School, camp, dance, karate, friends, homework and field trips; does it ever end? Not until they grow up, by which point we will be looking back on it all fondly. But right now, it’s chaos. Most people would say organized kids is an oxymoron, but it doesn’t have to be. Don’t miss any more early-bird discounts or the school field trip and other great opportunities. Planning ahead makes everything easier and some of it cheaper. So very worth it.
Crutches, bed, wheelchair, bed: I had to learn to raise my child from all of them. I would highly recommend some things we learned, and strongly advise against our mistakes. Keeping your kid organized, busy, safe, stimulated and cared for is a lot of work, but worth it. And there are so many ways to do it successfully. If your best laid plans aren’t working, stop beating yourself up and try something new.
Nothing Ever Goes As Planned
I had a crash course in organizing my child when I found out I wasn’t going back to work, I was having hip replacement surgeries. Cue dramatic music. She would start walking, just as I would be on crutches. How could I give my child the happy, stimulating experiences I had planned from a recuperation bed?
Can kids be organized? It probably depends on the child, but they can learn independence and self sufficiency. You can help them learn to plan and organize; it will help them function as adults when they need to do it for themselves and their own families. It will be a valuable tool for them at school and then professionally as well.
I organized all of my daughter’s care, activities, gifts and events from my favorite chair for three years, juggling day care, nannies, babysitters and family to make sure she was well cared for whether I was in the hospital or at rehab appointments. My mom, dad, daughter and I took a road trip with two walkers and a stroller to visit my grandmother in hospital. My husband and I even flew across the Atlantic with a walker and a toddler to visit his parents who were no longer allowed to travel. We had no choice, so we made it work; so can you.
Necessity Rules the Day
What we learned from necessity could work for anyone. Whether you are just busy or constrained in some way, being organized and on top of things will enable you to cope. Use our printables, guides and projects to make your life, and theirs, easier.
There are no organized printables available yet, but there will be very soon. But check out our road trip, camp and back-to-school posts and checklists in the meantime.
Look for printables coming soon:
- Allowance Sheet
- Camp Planner
- Activity Planner
- Babysitter Information sheet
- Childcare Planner
- Activities Planner
- Kids Contact List
- Caregivers Schedule
- Emergency Backups for Pickup
- Emergency Contacts Sheet
