How to simplify family life with a family command centre
If you need help keeping track of school commitments, extra-curricular activities, appointments, birthdays, and everything else it takes to run a family, then a family command centre is just what you need.
Here we’ll cover everything you need to know about a family command centre, including what it is, the benefits of using one, how to set one up, and there’s even some real life family command centre ideas to help you create your own.
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What is a family command centre?
A family command centre, otherwise known as a family management system, is an area of your home that contains information to help you organise your family.
It’s usually located in a high traffic area of your home, such as the kitchen, living room, mudroom, or entry way, and is one of the best ways to keep your family organised, helping you to become a more organised mum.
Family command centre benefits
Here are some of the benefits of using a family command centre, that hopefully will convince you to start your own.
- It communicates important details, which means no more missed messages, forgotten appointments, or arriving late to events.
- It makes family schedules and routines run smoother, because everyone knows what’s expected of them, and where they need to be by when.
- It makes kids more independent as they can find out for themselves where they need to be, what they need to do, or what they need to pack for school.
- It reduces your mental load because other family members can take responsibility for their own tasks.
What to include in a family command centre
Here’s some items you can include in your family command centre.
- A bulletin board, dry-erase board, or chalkboard to write down grocery lists, reminders, to dos, or what you need to do to get out the door on time
- A family calendar
- Family goals
- A weekly planner
- Chore lists and charts
- Paperwork holder for important paperwork like invitations, receipts, and bills
- Charging stations
- Storage bins or baskets
- Rubbish bins
- Hooks for keys
- Bowls for coins
- Stationery holders
How to set up a command centre
Here are some steps you can take to set up your own family management system.
Choose a location
Choose an area of your home that everyone passes regularly, for example in the kitchen, hallway, living room, on your fridge, or behind a door.
Determine what you need
Some questions to ask yourself to help you decide what you need to include in your command centre are.
- Do I need to record a lot of date and time specific information? If so, think about whether you’d prefer a family wall calendar or a weekly paper planner
- What commitments do my kids have that I need to keep top of mind?
- What paperwork do I need to deal with each night?
- Do I need space for keys and coins?
- Do I want to plan meals in this area?
- Do the kids have chores they need to be reminded of?
- Do I want to charge devices in this space?
Create your family command centre
Once you’ve decided on a location, and have purchased what you need to put in your family command centre, it’s time to set it up.
A great first step is to set up the larger items, such as bulletin boards, dry-erase boards, chalkboards, or family wall planners, which you can attach to a wall, or place on a table against a wall.
For the rest of your items, you can group them with similar items, or with items you use together. For example, place school related items in one spot, pens and paper in another, chargers and cords in another.
Overtime you’ll move items around, until you’ve configured your command centre in a way that works for your family.
Family command centre ideas
Here are four family command centre ideas that you may like to use as inspiration for your own.
Image 1 Jennifer Maker Image 2 Ideas for the Home by Kenarry
Image Hi Sugar Plum
Image Tatertots and Jello
For more ideas, please visit family command centre ideas.
Extra tips
Here are some tips to get the most out of your family management system.
- Keep it clutter free so it doesn’t become filled with items that detract you from using it
- Check your calendar each night, making note of what you need to remember for the next day
- Schedule any date and time specific information from paperwork that enters your home as soon as you receive it
- Encourage family members to look at upcoming calendar items regularly, and tick off any chores they’ve done
How to simplify family life with a family command centre– a recap
A family command centre is truly one of the best organisational tools you can use to keep your family organised.
There are many benefits of using one, one of the best ones is that it decreases your mental load, because you can delegate responsibilities to family members easily.
Your family’s command centre will be unique to your family’s needs, and will include anything that makes family life easier for your family.
Using your centre each day, and encouraging family members to refer to it regularly, will enable you to get the most out of this fantastic family organisational tool.
What’s one thing you’d love to add to a family command centre?
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