FO4UR Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Does anyone else do this, or am I the only one? They now each have their own workboxes, pencil pouches, pencil grips, water bottles.........(I'm leaving something out? - oh, file folders for my planning purposes - and play-doh.....no more fighting over play-doh:001_huh:)....all in their own color. ds6 is blue, dd4 is red/pink, and ds3 is green. Now when I see a pile of crayons on the floor - I KNOW who did it!;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mompotter Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I have done this with many things. I want to do it with cups now. I am tired of 20 dirty cups on the counter just from a "quick drink of water". :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I did the same thing (although not to the extent of segregating the paydoh & crayons, LOL). All DD6's school things (binders, pencil case, calculator, stapler & tape dispenser, dry erase boards, etc) are light blue, and DS11's things are light green. Even their shelves, desk lamps, and desk chairs are blue and green. :tongue_smilie: Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudreyTN Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I do it to a certain extent... they'd be mad if they couldn't play with ALL of the playdough colors. ;) I never thought about pencils though... hmm, that would solve a lot of problems. You should change your signature colors to match! (It looks like your boys are flip flopped.) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Cool idea!! I think we will try that this fall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I did that w/ mine the first year we homeschooled. May I say, it was the only year that ran smoothly! Guess what I'm going back to doing this fall. :0) And yes, even the pencils. Dh wants to do cups too. It really does make a difference, and they can't argue about who's pencil, notebook, whatever got left on the table or floor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I had a friend who did this with her three boys for years! I thought it was brilliant. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 We have also done this with many items that are not school related. Bath towels, wash cloths, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, combs, razors, drinking cups etc... It was so helpful when there were many at home. Also, although not colored, I used to purchase each of my boys a little different style of white socks and it made it very easy to sort them after they were washed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3byzaz Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Oh my goodness...now I don't feel so OCD!! :>) I did this with my three boys -- well, the first two were easier - the third boy is usually purple. We do it for cups, school folders, binders, easy stuff. I should do it with pencils!! I also put my oldest left handed boy on the left for everything--clothes, plate of food - whatever. It sure helps me!! As they have gotten older, I don't do it quite as much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I used too until I ran out of colors :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babysparkler Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I just started doing this too... ds9 blue, dd7 red, ds4 green, ds2 yellow. It works great! I purchased 4 colored chairs for our homeschool table and we have no more fighting over chairs... and even the 2 year old goes right to "his" yellow chair. I also have colored trays for art projects, storage bins, cups, pencil grips, toothbrushes, picnic plates, etc... I love it and so do they :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denainms Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I do this for my 3, with cups, water bottles, plates, bowls, pencil boxes,toothbrushes etc..when I find a dirty cup or dish, I know who didn't put it away! or if there is a dry toothbrush, I know who didn't brush their teeth. :D I even did it on vacation at the beach with pails, shovels, etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 That's a great idea!! I might have to start doing that for DD and DS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pongo Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Does anyone else do this, or am I the only one? They now each have their own workboxes, pencil pouches, pencil grips, water bottles.........(I'm leaving something out? - oh, file folders for my planning purposes - and play-doh.....no more fighting over play-doh:001_huh:)....all in their own color. ds6 is blue, dd4 is red/pink, and ds3 is green. Now when I see a pile of crayons on the floor - I KNOW who did it!;) Mine are color coded. I even bought the colored duct tape and put a strip on ALL binders and books:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10Newtons Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I used too until I ran out of colors :D That was me too...7 different colors are hard to find! I did do it with bath towels years ago...worked great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Ledge Academy Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 yes, it started with our identical twins....they are blue and red, the others are pink, purple, and orange. Pencil boxes, folders, water bottles, cups, plates, even clothes...they are all so close in age and size, it keeps me from having to look at the tags to see whose it is....and for the twins, I can always tell who is who from far away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linders Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 DS8's favorite color is blue, favorite theme is Star Wars. DD6's faves are yellow and puppies. All stuff - cups/bowls, notebooks, pencils, even erasers - fall into the appropriate groups. Too bad I have never found yellow or puppy-themed boys underwear for DD6. Would make sorting a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 I have to say that being allowed access to only one color would drive me insane!:D I guess I could do it if I knew I could change colors sometime. I can't help thinking about Mary and Laura Ingalls, and how Ma accidentally switched their braid ribbons one day. They'd grown "so tired" of having the same color all the time and were delighted by the change! That would be me, if I were a kid in a color-coded house. Now, being the MOM--well, the idea IS brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 And they now make duct tape in 17 different colors :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christielee7278 Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 We are color-coding this year. Red for my oldest, blue for my 5 yr old, green for my 3 yr old and probably yellow when my 1 yr old is old enough to need a color. I tried convincing dh that we needed to try for a girl so we could add pink....he didn't go for it. Just told me pink can be my color.....and he said "btw camo is mine." :D Seriously I used to color code the clothes hangers for the littles, but we can't find the colored hangers anymore. LOVED how easy it was to have my oldest put away clothes for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterbabs Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 When my boys were little we did it for them, Yacko was red and Wacko was blue. Then they grew and tantrums ensued because Wacko was wearing Yacko's shirt, etc. :glare: We're getting back to it now that they're older. The boys generally get red/yellow/orange and DD gets pink/purple/blue. That was me too...7 different colors are hard to find! I did do it with bath towels years ago...worked great! Roy G. Biv is your friend. