Organizing Families

Professional organizers often get called in to help parents get a household under control. Some need just a few tweaks while others need a complete system overhaul. I find the areas parents ask for help with the most are:

Papers for the home
Papers related to children and school
Keepsakes
Photos
Toy storage
Clothing for children
Time management/planning
Kids’ rooms
Laundry
Study areas

Parents usually also ask for some assistance organizing other areas such as the kitchen and public spaces where toys migrate. Whenever I’m working with a family situation, I have a checklist of things to ask so I get the full picture. In addition to the usual assessment, the list of questions includes:

Ages of children
If mother works, type of work, and hours
If father work, type of work, and hours
Schools attended by children
School schedule
Hobbies/activities of children
Who is the parent home the most
Which parent is in charge of overseeing each space
What calendar(s) they are using
If there are psychological circumstances I should be aware of
If there are learning differences with children or parents
You may also choose to conduct a few interview questions to assess the learning style of the parent who called. It may play a key role in the systems you create.
Philosophy of toys - like lots out or just a few out
Philosophy about neatness
Who does laundry, runs home errands, takes kids to lessons

Instead of presenting tips about organizing families which would only scratch the surface, I wanted to use this forum to recommend some resources. I have read some wonderful books that helped me to understand the role of the parent in organizing (and in running a household). These books also have more in-depth, conceptual discussion about working with family dynamics. These books changed the way I work with families, and the way my own family works. I recommend them highly for anyone who wants to learn more about this specialized area. They are wonderful resources for you draw from. *Please add your own to the Organizer U. Blog in the comments section - http://www.organizeru.com Some of my favorite resources:

The Family Manager by Kathy Peel. This is the book that changed my view of my role in the family from housekeeper to home manager.

The Organized Student by Donna Goldberg This book has helped me to understand how to help the student who’s having trouble setting up systems for his/her own learning needs.

Neat Mom, Messie Kids by Sandra Felton This is one of my favorites to read because it uses stories and case studies you can identify with. It is also for messy moms.

I also wrote a little ebook you might like.The Organizing Manual for Families is full of tips and tricks for organizing a household. You can download it from OnlineOrganizing.com here.

Class: Learn more in-depth organizing strategies for families

Real Housewives of . . . {insert your city here}

Family Organizing

Allison Carter teaches parents and professional organizers how to organize the average busy family. Date: Friday Feb. 27 10am - 12noon Eastern This is a teleclass so you can participate from anywhere. Learn: * Home manager basics * Favorite products to use for families * Organizing strategies for families * How to manage household papers Get more information about the Real Housewives of … Family Organizing class here.