Tips for Organizing Toy Clutter!

I'll be the first to admit that my house is being taken over by toys. They are everywhere! I find toys in every room of my house and it seems I'm constantly cleaning them up from the moment I wake up in the morning until the kids are asleep. I can think of tons of ways to clean up the clutter but it's actually finding the time to do it that's the most challenging! I've decided that it's time to get organized and I'm starting with the playroom first. In order to get organized the first thing I'm going to do is make a list so I know what I'm working with. The next thing I'm going to do is set up some time to organize when the kids are sleeping, napping or watching a movie. Since spring is right around the corner, it's the best time to declutter some of those toys!

Here's a list that I wrote to help myself get organized. I hope it helps!

1. Get down at your children's eye level during the sorting process to see what needs to stay, what needs to go and what you need to save.

2. Make sure your child is not involved in this process since toy separation anxiety might come into play.

3. Separate all the toys your child doesn't play with anymore and set aside vs. the toys they do play with.

4. Make a separate bin for the toys you can save for later use. It's best to keep a library of toys that you can rotate into their play area. It's a good idea to switch up new toys every couple months to keep things interesting.

5. At this point, you should have three piles of toys. (GOOD TOYS, OLD TOYS AND TOY LIBRARY)

6. Dedicate areas for toys, blocks, arts and crafts etc. Use plastic storage containers so your child can easily see what's inside. You could even go as far as getting plastic containers with lids for crayons, markers, pencils and supplies. Use the wall space where the arts and crafts are to hang up important reminders for your child's school, appointments and even special art work they have made.

7. When organizing space, make sure to use see-through containers for small toys like blocks and legos and keep them down low so your child can reach them.

8. Keep in mind that your child is small so everything should be located where they can reach them. Books, toys and anything heavy should also be kept below their eye level.

9. Label everything! You can even use pictures for younger children. For older children, you can either print your own home-made labels and have your child help you or you can simply use a permanent marker.

10. Introduce your child to their new area. I know that when I mix things up in the play room, my kids love it and will play for hours! It's worth all time you put into this project when you see the end result!

Jessica

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by Jessica GPosted in Mothers

Winter Break on a Budget!

I have been trying to come up with some ideas to keep my kids busy during winter break. We have made plans to have a couple play-dates with friends but I've recently been on the hunt for some more activities to fill up the week! Since our winter is mild this year, there's a good chance they won't be playing in the snow. I would love to keep the cost of activities to a minimum so I've come up with a few ideas that won't break the bank! Here are a few ideas I had in mind:

1. Park

I plan on taking them to the park a couple of times to let them burn off some steam. I'm hoping to bring lunch or snacks so we won't have to leave when they get hungry.

2. Museum

I'm hoping to make it over to a local children's museum that's pretty inexpensive. I think the kids will have a good time. What I love about museums is there's usually something for everyone.

3. Library

What's great about the library is they often have free story times and crafts with the kids after. Not only that, the kids love picking out books with their very own library card. Funny how the little things make them so happy!

4. Sledding

My kids have been praying for snow all winter. We are hoping that their wish comes true, however we are also debating on taking them up north for the day so they can go sledding or maybe even try skiing.

5. Arts and crafts

I love doing projects with my kids. My oldest son is a huge fan, which is great because it keeps him entertained. My four-year old usually lasts 15 minutes and the baby, well he's just into coloring right now! I'm hoping I can find something for all of them to enjoy. My search continues and I will let you know what I find!

6. Movie night

My kids love when we do the occasional movie night. I usually set up three sleeping bags on the floor and they each get their own bowl of popcorn. I may just let them stay up later than usual a couple of nights as a special treat too.

7. Start planting seeds

I'm going to have my kids start planting some seeds. What's great about this project is that it's really inexpensive and enjoyable. Once the warmer weather comes, you can put them in the ground, which is a lot of fun for them. I’m hoping this will help them eat their vegetables too!

8. Local pet shop/farm

Sometimes I take my kids to the local pet store to look at all the animals. They love seeing the puppies. My youngest is a big fan of the fish. It's a great way to keep them entertained even if just a half an hour!

9. Take a mystery walk

There's nothing more exciting to kids then a last minute adventure. I am going to take them for a walk next week. Before I go, I'm going to write down everything they need to find. I'll give them a job to check off their items on their list. I may have to draw a picture of the objects for my daughter. I am also going to try this at the grocery store too!

10. Use their imagination!

I think it's so important to let kids be kids and not entertain them every minute of the day. While I hope to have a little something planned throughout the week, I'm really hoping they use their imagination and do a lot of pretend play.

What are your kids doing for winter break? How do you keep them entertained on a budget?

Jessica

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by Jessica GPosted in Mothers

What Type of Parent are You?

The question I constantly ask myself is "Am I a good parent?" Sure I have days where I feel like I did a good job. I also have days where I feel defeated, annoyed and just plain worn out. I think it's only natural to feel this way. I mean I'm only human, right? Honestly though, there are days where I wonder if I'm doing a good job as a mom. One day not too long ago, I phoned my mom to let her know what a bad day I had. My oldest wasn't listening and was in time out a number of times. I told her I feel like I don't know if I'm doing the right thing sometimes. I explained how stressful parenting is because you just never really know if you’re making the right decisions. She told me something very wise. She said, "You will always question whether or not you are a good parent." "Trust that you're making the right decisions and stay strong." Those words have gotten me through some pretty tough parenting moments. It really made me think what type of parent I am. Did you know there are generally four types of parents?

Here's a list of the four:

Authoritarian -This is basically the parent that sets the rules and keeps the rules. No if's, and's or but's about it. The perfect answer is usually "Because I said so." If a child breaks the rules, the parent is quick to punish. Long term, the child is pretty successful and obedient. Unfortunately, the setbacks of children raised by an Authoritarian are that the child generally has low self-esteem and is less happy.

Permissive -Permissive parents are more laid back when it comes to raising their children. The view their child as a friend and often have less rules. They expect less from their child and often indulge them. Children with Permissive parents often grow up unhappy and have problems with authority figures.

Uninvolved - Uninvolved parents rarely participate in their child's lives and are detach themselves. They are often referred as negligent parents. Children of this type of parenting have trouble relating to people and aren't that successful.

Authoritative - Authoritative parents often set rules and expect them to be followed. They are nurturing parents and communicative. Even though they punish the child, when they break the rules, the punishment is set so that the child understands and is responsible for their actions.  Children who grow up with this parenting style are usually happy and have good self-esteem.

I think we will always question our parenting choices. I really don't think there is a "right way" or "wrong way" to be a good parent. I think as long as there are plenty of rules and plenty of love, the rest will fall into place.

With that said, looking at the four types of parents, what do you think? What type of parent are you?

Jessica

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by Jessica GPosted in Mothers