We’ve been reading to our girls since they were born, and as soon as they gained the vocal skills, they’ve never shied from telling us what book they want us to read them. Again.
As tiresome as it’s gotten to recite the same stories over and over, it’s incredible to hear them repeat the words back verbatim as if they’re reading the books themselves. This is especially true with tales written in rhyme. They stick quickly and are easier to recall and associate with a book.
So how does this random observation help our kids (and us) maintain order?
Here are a few memorable rhymes I’m using on repeat with my family to help teach my kids organizing skills, so I'm not the one continuously doing the heavy lifting.
“when you're done with play, put it away”
Yup. This one’s similar to the “don’t delay, put it away” phrase I shared a few weeks ago. It’s aimed at kids and getting them to put back what they’ve played with before moving on to another game. This practice then helps prevent them (read: and us parents) from reaching complete toy takeover. When that happens, everyone‘s brain becomes overwhelmed by the visual chaos, and putting it all back seems daunting. By inserting this gentle reminder, tidying up becomes manageable and quick.
“when the bin overflows, something's gotta go”
I came up with this one last week as my four-year-old and I edited her piles of paper treasure. Her giggly response and ability to recite it tell me this rhyme is going to stick! We do paper purges when I notice more creations coming in from school and ending up on EVERY horizontal surface of my kids’ rooms. Now I can regularly drop this funny phrase as a prompt for them to check on their craft stash and decide what they’re ready to part with when their bins can’t contain anymore.
This rhyme is great for more than paper. When you designate items to a container of any kind, you’re giving the items physical parameters to live in. Anything added needs to fit, and if it doesn’t, you can recall this phrase to remind you it’s time and totally okay for something to go.
“if you don’t use it, lose it”
My girls could come up with a million reasons to keep every dragon drawing or piece of scrap paper they have. But are they actually doing anything with them? In my seven-year-old’s defense, yes, some of it gets played with and I love and support her imaginative ways. However, I also know what it’s like to have held onto YEARS worth of paper for my kids to reference, “someday”.🤦🏻♀️
I now know it wasn’t worth it and I want my kids to understand that letting go is okay, especially if it’s something not being used with no future purpose. If you need it, absolutely keep it. If you don’t, give it thanks and give yourself grace for letting it go.
which witty rhyme will you and your kids try to grow their organizing skills?
Sayings resonate differently for everyone, so if you have one that's working well for you I encourage you to share it in the Comments below. It could be the one that clicks for a fellow parent like you!
Always,
Comments