The Family Coach

A monthly column written by local coaches with Family Directions in Tampa as a community service.  Their coaching services are available to local families by calling their office.

Organizational Tips for Making the Morning Rush Easier

Back-to-school time is here and getting everyone organized takes a great deal of work for parents, especially as your kids get further into grade school or high school.  This month we want to give you some tips to help you and every member of your family get and stay organized throughout the school year. 

Make a commitment to get organized now, even if the task of getting organized seems daunting.  By taking the time now, you will reap the rewards of saved time and reduced frustration for the rest of the year! 

Create a schedule

Clearly define and write down who needs to where and when.

Assign responsibilities.  Who is responsible for taking children to different activities? When is homework completed and how is each child accountable? 

Have regular family meetings where the children have a chance to participate in this schedule.   Communication is good!
                               
Create a family calendar
                               
Make sure all expectations are understood.  Give clear information in advance about rewards and consequences regarding the outcomes of those expectations.
                              
Have a communication board where your children write down or post their needs for school, after-school activities, birthday parties, etc.  Make it their chore to communicate what they need.

Create a routine

Stop and take at least 10 – 15 minutes the night before to prepare for the next day.

Set out clothing, review the calendar and organize all things needed for the next day in advance.  Make it easy to grab what you need and head out the door.

Assign one special place in the home for everyone to place things that are needed for the next day, and that includes parents too.  Look for a convenient location such as a desk, a cubbie or a basket.  Give it a name so everyone knows “the place.”  You can easily reduce morning rush-hour stress by making it easier to find things as part of your routine. 

Training tip:  Don’t drive back to school if your child forgets his homework.  Teach the child again about the calendar and remind him it is his responsibility to avoid problems at school.

Don’t bear it alone

Save gas and time by creating a carpool to school or for after-school activities. 

Make dinners in advance and freeze for those really busy days.  Ask family members what they would like and recruit them to research recipes, coupons and help with preparation.  

Don’t forget that children are very capable of helping and will benefit from taking responsibility in a way that is age appropriate.  Teach them it is not only the parents’ responsibility to plan, remember and prepare.  Some chores might include preparing snacks for lunches, sorting or folding laundry or picking up their toys.  All their small efforts create more time for the family to spend together.
  
Just remember that procrastination is the easy way out in the beginning, but leads to more chaos and wasted time.  Organization takes work at first, but in the end is more rewarding.  Be a role model for your children.  It will take calm repetition of concepts to create good habits, but with everything we need to teach our children, it is well worth the effort over the years.

If you would more help organizing your home, family or business, or assistance in implementing these strategies, call Family Directions at 813-915-1600.

Written by
Caroline Hatton, LMHC, NCC 
Kelly Jo Terry
Margaret Mela
The Coaches of Family Directions

For more information contact us at:
Family Directions
8019 N. Himes  Avenue
Tampa,  FL   33614
813-915-1600
www.yourfamilydirections.com