Cleaning System

Really. I think this should be called: "Now I have three mobile children and I just can't wing it anymore. I need a system that thinks for me."
When this inspiration first hit me I was so excited. But then I reminded myself that I still had to be disciplined and do the work. This is just a system to help guide me better.

It is a variation taken from Sidetracked Home Executives. I have read blogs about others making up this 3 x 5 index card system and it just seemed to make sense to me.

So here is what I have put together. It is kinda a bit of a brain teaser but I know over time will be a smooth as any other habit.

I followed this set of directions to get it all in order.

This is the box that will make my house clean! With little help from me of course.
The cards have numbers 1-31 for each day of the month. You can assign monthly tasks to a certain day (number) for each month.

This set of yellow cards will be in each day. So when I complete the task I move it the
the next day.

The months of the year are for seasonal tasks like cleaning

out the garage, gardening, cleaning the gutters, etc. I haven't

touched this yet. I need to get the inside of the house in order
first.

Here are each of the categories I would see each day.

This is a shot of the actual tasks.

Ah. Thank you Lord for our homes. And thank you for
Sundays.


As each day passes I move the cards to the next appropriate line up. If it is a daily card, I move it to the next day (except for Sunday).
If it is a weekly card I move the card 7 days back.
If it is a bi-weekly card I move it 14 days back.
If it is monthly card I can leave it there cause monthly cards are assigned to a certain number of the month. Make sense? So washing the door mat will happen on the 15th of each month so it stays in the 15 slot.

As time goes on, I will work out the bugs and likely thing of more tasks to add to the box. As the kids get older I will also add the responsible person's name to the chore.
I even thought I could add a bible verse to read each day. Over time it will be memorized.

Okay. I just made a little change. I made duplicates of all the cards except for the daily ones. I wanted all the cards to stay where they are to make it easier. Now I only have to move the daily cards to tomorrows slot.

Are We Not Expecting Enough of Our Littleones?

Orison is 3 or 4 years old. Orison's parents decided to read Luke chapter 2 (the Christmas story from a Christian perspective) everyday for the month of December.  After about 2 weeks of listening to the readings this is what his parents discovered.



I am encouraged. Can it be that simple to put the word of God in the mouths of our little ones? They may not fully understand what they are saying but I pray that one day, when they need it, the Holy Spirit will enlighten them to the truth about the power of the Living Word of God.

Getting it Together

 

Bear with the fonts. I am experimenting. I love cute fonts but I am not exactly an expert (yet). I can’t figure out why the title of the post isn’t the same font as the body of the post.

Anyway, feel free to let me know which font is more pleasing to the eye and easy to read.

Well,  on to the ideas that are stirring in my brain….

I have been on a cleaning and organizing crazy woman lately! I love it! I is finally addicting! I signed up to be a member at Fly Lady. net( Fly Lady). If you sign up (it is free) they send you a daily email with the cleaning mission for the day. Over the course of a year you will have cleaned every nook and cranny by doing little bits each weekday.  If you go to the website and you don’t want to get sidetracked only click on

~Control Journal : this is a daily cleaning plan that you can make for example Monday – wash floors, Tuesday – clean bathroom, Wednesday- Vacuum all floors, Thursday- empty all trash cans, Etc.

and

~ Fly Zone: this is deeper cleaning each day but it is so small it doesn’t feel like spring cleaning blood sweat and tears.

I have been so motivated by it! I am on a roll!

You as you read further, you will see that Fly Lady is big on decluttering. How can one truly clean unless the stuff is out of the way to do so? You must declutter!

I recently had a garage sale and cleaned out! It feels so liberating! Now each day I feel great cause the cleaning part comes so much easier.

I really believe that to be a great wife and mom, and steward of what God has given me, I need a clean and orderly home.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Little by little, step by step, mile by mile, progress is made.”

Scheduling your Child's day (preschool age)

I thrive off of structure but kids sometimes throw a kink in that plan. My ideal day would be to plan an activity for every half hour. Toggling between alone play and together time. BUT reality says....

