This week we were focusing on planning. I have been working on a daily schedule since mid-December. I started with a school schedule, and took a few weeks to make adjustments to make things flow more smoothly. Then I put it on the chart pictured below, and slowly added from there. I've had to make various adjustments as things changed, but overall it has been working for us.
Part of the reason that I did the schedule on a chart is that the kids do better when they know what to expect at certain times (especially Ian.) When there is something they want to do, I can say, "I can't do that right now, but we will do it at this certain time." Then I know we probably won't forget, since we are following the schedule.
Things rarely go completely as planned. We tend to have a lot of interruptions throughout the day, and sometimes unexpected things come up. But having a schedule does help me remember to bring the laundry in at 5:00, and start supper after that.
I am still trying to get in the habit of checking my dayplanner each night before I go to bed. I usually remember to write things in it, but I don't always remember to look at it everyday. It doesn't help to have things written down if I don't check to see what's there.
The papers with columns are our daily schedule (Monday-Friday). There is a color for each of us (except Stephen.) The cork board has specific school assignments for Ian and Isabelle. I'm working on teaching Ian to be more independent in a few of his subjects.
My idea for the calendar was to make things more simple for me, but the kids have really enjoyed having it. Isabelle has everyone's schedule memorized.
For more of the Making Your Home a Haven Series visit The Homespun Heart.
My idea for the calendar was to make things more simple for me, but the kids have really enjoyed having it. Isabelle has everyone's schedule memorized.
For more of the Making Your Home a Haven Series visit The Homespun Heart.
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2 comments:
Go Isabelle! Just in case you lose your schedule, she can fill you in:). Lots of little kids have schedules or sticker charts, but since I don't have a routine every day, I find it helpful to put things on my calendar-like sending a sympathy card or making a phone call-even if it's not required, like a dr. appt.
Sometimes I have to write things like that down or I will just never get around to it. There are just too many other things in the day to crowd it out.
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