were spending money like crazy!  They were taking money for the school store (can I just say I am NOT a fan of school stores!), they were taking money on field trips and everywhere we were going as a family.  One night I made them dump their piggy banks and count their money.  They were shocked to find they had spent most of their money.  I guess they thought it was somehow regenerating itself in their piggy banks!  Their brother on the other hand never spends money and he had three times what they did.  They have lately been much more careful with their money.

Next, Have a line for tithing or charitable donations.  It is a great idea for kids to learn how important it is to be generous.  Make sure they understand what this means.  If it is tithing or a donation for your church teach them where that money goes and how it is spent.  If you would like them to donate to a charity, sit down together and give them some choices.  Let them choose one that means something to them.

Next, have a spot where they can subtract the amounts they owe.  For example, my son lost his shoes last month (how in the world do you come home from a school swimming activity with no shoes????) so he had to buy himself some new shoes with his own money.  This is subtracted from the total income.  If you have more than one item (the same child had a difficult month last month – shoes, library books, and music lessons that he chose to skip were all deducted from his total) list them out individually so they can see how they add up.  It may be no big deal if they have to pay for something small here and there but combined they can add up to a larger sum!

You should also include a line where they can put some money in savings.  Whether this is a bank account or just a piggy bank is up to you (I recommend a bank that they can’t easily access!).  You may even want to talk about what they are saving for.  If they have something they want or a trip they want to save for, this can make a big difference in their motivation to save.  You could have a few different things they are saving for (a mission, college, etc.) that you can list.  You will also want to show the running total here so they can see their progress.

Finally, set some “spending” money aside.  This is money they can have whenever they want it.  This money is easily accessible for whatever they may want to spend it on.  It’s what we call our “fun money”!  This is probably going to be their favorite line!

It may sound complicated but once you get started it’s a piece of cake.  Keeping track of their money now will help them learn how to be responsible in the future when it really counts.  Sometimes we have to learn the hard way and that is never much fun.   Hopefully if they have some background on the subject by the time they get to college, on a mission or get married they will know exactly how to budget and track their spending habits.

Here is a sample you can use or tweak if you want to:   Allowance Receipt.  This will you something to start with.

The last thing to discuss on finances is the PIG!  This is a fun family idea to save all of your extra change.  Find a fun piggy bank that cannot be opened unless you break it.   Since you are already using the cash system (we discussed that in the first part of Step 7) round everything up to the nearest dollar.  All of the change you get during the day is brought home and put in the family pig.  The spare change can up fast.  Having all of it in one place will help you save for something important like a family vacation.  You can also use this as your Christmas Jar (check out our post on The Christmas Jar) if you want to donate it to someone in need.  This can turn into something fun and be a great way to save money.

Finances are not always fun so we have to appreciate the fun things that come our way!

School is finally out!  At least for me.  Some of you have been out for a week and some of you are still waiting.    Last summer I was in complete survival mode with a new baby (number 5).  This year I am ready to face it head on!  I like a little structure during the summer but not a lot.  There are a few reasons it is really important to have some sort of a plan.  We still need to get our basic chores done, I like to keep their brains working on some level, and I don’t want them to turn into lazy couch potatoes who fight all day long!  Thus, the need for some organization during the summer break.  I have put together a summer schedule for my kids that allows us to be effective in the morning and to play all afternoon!  After all isn’t the best part about being a kid having no responsibilities?  I realize it is a time of learning too but isn’t the best way to learn through play and hands on experiences?  I of coarse took that time in my life for granted and just wanted to grow up fast but some days I secretly wish I could go back (especially for just one afternoon of freedom)! 

I am attaching the form that I made for my kids as an example.  The blank form is the one you will want to use so that you can personalize it for your kids.  The third form is one that Carrie made last year and I love it too!  The goal is to create some structure while still letting your kids enjoy their summer break.  As a mom, I really like having a little freedom during the summer.  Your schedule doesn’t have to be set in stone but can be used as a guideline.  I worked in Family Home Evening (cooking will generally be to make the FHE treat and their assignment will be written in on the blank line each week), my Daily Focus and their music into our schedules.  I also decided every week we are going to try something new.  So, on Wednesdays we have reserved the afternoon for a summer outing to try out a place we have never been or even just a place we love but don’t go very often.  You may want to have your kids make a list of places they want to see or things they want to do and pick them out of a hat each week.

I printed out each child’s schedule on a different color and then laminated them so we could reuse them every week.  You can print them each week if you would like but laminating them makes life a little easier!   Be creative and have fun with it!  Create some lasting memories for your kids.  After all, they grow up so darn fast!