Wake, dress

Breakfast

table time activity (play doh, coloring, art)

Short video

Large motor activity (walk outdoors, play in basement)

Prep Lunch

Eat lunch

Read books

Nap Blanket time (sit on blanket on floor and play with a toy or look at books - no getting off the blanket)(you will need to train him to do this)

Dancing/music

time Table time while you prep dinner

Eat dinner

Tickle time with dad or outing

Bath

Read

Bed.

I don't like to put times on it other than eating and sleep times. Commiting to a time for each just frustrates me and the kids.
If you are having a hard time with it plan one structured activity for the morning and one for afternoon. Between meals and naps it will give you some freedom to think and breath until you get a more regular schedule.
I do have a wonderful list of activites that can be done with mom and without mom for appropriate age levels. This list has really helped me especially with the younger ones.
I also have an activity book from Meijer. The brand is called School Zone. Look for the PRESCHOOL one and tear a page out each day for him to work on. Or simply print coloring sheets from preschool printable websites. That way you can print things that interst him at that time. You have no idea how much free stuff is online for preschoolers.


Activities for Babies (0-12 Months)
Alone
Pop Up Toys

Mobiles

Swing

Johnny Jump Up

Baby Mirror

Soft Blocks

Toys That Can Be ChewedBooks (Cloth)

Crib Gyms

Infant Seat (To See Things from Different Perspectives)

Bouncy Chair

Rattles or other toys that make sounds

Mom And Baby

Feeding

Rocking

Play Time On Blanket (Mom Helps Baby Develop Skills)

Singing/Eye Contact/Rhymes

Read

Bath Time

Walking

Activities for Toddlers (18 Months - 2 Years) Alone

Playtime in Crib/Playpen

Play Center (Theme)

Blanket Time

Magnetic Numbers (at fridge or magnetic cook sheet on a blanket on the floor)

Letters on Refrigerator

Dress Up

Shape Sorting toys

Play doh

Sit Time with Books

High Chair Toys

Paint with Water

Large piece Puzzles

Throw cards (from a deck of card or flash cards) into a laundry basket or a hat

Toy bulldozer in tin of dry rice or noodles (at table or highchair)

Nesting/Stacking ToysListening Tapes



With Mom

Cooking Time (Real Or Play)

Stamping/Stickers

Rice/Corn Meal

PlayThrowing Bean Bags in Container

Reading

Prayer Time [at meals and bedtime]

Outdoor Play

Walk

Baby Pool

Paint with Water On Patio

Sand Box

Bubbles

Outdoor Toys

Activities For Preschoolers (2 Years - 5 Years)
Alone

Color / bingo dabbers

Playdoh

Toys at Table

Stamping Finger Paint or Paint on paper with water

Peg Boards

Sit Time/Blanket Time (practice self-control by sitting and playing on blanket for an extended period)

Listening Tapes

Magnet Numbers/Letters On Refrigerator

Water Play at Sink

Books

Computer [limited]

Lego’s

Sticker Books

Puzzles

Chalkboard

Picture Time

Stencils

Room Time

Video time [limited 30 min. per day]

Dress Up

Learning to use a pencil - print letters

Stringing Beads

Lace Cards (use old greeting cards glued together and punch holes around the edges to lace yarn through)

Corn Meal/Rice Play

People/Animal Figures

With Mom

Cut With Safety Scissors

Cooking

Reading

Prayer Time

Finger-paint

Games

Crafts

Character Quality Explanation/Stories

Chores (Training)

Watering Plants

Plucking grapes from stems (throwing squishy ones away)

Picking up toys on Patio

Sweeping

Putting Silverware Away From Dishwasher

Cleaning Fronts of Appliances

Window Washing

Set Table

Folding Laundry

Dusting

Cleaning Mirrors

Outdoors [*with direct supervision for sure]

Swim

*Chalk

Sand Box

Walking

Shaving Cream on Picnic Table

Gardening

*Water Hose

*Bubbles

Riding/Outdoor Toys

Paint with Water

For a more extensive list, see What Every Child Should Know Along the Way By Gail Martin.