Works for Me…
Okay, I’ve joined the followers of the “Works-For-Me Wednesday” crowd. I’ve gotten a bunch of great ideas. Now to implement them…
Here goes my first contribution. With four kids, keeping them hydrated is very demanding. Their preferred beverage is water, so when they are thristy I either have to stop what I’m doing to retrieve a glass of water or let them jump up on the counter to do it themselves. Neither option really appealed to me.
So several years ago I figured out if they all had their own water bottles stashed in the door shelf of the frig, it would save me the time and effort getting my little ones their water.
Disclaimer: This idea works great when the water bottles are filled! And if anyone has an idea of how to get the kids to remember to fill them consistently, I’m all ears.
My StumbleUpon Page
We have a water filter tank in the fridge and the way we remember is to fill it before bed, I make it a kid’s chore. If your kids are young, you could make it an oldest kid’s chore, or part of your before bed routine.
During the day you could have a “checkpoint”…lunch time?
I like the idea of individual water bottles, I may have to try that this summer!
May 24th, 2006 at 5:54 pmAnd how to keep track of whose water bottle is whose?
May 24th, 2006 at 6:09 pmI use different color ponytail elastics. Just stretch it around the bottle, right near the label.
Sharpie Markers
May 24th, 2006 at 6:33 pmOr you could purchase different colored water bottles
Some of our water bottels are different. The ones that are the same are marked with initials. Another problem we have is getting the water bottles out of the van when we take them to ball games, etc. But we have lots of dispopsable water bottles that are constantly being replaced.
When we wash the water bottles, my son is supposed to refill them, but he doesn’t. I’ll have to make it a point to check waterbottles at lunch like Lyn said!
Thanks for the additional ideas!
May 24th, 2006 at 7:01 pmIn Parade of homes last weekend I saw some of the newest homes built are installing small drinking fountains next to the garage entrance or beside the pantry–out of the way and so easy to get a drink without dirtying dishes or dealing with extra effort.
Too bad installation is probably WAY expensive, huh?
May 24th, 2006 at 8:15 pmWe have definite problems with using too many glasses around here. I have tape on the counter with their names on it, where they are supposed to put their glass when they are finished. The fridge is probably a better idea!
May 25th, 2006 at 11:41 amI have a hard enough time keeping my own water bottles filled! I have to admit, I don’t know what I’d do without my Nalgene bottles. I’ve got them all over the house and even in my car.
Camy
May 30th, 2006 at 2:25 am