September begins and the children return to school, the obligations return, the responsibilities return and that of "homework!", "To the shower!", "To dinner!" and "to bed!"
If you have a child it is relatively easy (I think) to have a minimum order at home, but when you have two or more things get complicated and it may happen that they give you so many and you realize that one has not done the homework, that the other has not taken a shower (how can it be that your brothers and you have already showered?) or that one wants to wear to play when they would have to be having dinner to go to bed.
What do they pay attention to? Perfect. Rare, very rare, but perfect. What do you ignore and want to try a new strategy? Blame it on the clock: Ep !, it's not me who says it, It is the clock that tells us what to do.
I don't like schedules
I am a rather chaotic person when it comes to organizing. I would need a schedule to be more efficient because that dispersion makes me waste a lot of time. However, I live comfortably in that disability and the fact of setting myself schedules would probably generate more stress ... I think I like to be dispersed in that sense.
The case is that for this same reason, I am not very much to mark schedules at home. We are doing and fulfilling what he touches more or less routinely, but without looking too much at the clock. A few days we had dinner before, others later. A few days we play longer, other days less. Some days do their homework soon, others late. And some days they get into bed at one hour and others at another. And more or less we work, so I don't think we need a watch like that.
But if necessary, it is a good idea
Now, if this organized disorder was a problem, if the children did not pay attention to us, or if they questioned the need to take a shower, to do their homework (although sometimes I understand them), to get into bed before dawn , etc., if all this could lead to conflict, it is a good idea to delegate on the clock.
One way to do this is what you see in the photo: paint different stripes on the clock and explain them in a legend to know what you are playing at each moment. So the children will know when it is time to do their homework, what time to play, time to bathe, spend time with family and dinner, go to bed, and what is the strip from which there is a punishment in case of not being in bed.
Well, you know I don't like punishments, so the last strip, I personally, would eliminate it. Or I would change the legend: "red alert", "too dark", "there is little left for the sun to rise" ... I know, some funny phrase that catches your attention.
How positive aspects:
- You take away the responsibility of saying what it touches, because you pass it to the clock and, bounce, to the kids, who are looking at him and seeing what they have to do at all times and then not running around doing homework when they should be having dinner or bathing when they should be in bed.
- The house in general works in a more orderly way, all doing the same at the same time, so that they can concentrate more on what they are doing (there is not one screaming and running when another is trying to concentrate).
- Have a fixed time to play and to be with family, which is not bad considering that many families, despite living together, spend little time together. They have already done their homework, have played a good time and now it's time to be together, do something, talk, play and then have dinner.
- They go to bed at about the same time, and you don't have to keep remembering how late it is.
How negatives:
- Can be a bit stifling if they take it or you take it to heart and the stripes are not flexible. What if you need more time to do your homework? What if they are playing something, they are having a great time and are learning a lot (children learn a lot playing) and it's time for dinner? What if… ?
- It does not admit the individuality of each child, the desire that you may have to do or stop doing something: It is time to do something and as the clock says it is necessary to do it. Where is the decision of each child to do something or not? Where is the confidence in your capacity for self-management? What if he prefers to play at that moment and assures you that he will do his homework later? Can an exchange be made? What if you feel like reading when others play and play when others read or do homework?
- Subtract spontaneity from life, and that's why in my house I doubt we do something like that. Immersed in schedules and obligations all day (school, work, extracurriculars, etc.) The last thing someone may want is to have schedules even at home. That is why it should be assessed to what extent it is worth it, because if it generates more stress and stress, it is worthwhile to enjoy the usual family chaos a little ... although if it is the usual family chaos that generates stress, it may be better get a watch and paint it.