Summer Responsibilities Hunter

Summer Responsibilities – Blank[1]

http://blog.myheartandhome.com/?p=1054

Is today Tuesday?  My husband decided to stay home from work yesterday and my whole day was thrown off as we worked on his projects.  Unfortunately, that meant my Family Home Evening idea is, as they say, “a day late and a dollar short”!  Hopefully, you can use this idea for a future Family Home Evening.

My husband has decided (and I totally agree) that we don’t say “Thank You” enough in our family.  It’s easy to point out what others are doing wrong and of course, let them know!  It’s hard as parents to look for the positive and appreciate what your children ARE doing and not getting after them for what they aren’t doing.  My children are quick to “tattle” or easily ask for favors, but don’t always appreciate what they have and what others do for them.

Our recent Family Home Evening was about showing gratitude for others.  We have a challenge this week to see how many times a person can say, “Thank You”!  Hopefully, we are learning to have a new attitude in our home!

An Attitude of Gratitude

We have covered steps 1-4 to this point.  We have talked about getting a blue print for your house, a Daily Quick Clean, 3 Boxes and Routines.  We have decluttered and learned how to keep the house looking straight.  Now we are going to pull out the cleaning supplies and get to work!      It’s time to gather your cleaning supplies.  To begin you will need a cleaning tote.  This can be an actual cleaning tote that you buy at the store, a mop bucket you can tote your cleaning supplies in or even an ice cream bucket if your supplies fit in it!

 

Having a cleaning tote will you save you time!  You will no longer have to run from floor to floor or room to room to gather a cleaning supply that you forgot.  If you have the closet space, you can also have a cleaning closet in each area of your home for convenience.  You need to decide what works for you.  The tote keeps all supplies near you at all times.  It is very handy!

Once you have something to put your supplies in, you can start to fill your tote.  You will want to stock it with window cleaner (this can be used for so much more than cleaning windows!), toilet cleaner, swiffers (I use these to dust my blinds), microfiber cloths (these can be used to dust and clean just about anything!), and paper towels.  You may have other supplies that you want to add to the list.  Remember less is more.  You don’t want to tote a ton of cleaners all over the house.  You don’t need them.  You can get the job done with very few supplies!   Once you have gathered the supplies and added them to your tote you are ready to go. 

Cleaning is tons more fun if you do it as a family.  A Saturday Checklist will help you make sure that you get it all done.  Saturdays can be extremely full!  It seems to be the day we all use to get caught up but it should also be a fun day with your family!  To avoid spending every Saturday working ALL DAY, make a list of all the chores you need done on Saturday and put them on your checklist.  Once you have created your list,  make assignments.  You can randomly assign jobs, assign them according to age appropriateness and/or have them choose them out of a hat (this way you are not the mean mom!).  Whatever you decide, post the Saturday checklist and let them know that when the jobs are done, play time begins!

Remember to take things one step at a time!  The following link is a song by Jordin Sparks called One Step At A time.  It is fun to listen to and to clean to!   Prepare your supplies and your checklist then check back in 2 weeks to learn how to create your own cleaning charts and a cleaning schedule.  In step 5 c&d, you will learn what to clean and when.

One Step At A Time

Do you have a monster living in your house? My monster lives in my garage. I’m pretty sure you’ve all seen a monster here or there lurking in the shadows of your own home. Maybe for you, it’s a closet, a drawer, a room, or everywhere you look! We’ve all felt those scary feelings of trying to tackle and defeat the monster of paper, clutter, dirt, cleaning, and overall unorganization. It can truly make you want to run for your bed and hide under the covers. Don’t let the monster take over! There is a way to defeat the monster and become the heroine of your home!

For me, I fought my monster with my whole family. My son, Austin, is working on his Family Life merit badge for Boy Scouts. For this badge, he had to lead a family in a home project. I instantly thought of the monster lurking in the garage and knew it would be perfect! Before we started tackling the mess, I walked through the garage with Austin and looked at each section of our garage. I asked questions like, “Whose stuff does this belong to?” “What needs to be cleaned in this area?” “Who do you want to assign to do this job?” “How long do we have to spend on this?”. I loved it! It helped me to see what needed to get done and it also helped my son to take charge and give out assignments. We all went to work! If there was ever any question, my son was able to tell us what needed to be done. It was truly a family effort. The best part of all, is that the monster wasn’t as scary as I had imagined him to be. In a little less than 3 hours, we had the garage sparkling clean and monster free! If you are looking for additional ideas on how to tackle your organizing monsters, check out our 10 Steps to Organized, Step 3 videos.