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommytobees Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I used too until I ran out of colors :D Snicker!! I just had to pop in and say... My dear dear friend is many years older than I am. I am the same age as her oldest daughter. This friend has a huge brood and she was the person who convinced me the wisdom of color coding my kids from the start. She has 15 children, all of her own and "only" 2 sets of twins (identical at that) between the ages of 3 - 33. Most of the kids at home have "normal" colors... but a number of the middle, currently the eldest living with mom, children have weird colors! My favorite by far has to be her 16 and 19 year olds. The 19 year old girl has maroon and the 16 year old boy has mint green. LOL, she just happened to be online and gave me the entire list: red yellow green blue orange purple pink maroon mint green red blue/green striped (her mom purchased many many many years worth, she thinks she'll have brand new towels to send with her son to college) orange & blue (both girls) green & pink (again, both girls) I asked her what she would have done if she hadn't hit menopause, or if she has one last "oops". She said she was going with white, unless it is twins again. Kris, who has a pink and a green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarana Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I did this with my twins since birth. White bottle/red nipples for one & colored bottles/beige nipples for the other. Yellow/Green bath sets. I did 2 contrasting colors of same design with clothes. Now whatever we buy we buy a pink & some other color. One is crazy for hot-pink & the other is not that particular. So glasses, mugs, water bottles, file folders, pencils, erasers, school backpacks, lunch bags anything that is pink you know who it belongs to. If I am ever forced to buy anything of the same color, then I promptly mark it with a permanent marker ! Yes even clothes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceandaughter Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 And if you already have things you use, you can just get colored tape or stickers to put on things. (We already have so much that I hate to buy new, especially since so much of what I love to use comes from the states). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Am I the only one whose kids don't argue over what is theirs? Maybe it will come, but so far my older boys have never argued about what belongings. They share pencils, markers, chairs, plates, drink from the same water bottle, toys, towels, and so forth. They don't share toothbrushes. It's even gotten to where my middle ds can wear some of oldest ds's clothes like shirts and socks. They simply just don't complain about it. Are my kids weird? :confused: Well, even if they are weird I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 We do it. Towels, binders, toothbrushes, et cetera. I will say it's starting to get a little harder. :P I'm running out of colors that you find things in! Towels this weekend were a little complicated. Ana - Blue Christian - Dk. Green Lizzie - Pink Becca - Purple Timmy - Orange Abigail - Yellow Sarah - Mint Green Hmmm... NO idea what this baby will be! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I absolutely do this. Oldest ds is blue, youngest ds is green. Their assignment notebooks, folders, workbox numbers, etc are all the same. Even their schedules are done in their own colors. :) ETA: Even their ages in my siggy are their colors. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThelmaLou Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Yes, yes yes!!! I'm not totally consistent, but color coding started when they were toddlers with their cups. For my five boys, we go in order from oldest to youngest: red, blue, green, yellow, orange. Highly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I read about someone doing this with bathroom towels; that way, she always knew who threw the towel on the floor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen in SEVA Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Just look at my signature! :D We don't color code everything, only the things that we DON'T want them to share. It started with towels and toothbrushes, but now includes book boxes, folders for printouts, and boxes for supplies (some boys like perfectly sharp crayons, while some boys still chew up their crayons). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I'm tempted to do this with my partners. There'd be no more stealing of pillows, or finding my towel hanging damp in the shower... There's only one of DD, and any next child there will be a big enough age gap that I doubt it'd come up much. It's far more likely said second child will have to endure many, many pink hand-me-downs, especially of SCA garb. DD is definitely a lover of pink, followed by black. It used to be the other way around, but alas... I really don't know where she gets it from. I don't care for pink at all, myself. Never have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallory Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 My oldest are red and green. (and sis is blue). It is really just for school things, just to keep thier supplies and books organized. My two oldest boys share almost everything. All of thier clothes are worn by both, they only have one dresser for all the clothes/socks/shoes/even underware! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Am I the only one whose kids don't argue over what is theirs? Maybe it will come, but so far my older boys have never argued about what belongings. They share pencils, markers, chairs, plates, drink from the same water bottle, toys, towels, and so forth. They don't share toothbrushes. It's even gotten to where my middle ds can wear some of oldest ds's clothes like shirts and socks. They simply just don't complain about it. Are my kids weird? :confused: Well, even if they are weird I love it. No, you are not alone, my kids don't fight over their stuff either and I hope that doesn't change! Other parents have been telling me for years that it will change :001_huh: but I think it is just their nature. to the OP, your system might actually encourage sharing! If they want to use a different color art supply (which they will) then they HAVE to ask and maybe even trade colors so it may make things easier for you and help them to share. