Thursday, February 11, 2010

Pegs - A Way of Organizing Your Kids (Even When You Aren't)

So I was just about at my wits end with having to repeat things over and over to my kids and tell them every little thing that they needed to do. Have you been there?

One of my kids was having some “homework issues,” and as a solution, her teacher suggested a schedule of doing homework at the same time everyday. Now, I’m not good with schedules and routines. In my family, we just really aren’t “stick to the schedule” types. If you are, that’s great -- and you can probably stop reading this – yeah, that includes you, Jennette :-)  (She's the organized one of the two of us).  
But that just doesn’t work for me – maybe I’m just easily distracted? I like to see it as being flexible --- disorganized? . . . yes. . . chaotic? . . . at times, but flexible. So unfortunately, the home work at the same time doesn’t really work for us with errands, play dates, and everything else. And to be honest, if 3:45 is homework time and there happens to be a fresh snowfall, I say,” put off the homework ‘til later; kids were going sledding!” You have to take advantage of the daylight hours that there are in the winter.

A while before the homework problems, I had read something online about using “pegs” (I don’t remember where I saw it. If it was your blog please let me know so I can re-read your post and link to it.) The idea of the pegs is that you use one event as a peg to “hang” other things off of. For example, getting home would be a peg and hanging off that would be the things that the kids are expected to do right then - have a snack, do homework, do chores, and whatever else. It doesn’t matter if it is at 3:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m., the routine at that point is the same. I think we tend to do things this way a lot. One event in your day happens then you do thing A, thing B, and thing C. For the kids using “pegs” to have it clearly set out helps set some expectations and give some order to things. It’s like having mini-routines that are flexible enough to be moved around in the schedule as needed. So I made up a little peg photo and added the things to it.

So far, the “pegs” are working fairly well for us. I’m finding that I am having to repeat myself less (or not even tell them what they need to do at all) because once the “peg” starts one thing just flows to the next. And at this point the kids have the “pegs” memorized and for the most part things are flowing smoothly. [Quickly finding wood to knock on.]

Here is a blank “peg” form, if you would like to try it with your kids:
Blank Peg Form     Leave me a comment and let me know how it works for you.




Smart and Trendy Moms finds products, ideas, projects, recipes, and other information that we have personally found helpful or interesting.  As always, it is up to you to determine what is appropriate for you, your children, and your situation.  See our Disclaimer

13 comments:

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

I do something similar on a large poster board, but that peg form looks really cute.I will have to print it and redo our schedule which works awesome btw. I love schedules.

~SHANNON~ said...

Cute idea!

I'm here from Friday Follow! I'm glad to have found your blog! Following you now. Hope you'll follow me back! :)

Shannon at:http://www.milkandcuddles.com/

Help! Mama Remote... said...

Great tip. Makes life much easier when we are organized and ready for the next day.

Dimes2Vines said...

We do something similar with a white dry erase board. As our family has grown, I needed something!
Stopping by from Fri Follow to say Hi and I'm following!

SuperMomPlace said...

Thanks for the follow. I love those button you have on you slide show. Did you made them yourself? we need to talk girl! lol

Ginny said...

Oh that is a cool idea, thanks!

Anonymous said...

So glad to have found you from Friday Follow... I'm now following. This is a great site!

Posh Baby Couture said...

thanks for following me :)

Christine said...

I found your blog after you started following me from Friday Follow. Love this peg board idea and look forward to seeing more ideas.
Christine
http://scraphappychristinescorner.blogspot.com/

Genny said...

Found you through Google Friend Connect Club at MBC. Following you!

USCGWifey said...

I have an award for you on my blog! Come see! :)
http://thelifeofacoastguardwife.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-got-awardwell-awards.html

Rockin Momma said...

I'm a new Friday Follower! Visit me at http://www.rockindeals4you.com/?p=1116 and sign up for my newest giveaway!

Supriya said...

Great tips. I too have tried following some bits but kinda realised may be my girl is a little young for such techs...My first kid...she often leaves me puzzled..whats the right age to begin what ..lol