How to Create a Family Command Center Binder
Today, families are busier than ever. We rush from one thing to the next, juggling school, work, kids, and maybe even a social life (if we’re lucky). Unfortunately, running at this pace can be hectic and stressful for all those involved. Parents, in particular, may have trouble coordinating their kids’ sports practices, dance lessons, and school activities. I won’t even mention all the extra time required for other activities not related to kids.
So how can you organize your life so you can get everything done without ripping your hair out? The solution is a Family Command Center binder. The Family Command Center is essentially a notebook that contains everything you need to know about your family, including upcoming activities, emergency phone numbers, etc. It contains everything your family needs to know in a central location so everybody can see exactly what’s going on at any given time. Taking the time to create this simple solution WILL help reduce your stress and avoid unnecessary hassles and confusion.
For about $10, you can create a Family Command Center binder using basic items found at your local office supply store. If you recycle supplies you already have at home, you may be able to create your binder for free!
Here’s what you need to get started:
- Planner or a simple 3-ring binder. You can use a professionally designed system, such as those you might find in office supply stores, or use a plain 3- ring binder notebook.
- A set of tabbed dividers. Label each tab with the following suggested names (feel free to customize your labels to fit your family’s needs):
- Master Calendar (download template). For each family member, record all appointments for the month or week.
- Emergency Contact List (download template). List all of your emergency and commonly used phone numbers in this section.
- Mom’s Name. Use this section to keep track of notes, appointments, dates, and other need-to-know information about mom.
- Dad’s Name. Same thing here, use this section to record important information about dad.
- Childs’s Name. For each child, create a separate tab and record information similar to mom and dad.
- Etc.
That’s it! Your Family Command Center is done. You can leave the binder as-is or get creative and decorate it anyway you see fit. (I will be posting a picture of my binder within the next couple of days so you can see how easy it is.)
How to Use the Family Command Center
Now, here’s the fun part. Once a week, bring your family together and record all the upcoming activities for the week (or month) on the master calendar and place it in the front of the binder. The calendar should include all family member activities and any conflicts that may occur. This is your opportunity to resolve issues before they happen. It also gives you a good idea of just how full your schedule is so you can determine if you need to cut back. I suggest that you keep it in a place that is easily accessible by everyone in your family. I keep mine in the kitchen.
If you maintain your binder on a weekly basis, I guarantee that you will reduce your stress so you can enjoy your life.