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmama4 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I used too until I ran out of colors :D :lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I have done this on a few things. I buy wash cloths at IKEA, they are white with a colour tab to hang them up. Each child has their own colour so I can keep track of who is not getting washed, or not hanging their cloth back up. Plus keeps them from sharing (we had an issue of pink eye being spread a couple years ago). Cups I don't do, but I have thought about it because I am tired of every cup in the house being used by theend of the night by the 4 of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I was red/purple/blue as a child and my sister was green/pink/yellow.:) We didn't fight over stuff--it just made it easier to determine to whom things belonged. My dh has already pretty much staked out lime green for himself, so I guess I shouldn't be buying so many lime green things for my baby boy on the way!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 My kids are color-coded on most things. Even in the bathroom, they all have their own colors of washcloths and towels (well, the towels coordinate with our bathroom, so the colors are lavender, cream, and white instead of the school colors of blue, red, and green, lol). It works wonders. When we started the color coding, they instantly became more responsible for picking up their own things! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 We are going to do this for school stuff! The girls picked out their colors today; Anna is green, Emma is blue, and Cora is pink. Should be fun!! I really need new towels so I am thinking about doing it for towels/washcloths too. I think I want brown or purple. I will have to see what color Patrick wants. FUN!! I think I might be a nerd for thinking it is so much fun! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogpond1 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 gets mixed up in the end and turns "chicken poop green." :001_smile: We did color code camping bags and blankets and towels etc. for a while when our kids were younger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 You should change your signature colors to match! (It looks like your boys are flip flopped.) LOL - off to change it! I used too until I ran out of colors :lol: see below;) And they now make duct tape in 17 different colors :D :party: When my boys were little we did it for them, Yacko was red and Wacko was blue. Then they grew and tantrums ensued because Wacko was wearing Yacko's shirt, etc. :glare: I am a bit concerned about that - esp if grandma sends "the wrong color" of something...hmmm..... It works wonders. When we started the color coding, they instantly became more responsible for picking up their own things! :D This is my goal!:001_smile: Oh - and I should clarify - they do each get a whole box of crayons. They aren't restricted to coloring with only one color LOL! That box, however, goes in their color-coded pencil pouch! .....tempted to go buy me some colored duct tape and put some on each crayon now......:rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuff Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Mine do this on their own. They are very particular about having things in their favorite color. See siggy :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuff Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Am I the only one whose kids don't argue over what is theirs? Maybe it will come, but so far my older boys have never argued about what belongings. They share pencils, markers, chairs, plates, drink from the same water bottle, toys, towels, and so forth. They don't share toothbrushes. It's even gotten to where my middle ds can wear some of oldest ds's clothes like shirts and socks. They simply just don't complain about it. Are my kids weird? :confused: Well, even if they are weird I love it. It's not so much about fighting, but knowing who to tell to pick it up when it's laying in the middle of the floor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 It's not so much about fighting, but knowing who to tell to pick it up when it's laying in the middle of the floor! :iagree: Totally!!!! lol My kids are more than happy to share pretty much everything with each other, which makes it all the more difficult to tell who left whatever-it-is on the floor! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 We've done this since starting to homeschool. My oldest son is Green, My dd is blue and my youngest son is Red. I want to do this with towels too, but I'm waiting for the ones they have to wear out. Currently their bathroom is "rainbow colors" so we have 2 towels in red, blue, green, yellow and orange, but the yellow and orange ones never get used because nobody wants "that" color. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 My mom color-coded us to stop the fighting over plates/cups/etc. It spilled over into toothbrushes, hair brushes, and assorted other things. I was always jealous that my brother got blue. Now that I've got 5 kids (which is when my mom did it with us), I'm considering doing the same. The kids already gravitate toward certain colors anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Jo Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I just started doing this - thanks for the idea! The oldest is Red, middle son is blue and youngest in green. I started out with toothbrushes and water bottles, I'll pick up towels and school supplies too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matrips Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 my kids have been color coded since they were born! in a way I feel a little bad- their favorite color is of course the one they were assigned! but it works well for so many things. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Yep, we did that too....not because they fight over things, just to make things more easily identifiable! I did the boys socks that way too--oldest preferred white socks, younger got socks with stripes. I didn't do it at birth. They were old enough to pick their own colors, and it stuck (see siggy). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted July 3, 2009 Author Share Posted July 3, 2009 Yep, we did that too....not because they fight over things, just to make things more easily identifiable! I did the boys socks that way too--oldest preferred white socks, younger got socks with stripes. I didn't do it at birth. They were old enough to pick their own colors, and it stuck (see siggy). SOCKS!!!! That's my next project!!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaird Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I have also color-coded my kids...as well as other people's kids! The kids are assigned specific color cups which they are to use all day long. The kid's friends get their own color, too. My kids all have their own color towels because my teenager will use the whole closet full of towels if she can get away with it. Now she has 4 blue towels of her own and everyone knows if she steals theirs - not that it stops her. We even have four sets of different color towels for guests. The kids have different color cordless phones for their rooms so they don't run off with mine all of the time. Again, this does not always stop them from doing it. Of course, the school supplies are color coded as well. It just makes it easier to keep up with what belongs to each child. Now, if only I could color-code their socks without making them look like a bunch of weirdos. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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