Memorabilia ? Children can create enough artwork for an entire gallery in a few short weeks. The key here is choices; establish a particular place-e.g., basket, drawer, or shelf ? for each child to put artwork. When that space is full, have one-on-one time with Mom and select your "three favorites". This is a lesson in life, which is continually full of choices. Then create a Memorabilia Box for each child where the favorites are kept. Keep the box in a convenient place, with the lid off, so it's easy to add new items. Use the same approach for photographs. A great parent-child activity is "scrap booking" ? have your child help make a family album, or get double prints, and let the children make their own. If you're not into albums, use attractive boxes. If you're on a tight budget you can use shoeboxes. Label the outside of each packet with the contents (e.g., Lee's 5th birthday, Mary's soccer outfit, etc.) with the date. At the end of the year, store your calendar with the photos in case you decide you want to create albums when the children are grown and you need to retrieve more specific dates. The key here is "Less is more." A few great photos are far superior to boxes of unidentified ones! One of the biggest causes of clutter ? and family disagreements -- is paper. Create a filing system for important papers. Create one file for each child for each area. For example, Medical Records ? Mary, St. John's High School ? Tom. Children can begin their own filing systems as soon as they start school. The key to any effective filing system is a File Index. This can be a handwritten list, a word processing document, a spreadsheet, or you can use Taming the Paper Tiger software (see below). A File Index will help you avoid making a file for "Summer Camp" when you already have one for "Camp Wesley." Here's a sample of some other file headings for information that children might like to file: Cartoons I like English Homework Family Information Friends Fun Things to Keep Gift Ideas for me Gift Ideas for others Hairstyles I like Math Homework New Year's Resolutions Phone Numbers/Addresses Recipes I can make Savings Account Scouting Information Summer Camp Information
We live in an age when children spend a significant amount of time with computers ? for doing their homework to spending time with their friends. Taming the Paper Tiger software (Check out www.thepapertiger.com for a free 30-day trial!) is an easy way to organize many of the things that matter to kids of all ages ? paper files, like the ones described above, as well as audio and videotapes, CDs, collections. The principle is simple. Simply attach a number to the item and tell the computer what the number means. Items are automatically cross-referenced, so that searching for something in your own room is as easy as searching for something on the Internet.
? Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.thepapertiger.com
Culver prom limo ..Cardiovascular endurance is one of the five health-related components of... Read More
How should one look upon Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)... Read More
Depending on where you live school will be starting this... Read More
Criticism is punitiveOur children judge themselves on the opinions we... Read More
It is so important to create an environment that promotes... Read More
Does this sound familiar? Have your kids not listened to... Read More
Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
Bath time can be fun or it can be a... Read More
This may come as a surprise.But despite all the advances... Read More
Levels of SafetyBy teaching our children there are different levels... Read More
"My son won't go to bed at night without a... Read More
Article based on a friend's experienceI just wanted to share... Read More
We are all aware of the child obesity epidemic that... Read More
For the most positive daycare experience for your child, partner... Read More
Every children in the world whishes to have toys and... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I... Read More
Picture this. Your child comes home with a special assignment... Read More
This time, I would like to talk about a subject... Read More
I had my first two children on either side of... Read More
In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More
Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
Many public schools not only fail to educate our children,... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
Kids today no longer live the kind of privileged lives... Read More
Have you ever sat and watch a child struggle with... Read More
Becoming a stepmother can undoubtedly be one of the most... Read More
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness... Read More
"Will my doubts and fears affect my child?" This father... Read More
Maintain CommunicationEven though teens need to separate from their parents... Read More
When we consider that the word allowance means, "allowing for,"... Read More
There are many things to like about the television show... Read More
There are several treatment options available to help improve the... Read More
A certain educator was once asked at what point should... Read More
How can two or three children in the same family... Read More
Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More
A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
1. They are leaders as well as parents. They don't... Read More
Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on... Read More
There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few... Read More
I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth... Read More
It has been a long day. Home from work, you... Read More
Children do what feels good to them and follow their... Read More
Dining in a restaurant with kids can be very enervating... Read More
During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael... Read More
Often I will hear parents say, "I just ignore Jr.... Read More
Working with adults (as well as children and teens) for... Read More
Parenting |