Aug. 21, 2006 - Color Coding Younger Children
This post is written with the younger mom in mind. I don't consider myself a Titus 2 mom in the least. I am still a pretty young mom myself. But someone asked me in the comments of my last post about how I color code my children. I decided to write a post on it instead of trying to write an answer in my comment section. The color started when my oldest was still the only. I got the brilliant idea when I was buying her red hangers to give her the color red so that when her sibling arrived later we could tell the clothes apart in the closet. Now it's out of control. LOL!!!
Here is how I color code my children and my life. First of all, I'll give you a run down of how it works with each child. Then I'll explain a few specific areas.
Jenny (7) -red, pink
Joshua (5 1/2) - blue
Allison (3 1/2) - yellow, purple (I only use purple on the calendar)
Andrew (18 months) - green
What all is color coded? Well just about anything that makes my life easier. In fact, if the color coding in broken in my house I consider that a significant "offense" a proper consequence in handed out.
1. Calendar - I hang a large desk calendar with pages that can removed each month. There is also room for me to make notes if needed. I buy these each year at an office supply. My dh and I are also given a color for the calendar. I use it specifically to mark when my dh will be traveling. I include:
* birthdays
* appointments
* family activities (written in black)
* household items (brown)
2. Kitchen
* juice cups
* cereal bowls with a straw
* small snack bowls
* water bottles (if I can find them)
Color coding in the kitchen has helped me tremendously. Each morning they get ONE cup to use for the day.
3. Closets
* specifically hanger
* eventually I will color code their laundry baskets (I have small white laundry baskets and they are small enough to hold all the laundry and for them to carry.) I will probably use the dots for this. (this reminds me that I need to pick up two more so I will have 5 in my house.)
***I have more ideas for organizing kid's closets and such but that will have to be for later and if someone is interested.
4. Kid's Bathroom - We decorated the bathroom in an ocean theme so I could pull the colors out and still have a coordinated bathroom. :) Right now all the towels fit on the towel rack. But when they babies arrives, I have wooden hooks that I will be painting to match their towels. They will never be able to get away with not hanging a towel. The older ones are responsible for straightening the bathroom on their bath night so they have to help the younger ones. Eventually I plan to have what I will call the hygiene basket.
5. School - BIG TIME!!!!!! Some of these will need explanation.
Notebooks, folders
pencils boxes
pencils
colored pencils (dipped in craft paint on the tips to keep them straight)
erasers
** We also have what I call daily records work. This includes a daily calendar, 100's chart, and handwriting sheets for my 3 yod (she wanted to do school so I printed her name on handwriting paper off a really neat site that make handwriting worksheets. You type in what you want them to practice writing and it makes the worksheet.)
*** They also have a trapper keeper like folder where they put their school work until it's time so put them in our notebooks.
**** Their pencils re color coded as well. That way I know who left their pencil out (which is usually eaten by mom's school supply box and never seen again.) They are given 4 pencils at the beginning of the year. My two oldest are guarding their last remaining pencil for dear life because they know if they have to ask for another pencil from me, there will be a consequence. That is a carry over from my teaching days. I can't stand when student can't find a pencil. Fortunately, my children care more about not having a pencil than my 8th graders did.
6. MOTH schedule is color coded so they know they column and where they should be at the time. The older also helps the younger read.
7. Everything else - I bought colored sticker dots to place on items that I can't color code.
* sippy cups in the car (preschool and toddler)
* water bottles we take in the car (DeJa Blue water bottles)
* picnic sandwiches
* anything else we think of :)
There are other areas I tried to color code but it hasn't worked as well. The toy box is one specific thing that comes to mind. I found a red and blue laundry basket with rope handles for the two oldest but I have never found the other colors. We don't use the toy boxes except for stuff animals, dolls, and items that don't fit in any other category though. (This is also the box that is purged most often. :)
One last fun thing I color code. I make them fleece blankets every so often. They love to carry their pillows around but this unmakes the bed which mom can't stand. So, I bought them smaller pillows and made them special pillow cases. It just so happens that I also buy fleece that matches their color (or close to it.) They are not allowed to pick their own material out. We usually end up with weird characters on their flannel and then I can't match the blankets to it. Besides, I am too big on popular characters anymore. The only one that will have a character this year is my toddler but that is because I have the material in my scrap box. Then I find a special flannel material that fits their personality AND matches their blankets. I am in the process of making new blankets for our trip to CO so when I done with them all, I will post a picture.
One last organizational tip. If you can't color code something, give it a number. LOL!!! On big family outings (like the zoo) we usually pick up a Subway sandwich and bring our extras. But each child has their own preference for what goes on the sandwich. Even my toddler has to have it a special way. Well, I don't often carry the dots with me. I usually just borrow a pen at Subway (they think it's funny) and I number each child. Of course, we do the obvious. Our oldest is #1 and our youngest is #5. This also works great in conversation until the older ones start to figure out their numbers. Now we are at pig latin. Maybe my dh and I need to learn a completely different language. HA!!! Like we have so much time to do that.
Hey, let me know if you have other ideas for color coding. I am also looking for areas to color code and give my children a bit more autonomy in the house (especially with the baby on the way. My oldest loves to help and if I can give her the tools to be a better helper, she would love it.)
Comments
Aug. 21, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MommaJoy
Thank you SO much!! This has given me so many ideas and thoughts about how I can implement this into our lives. And it really makes sense. How much easier would it be to simply ALWAYS give Lil' Man a blue cup - that's his color. No more wondering whose cup is whose, 'cause The Pastor gave them their juice in the morning while I was exercising. If the blue cup is on the floor - it's Lil' Man's and he is responsible.
Now it will just take some time to purchase some of these colored items.
Thanks again - and please share any more ideas you have on organization and such. I LOVE this kind of thing. I always thought I was a bit odd for this, but now I'm meeting other mommas who like this kind of ordered life too - AWESOME!!
~MommaJoy
Aug. 22, 2006 - Time to purchase
Posted by tryoneverything
I don't know if you local Walmart would carry them, but I found my juice cups and bowls at walmart. It cost me around $10 to get 2 cups each, 2 cereal bowls each, and 2 snack bowls each. Or maybe it was a little more. I didn't buy them all at one time. But they are pretty expensive. One of things I didn't mention is that this also cut down the mess in my cabinets. I moved all my plastic everyday plates, bowls, and cups to a bottom cabinet so my oldest could empty the dishwasher for me. :) There is less to put away so it stays organized in there. And it doesn't, they come back and redo it. I am so mean. :)
Karen
