Time Management - Arlington,TX

I have 4 young kids. They go to bed everynight at 7:30 and have since day one, so that is not a problem in my house and you have many suggestions for night time.
What we do in the morning is, I wake them up at 6 and they all have 45 minutes to get ready for school. I will help as long as they are trying to help themselves first. If they are not ready to go downstairs when time is up, I will take them to school as they are, still in pj's, hair not done, whatever. I have never had to take them in pj's but my girl has gone with bed-head before. They know i mean what I say, I hate having to fight with them to get things done. I no longer have to since I made the I'll take you as you are rule!!

S. I am the mother of 2 boys (6 and 20 mos). While I still have to work out the kinks in other areas, bedtime is an area that I have mastered. The only thing that has ever worked for me is consistency and repetiveness. Every night we have dinner between 6:30 and 7:00 and immediately following it is bathtime for both of them. My youngest goes to bed immediately following bath time and the oldest gets to have quiet time while we put him down. After the youngest is in bed it is time to read a book with my oldest and then lights out. The only time we ever budge on this routine is for special occasions.

I have had other moms say that utilizing a timer is effective so that the kids can see exactly what they are up against.

Good luck to you!
J.

Well, without knowing the ages of your kids. This is what our schedule is as a working mom of a 6 month old and 2 year old.

6PMish - Get home from work
6:00-6:45 - husband fixes dinner and I get kids ready for bed (bath - if bath night, pj's, brush hair, potty)
6:30-6:45ish - If not bath night, play time
6:45-7:30pm - Eat dinner
7:30-7:45pm - brush teeth, go potty
7:45-8:00pm - read books
8:00-8:05pm - In bed

Obviously, there are some nights that we get a bit off schedule and my toddler doesn't get to bed until 8:20-8:30pm b/c we get home a little later or for some reason dinner takes longer. However, I would say we are on this scheduled 95% of the time. The key has been to have my husband do one thing and I do the other. Usually, he cooks and I do the bedtime routine (bath, brush teeth, pjs) etc.

Here is what I do (I am a working mother with 2 ½ and 4 year old boys):

I leave work everyday at 4:00 (even if I have to log in later in the evening to finish work)

I am at the PreSchool/Pre-K by 4:30 and we are home by 5:00. I always have a plan for dinner, so the boys either play in their rooms or out back while I start cooking. Dad is usually home by 5:30 and the 4 of us play until 6:00-6:30 depending on whats cooking :-)

After dinner and "Happy Plates" they get a piece of candy then we draw a bath. Everone usually poops at this time and then we wash up. I read them a book in the bath tub and let them play for about 15 minutes.

They get out of the tub, go through the lotion line and get dressed (I help my little guy and my 4 year old is self-sufficient)

Dad’s turn :-) He brushes our youngest guys teeth and my other does it himself, they get in bed… I hug and kiss and Daddy tickles, we are done by 7:45 – 8:00 at the latest!

Good Luck!
E.

Hey:), I am a mom of two little girls, 23 months apart, ages 2 and 4. Bedtimewise, you might be pushing it a little late? Google "the Sleeplady" and borrow her book from the library, it is awesome for sleep suggestions. I would certainly not say it is an "end-all" solution but her ideas can be adapted to fit your family. Also, check out www.flylady.net and read a little bit about her ideas for time management and home organization. Take it a little bit at a time, like she suggests, so that you're not overloaded!
Best of luck,
Loni

I think the most helpful is that my kids (ages almost8 & 4) go to bed at a different time. My older child pretty much gets ready for bed on his own, and goes to bed at 8:30. My 4 yr old goes to bed now at 8pm. They have a chore chart each and they know what they need to get done and when to do it. It really helps to know what needs to get done and when, and have that routine done every single night. That way your children know what to expect.

We start out bedtime routine about 45 minutes before we want them asleep. We spend up to 30 minutes for bathing, teeth brushing, and getting dressed for bed. We spend AT LEAST 15 minutes on bedtime books. Our local library has a lot of favorites to check out.

Hi, More so a SAHM but helping my father's restaurant 7 days a week. Mother of Four-17,7,5, and soon to be 4.
It's all about routines.
Dinnertime- Play, Eat, shower, Storytime, Bedtime. It sounds simple...but it has taken a long time. The rule is do it 20 days straight and will become a routine. No it doesn't always go smoothely...but they get the idea. Have them get involved on what to do. So they can make their own decisions. however small it may be...Good Luck!