Now if I could just get up the nerve to tackle my office monster…

Valerie talked about getting back into a routine after school begins.  Sometimes that can be a challenge.  I believe routines really work but it may take some time to figure out what works best for you!  Don’t be afraid to keep working on it until you find what works for your family.  We all have different kids, different activities and different priorities.  You need to find what works with you and go with it!

Morning, evening and weekly routines can really help your family know what to expect.  Evening routines become even more important during the school year.  Your evening routine now includes bath time, homework time, reading time,  family time, and possibly time for a chore or two!  Kid’s will resist less if they know what is coming next.  We all have busy lives and some consistency is important with your kids.  Decide now when homework will be completed, where they will do it and where they will keep their supplies.  Make sure they understand what is expected and when.  Sit down and discuss what will work with your schedule.  If they know that right after dinner they need to start homework, then baths, then reading time, family prayer and lights out, your job will be a lot easier! 

There are a few things that you can do before you go to bed to make your life a little easier in the morning.  To start with, do a quick clean in the evening.  Have your family get in on the action too!  Set a timer and pick up for 10 minutes each night.  If you need to, you can use the clutter bug once this time is up.  The clutter bug eats all the clutter that remains after 10 minutes and your kids will have to do chores in order to get their clutter back.  A few nights of the clutter bug coming out and your kids will be sure to make their 10 minutes of pick up count every night!   The next thing you can do is prepare for the morning by packing back packs, checking the lunch calendar so you are prepared to either make a lunch or send money, check the calendar so you know what is happening the next day.  A get ready shelf, basket or bin of some kind can also be helpful here.  Everything you need for the morning can be put on this shelf so that it is ready to go out the door when you do!  For some reason time seems to run out quickly in the morning.  A little preparation the night before can make things go a little smoother, not to mention a little happier!

Are you exited your child or children are back in school?  Or is it a stressful time for you?  Do you find that you don’t quite have it together yet and are wondering when you will?  I wanted to give everyone a few reminders that we have talked about in the past that are very relevant to this time of year.  Remember that as your children’s schedules change, so does yours.  Routines are a vital part of having your household running smooth and stress free.  However, many people forget to adjust their routine as a new part of life happens.  Whether that’s because of school time, having a baby, a new job, a new place to live, or a combination of all of them,  you are always having to look at your routine and decided if it is still effective.  You may have to change your routine all together, or maybe you might have to just tweak it a little.  Remembering to address this can take a lot of stress out of your life and your children’s lives too.

 

My oldest son is in Jr. High now and has a hard time adjusting when it comes to time management.  With more homework loaded on, practice time with his instrument, and his chores at home, it has been a struggle this last week.  He did not realize that his play time has been significantly reduced if he leaves all of this to do after school.  By adjusting what he does in the morning, he can then produce more free time for himself later on.  This is not something that most children think about all on their own.

 

Challenge:  Take some one on one time to sit down with your child and talk about their daily routine.  Let them write down what they do everyday.  Help them to see where they can move items around to produce more free time for themselves.  Ultimately, this is what every child wants more of, yet has a hard time figuring out how to do it without their grades suffering in the process.

 

Most of all remember to have fun, at least once a day, with your child.  School time doesn’t have to be crazy and out of control.  You can do it and have fun in the process!

Now that summer is officially in the swing of things, I am sure your children are “bored” already!  No matter if it’s school’s in or school’s out everybody still needs a routine for your family to run smoothly.  Enjoy our Summer Time Chart for your children to help everyone stay happy!

I finally finished planting the last of my garden!  I’m a little late on some of my plants but I’m hoping for the “better late than never” plan!  This years garden includes:  Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Beans, Tomatoes, Corn, Bush Pickles, Raspberries, Strawberries, Lettuce (three kinds), Brussel Sprouts, Onions (4 kinds), Cucumbers, Watermellons, Cantalope, Peppers (4 kinds), Pumpkins (4 kinds), Gooseberries, Beets, Yellow Squash, Zuchinni, Spaghetti Squash, Spinach, Broccoli, and Cauliflower.  I decided it would be better to fill the garden with plants that I want instead of weeds that I don’t!  Oh, the joy of weeding!  My garden plan is pretty simple:  I use the “TOPS & BOTTOMS” System.  Some things grow up above the ground, while others grow below the ground.  Check the companion garden page to see what plants grow well together.  I planted my lettuce and my beets in the same row . . . lettuce grows on the top, the beets grow below so they count as the bottoms.  This makes the best use of the space and cuts down on the weeds.  Remember to include the family.  Make it fun with contests and incentives.  Each of my boys is assigned a section of the garden to weed and care for.  It really is true that “Many hands make light work ” and being in the garden with the family gives opportunity for great conversation!  Happy Planting!