Summer Sanity Saver- Checklists

I look forward to summer for the hot weather, flexible bedtime, and loosey-goosey we-can-do-whatever-we-want-whenever-we-want schedule. I do NOT like it, however, for the bugs and lack of structure. My children NEED structure, but I have to find just the right balance between sweet, sweet freedom and complete chaos. 

Now, I have FOUR children: boys ages 13, 9, and 7, and a 3-year-old girl. The boys have combined diagnoses of ADHD, anxiety/depression, and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (only one does not have ADHD) just to make things extra fun.  

Finding the balance is really tricky. 

ENTER THE CHECKLISTS. 

I printed the checklists through Costco's photo center for under $2 each. The clear pouches are from The Dollar Tree, as are the stickers. Also from The Dollar Tree: knockoff Velcro to attach the checklists to the front of the pouches, colored craft sticks for chore distribution, and foam sheets to make the chore stick holder. (Chores will be covered in a separate post.)

The first day went surprisingly well!  Today, not so great, but the expectations have been set and the guidelines are right in front of their face. They can refer to the checklist if they have any questions about what needs to be done, and I don't have to remember who has done what, and whether they have earned iPod/tablet/TV/computer time. 👍🏻👍🏻