Well, you didn't say how old your kids are, so that makes a difference. Time management with small children is sometimes a joke because even if you have everything planned out, things come up (someone falls down and scrapes a knee, someone skips a needed nap, etc.) As for bedtime, here's what I did when my 2 oldest (now 8 & 7) were little. If I wanted to be out of their rooms by 8:30, we'd probably have to start around 7:45-8:00 (you'll have to see how much time you need to make it work). We'd head upstairs and everyone would get PJ's on. Then, it's to the bathroom where everyone brushes teeth. The oldest can start by doing his own while you help the younger one. Then, rise off the toothbrush and give it to the younger one to "brush" his own teeth while you help the older one. Next, put the older one in bed and tell them that you'll be back to read them a story after you put the younger child to bed. Have the older one pick out the story and be looking at the book IN BED while you get a story and read to the younger one. Read, say prayers, and put the younger one to bed. If he cries, you have to finish with the oldest before you go back to the younger. I've always told my kids "this is my special time with just you, so please don't interrupt me while I'm with your little brother" or vise versa. Then, I'd head into the older ones room and read that story. By the way, a story is 1 chapter (no matter how short) of a chapter book, or 1 5-10 minute book. If it's an exceptionally long book, it gets split and I try to tell them before we get started like "looks like this is a good long book. We'll be able to read to page 10 tonight - see the picture on page 10? That's where we'll stop." Then, read, prayers, and out the door. If the younger one is still crying, you may want to go back and comfort him, but in my experience, the younger was usually settled by then. I hope this helps! I still do this with my kids now, but I don't have to brush their teeth for them anymore or help them put on PJ's!

I usually start my routine about an hour before they go to bed. I have a 5 yr old and a 7 yr old. While one is taking a bath first, the other gets "computer" time which gives them about 15 - 20 min playing a game or doing or they'll watch tv, then they switch. After baths, they got about 20 min or so and that's used for bed time snack. Then I'll tell them brush their teeth about 5 min before actual bedtime. Then I tuck them in bed, talk to each one for a min and tickle or something, then kiss them and lights out. Usually my 5 yr old daughter is out in 5 min, my son might stay in bed and play for about 10 min with small toys or cars, but always goes to sleep within 10 - 15 min after being put in bed. It took awhile putting them on this schedule. Make sure you stay consistant with what you do. It will always be worth it in the end. :) I always get my "mommy" time and I enjoy it.

Bathing before bed time always seems to work for us.

Consistency and practice! I have three children, ages 14, 9 and 2. There is some independence with the older kids which is helpful. I find that having an earlier dinner time sets the pace (if that is possible for you), because if dinner is too late than everything else after than runs late or is rushed. My older girls take their showers back-to-back beginning at 7:15 p.m. I usually give the little one her bath in my bathroom in that same timeframe. By 8:30 p.m. I'm reading w/my 14 year old (believe it or not, she still enjoys this . . . it helps her wind down) while my 9 year old is reading in her bedroom. It's lights out at 9:00 p.m. My little one is usually hanging with her Daddy during this timeframe, usually watching a Blue's Clues, Sesame Street or Wiggles DVD. She goes to bed last because there is no rush to get her up in the morning (I work, but from home).

We have 3 kids. 7, 41/2 and 2. Generally, we aim for everyone to be in bed by around 6:45pm. (Our kids go to bed early). We usually start the bedtime routine around 6pm. Some days we try to bathe the older two early before dinner. If not, then usually at 6, I bathe the 2year old while my husband bathes the 4 1/2 year old. after both are dressed. My husband bathes the 7 year old while I read a story to our 4 1/2 year old with the 2 year old listening or playing in the room. I say goodnight to the 4 year old then leave him in bed. Then I read to our 2 yr old and put her to bed. ThenI read with the 7 year old and say good night and leave him in his bed. We are pretty much done by 6:45. The key is that our kids do not necessarily go right to bed after they are read to but they are in their rooms for the night. Usually my 4 1/2 year old will read in his bed or look at his books for a little while as will my 7 year old. They are usually out by 7-7:15 though even with us having left them in their rooms around 6:30-6:45. Hope that helps!

I had to work backward - I timed the bath, the pajamas, the tooth brushing, the story, and the snuggles - and then went back from 9 o'clock (our target bedtime). That means that we have to start at 7:15. I hold myself responsible for that time, because my kids NEED the whole routine.

Good luck
S.

