TEACH YOUR KIDS TO MUTITASK
Margie Manion
School started and the messes keep piling up! Tired of wasting your time doing the same tasks over again everyday? Take control and teach your kids how to multitask the daily necessities so that you can give undivided attention to the things you want to be doing.
Here are some simple ideas to start getting your kids in the habit of NOW, so that they can be carried out through the school year.
Your kids get off the bus and their shoes come off right in front of the door, their backpack goes in one direction and their coats in another. Sound familiar?
MULTITASK!!!
First, create a "dumping ground". Have a specific place for everything! I suggest a shelf for the shoes, and hook or hanger for the coat, and a set "homework station". This is something that your kids can help you create. Have it be the place where they do their homework and store papers for parents and other important information. By teaching your kids to do these things when they walk through the door, you are teaching them to pick up after themselves and manage their paperwork at the same time!
What is the next thing your kids want when they come home from school? Snack! The problem is that they make a mess in a frantic search for food and then YOU have a mess to clean up before you even get dinner started. The solution is to have a few easy snacks available everyday. Talk to your kids and tell them they have three snack choices everyday (granola bar, carrot sticks, or pretzels). You can also get kitchen wipes that clean and sanitize to get them in the habit of wiping off counter tops or the inside of microwaves- especially after they blow up popcorn in it! By doing this, you are teaching your kids to make healthy snack choices, responsibility, and to clean up after themselves.
Okay, most kids want some kind of downtime like watching TV or listening to music. As parents, we know we can't let our kids sit in front of the TV or anything else all night for their physical and emotional health. Teach them to multitask entertainment with chores. Have them fold laundry, set the table, or even run the vacuum while watching TV or listening to music. If they complain that they don't know how, take time now to show them how it is done! This will save you time in the long run.
As adults we have to multitask just to keep up! Not only will this help you, but you are giving your children a life skill they need. Model for your kids to mulitask the mundane things in life, so you can spend more time as a family, on hobbies, or on other things you would rather be doing with your time.
by Margie Manion Parenting Expert