Summer is approaching and the kids are or will be home for a couple of months. How will you cope? My solution is to get organized so you can enjoy more time with your kids and less time cleaning. Here are my 5 tips for getting organized for summer:
1. Create a Task List.
I always make a task list or several lists, one for each room of the house. I write down what needs to be done and assign who should do it.
2. Involve the Kids.
Don’t worry that you are damaging your children by getting them to help you clean and organize. Who made most of the mess? Yeah, that’s what I thought. By getting them involved you are teaching them responsibility, organization and a good work ethic that seems to be missing from today’s society.
3. Do a Little Each Day Over a Week.
Rome was not built in a day so don’t expect to have your house cleaned and organized in a single day, especially if it is in the state of a national disaster. Take those task lists and assign them to days. This spreads out the work, gives you time to play and enjoy your family too.
4. Less is Better.
As you go about cleaning and organizing, let “Less is Better” be your motto. By reducing the amount of stuff you keep, you will create a simpler way of living because you won’t have as much to take care of, your children will learn to be content to play with things in nature – tree branches, rocks, dirt etc. All of which may be replaced free of charge, saving you time and money by not having to replace expensive toys.
5. Use Three Bags – Giveaway, Throw Away, Keep/Pack Away.
In tune with the motto, “Less is Better”, use three bags as you clean and organize your home. One for giveaway – this will be for items still useable but not of use to you. One for throw away – items that are broken, not worth wearing or keeping. The third bag is for packing items away that may not be used in the summer, or will be needed in fall/winter. Or perhaps it is simply an item no longer used but a family treasure/keepsake that needs to be stored.
You will be amazed at what you can accomplish in a short time. Your house will be clean and organized. The key will be to incorporating new routines to keep it that way. Most of the tips mentioned above can also be used for any day trips you take with your children. It will help you focus, get ready and be able to hop in the car at a moments notice because you will be prepared! Enjoy your children and have a wonderful summer break!
This Guest post is brought to you by Theresa: 
Theresa has been married for nearly 18 years and is mom to 8 beautiful children. She is also a WAHM (Work-At-Home-Mom). In addition to blogging, she is a Virtual Assistant with her own company as well as an independent contractor with Your USA VA. Her interests include: reading, writing, travel, education, being an entrepreneur, being self sufficient by growing her own food through farming and gardening. To learn more about her and her family visit her blog Faith and Family Reviews.
Betty Baez says
Great tips I’ve been. Doing a little every day and hopefully by next week will get done with everything on my list
Lubka K. says
Interesting article. There is a national disaster in my flat, but the cimcumstances are a bit different than in family of author. I am single and majority of my things collected over the years are like a treasure for me. I have to clean all the spaces by myself without “kids help”. But idea of 3 bags is really challenging. The biggest problem will be to fill the bag “throw it away”.:-(