Santrell,
You have a lot of good ideas already. One other thing that I incorportated with my 3 girls was a time/schedule calendar. I am a single parent during the week with very active children currently 13, 10, and 8. I set up a calendar for each one with activities, homework time, dinner time, tv/computer time, even time scheduled for toy pickup and then bedtime. This helped me stay on task as well as the girls. They could look at a kitchen timer and know that they only has so much time before it was their time to watch tv or do their homework.
Now that my kids are older, they have better time management skills.
No matter what you choose to do, just be consistent and the routine will fall into place.

My kids' bedtime is 8:30pm. So I set the alarm on my cell phone to go off at 7:45pm. The kids know that when the alarm goes off that it is time for bath/bedtime. I know that 45 minutes will get everything done, bath, brush teeth, pj's, short story, etc. If we start on time, everything happens on schedule and everybody is in their bed by 8:30pm.

Time it to see how long your bedtime routine takes, add about 5 minutes to it and set an alarm to go off as a reminder.

Hey -
I think the key is just setting the time and not deviating. It really depends on how old your kids are and how much homework they have. I have a 5 year old (in Kindergarten) and a 1 year old. When we get home, we eat dinner (something that is ready - from the crock pot or left overs or something that cooks in 10 minutes. I RARELY cook what we eat that night- it takes way too much time). Then, at 6, I start the bathtime routine for my 1 year old. When she gets old, I run the bath for my 5 year old and he bathes himself while I put the baby to bed. When he gets out by 7, we read or watch a movie. He is in bed by 8:00. I need him to be in bed by 8 so that I can finish the evening chores. This is when I finish cleaning the kitchen and prep dinner for the next night.

-L.

time management. take about an hour on a weekend day and hang up clothing for the entire week. the "clothing" will consist of the actual outter wear plus socks, underclothing. in the evening, load up the washer/pour in detergent/turn knob to start but do not start. the following morning, after utilizing the bathroom, flip the washer on. by the time you are finished breakfast, it will be time to put the clothes in the dryer... place on cloth dry cleaning folded in a laundry basket along with extra hangers. when this laundry basket gets full, take to the dry cleaners. clean your house thoroughly once a week... pick up/whipe up in between... a few ideas that i utilize in my life. get all items sans outter clothing from wal-mart. since there's a pharmacy, personal hygiene products, etc. at wal-mart. why drive all over town. good luck.

My boys are 7 and 4. We usually finish up dinner and clean up aroun 6:30. When the weather is nice after the time change, they will play outside until about 7:30, come in and shower (the shower goes quicker than the bath), brush teeth and in bed by 8:00. If it's not a nice day outside, they'll shower right after dinner, and at 7:00, we either watch a movie or play a Wii game or board game together. Then, 7:45 is teeth time. At 8:00, after they brush teeth and go potty, we go in one boy's bed and read a story together and say our bedtime prayers. Then, my husband will read one with my 4 year old while I listen to my 7 year old read. Occasionally, we'll let them read alone in bed for 15 min. or so. My youngest can't tell time, so I have a timer in each room and I'll set it. I'll tell them that when the timer dings, it's time to turn out the light and go to bed. We both tuck them in and kiss them good night. It's always lights out at 8:30 the latest.

Hi S., not sure how old your two girls are but my four kids range in all different ages, but what always worked for us is putting them to bed half an hour before their bedtime, this is with teeth already brushed and jammy's on. My husband and I do the bedtime hugs and kisses and maybe even a story and then that last 30 minutes, before lights out, they get to read in their rooms. Of course, you might need to check up on them after the last half hour to make sure lights are off. My kids are a little older now but my three youngest ones, who are 7, 8 and 12, still follow this rule. Good luck!

For young children make a picture schedule - bath, brush teeth, pj's, story, kiss & hug, lights out! Refer to the pictures as you do each step. It makes you not be the 'bad' guy - the schedule says...
Also it helps to make it where you can rearange the pictures for no bath nights or a special night when its late and there can be no story. It could also be used to add a reward like 2 stories or a bedtime movie.
Just change the schedule early in the evening so they will be prepared, and let them know when the timer rings (or clock is on the seven) we will start our bedtime routine.

Hello S.,

I am a professional organizer and family coach. Part of my job when organizing families is to start with Time Management, kids chore systems, scheduling etc.

There's just way to much to find out about how your family functions to really tell you advice that could work for you.

I have been reviewed by other Mamasource moms and have been in business for 3 years. Please visit my website for more information.

But what I think you need is a consultation. I will give you loads of ideas and suggestions for your family.

Thanks,

L. B.
www.GetOrganized.ws