#29: Kids’ Cubby

July is National Purposeful Parenting Month!

Years ago we moved into a home that had a water and ice dispenser in the refrigerator door. Overnight, our children became master water drinkers and seemed to be thirsty all the time. They were constantly asking for a glass so they could help themselves to the water. This got old very quickly.

If you have young children, you probably hear similar requests for drinks and snacks. My solution was to create what we dubbed the Kids’ Cupboard–a lower cabinet in which we stored plastic dishes the kids could easily reach themselves.

You might decide to take it a step further and place crackers or other snack items on the same shelf as the plastic dishes or on a low pantry shelf so they can help themselves to a snack, with your permission, of course. Kids will feel more grown up as they’re given the responsibility of fending for themselves. As our kids have grown older I’ve kept our Kid’s Cupboard for other children who visit our home.

Learn how to broaden your children's responsibilities and add to their self-esteem with Organized Audrey’s audio CD and companion 16 page guide – “Skills & Responsibilities from Tots to Teens”.