Morning and evening routines
Carissa created illustrated lists to help her kids with their daily routines:
I recently got tired of searching for Skitty, Magic Bunny, Jojo and other stuffed friends who were MIA when bedtime rolled around. Everyone would be tucked in bed and we'd be ready for the lights out countdown when someone would burst into tears over a missing stuffed friend. So I made a bedtime list for the kids. Kaylee and I glued pictures to it so that the girls could follow it without having to be able to read it. We decided to make a morning list as well in hopes that they would all be more independent regarding getting ready in the morning. So far, the lists seem to be helping. And the great thing is, I don't have to nag them with reminders of what to do next. Instead, if I notice someone is off track, I say, "Go do your list" or "What's next on your list?" Here are ours:
Good Morning!
1. Go Potty
2. Nightlight Off
3. Get Dressed
4. Shoes, Coat and Backpack Ready
5. Eat Breakfast
6. Brush Teeth
Good Night!
1. Bathtime
2. Pajamas On
3. Brush Hair
4. Go Potty
5. Brush Teeth
6. Find Guys
7. Nightlight On
8. Story Time
9. Countdown!
Tags: Parenting
What is "Find Guys?"
Posted by: Nathan Rudy | 26 April 2006 at 10:08 AM
Your kids call the stuffed animals/bedtime friends "guys" too? That's wonderful!
Posted by: Lauren Snell | 26 April 2006 at 11:42 AM
"Guys" are all the stuffed animals who MUST be present in their beds to go to sleep.
Posted by: momma2mingbu | 26 April 2006 at 01:54 PM
We do that too - my boys have a bin labelled "guys" for all the GI Joes, Happy Meal action figures, dolls, little stuffed animals, etc.
Posted by: Amie | 26 April 2006 at 02:34 PM
The list idea works extremely well in other areas. For example my sister's boy didn't like eating dinner. It was recommended by a Dr. that she post a list of the meals for the week. Putting at least one fun meal on it he liked. Then he could see what was coming. Even if he didn't like what was for dinner tonight he had something to look forward to.
Posted by: Christian Pearce | 27 April 2006 at 06:28 AM
I did something similar to teach my 4 yr old to clean his room. You can check it out on my site:
http://tinyurl.com/p7gyp
Stuffed animals are called
"lovies" at our house.
Posted by: Traci | 02 May 2006 at 08:28 AM