Are you a parent juggling the demands of homeschooling or simply seeking to create a harmonious living space for your family? In this conversation, we delve deep into the world of executive functioning and the power of a well-organized home. Lauri shares her wisdom on decluttering strategies, establishing functional spaces, and involving kids in the process to ensure that each family member has a personalized system that promotes both growth and independence.

Connect with Sarah Collins

• Follow Sarah on Instagram @homeschoolOT
• Join the commmunity: Homeschool and Occupational Therapy with Sarah Collins, homeschoolOT
• Visit the Homeschool OT Website

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Discussion on how space affects homeschooling productivity and the importance of organization in fostering family connections.
• Strategies for creating an environment conducive to learning and quality family time.
• The psychological benefits of letting go of items that do not serve current lifestyle or values.
• Guiding questions to assist individuals in assessing what they truly need and value in their organized space.
• The importance of aligning your space with your life goals.
• Planning and defining areas within a home for their intended function, especially regarding homeschooling needs.
• Creating multifunctional spaces that adapt to various activities and family members.
• The necessity for children to develop ownership in decluttering and organizing their spaces as they transition into adolescence.
• Methods to encourage and inspire teens to organize, drawing from relatable resources like YouTube and memes.
• Suggestions for using shelving units, pencil boxes, and disguised storage solutions to maintain order.
• Prioritizing practicality and functionality, especially in children's spaces.
• Practical examples, such as organizing a coffee station for efficiency and improved workflow.
• Discussing environment setup to support individual executive functioning skills.
• Adjusting the organizational system to match an individual's level of independence.
• Suggestions to simplify the organizational process for both children and adults.
• The utility of visual aids like labels and pictures in guiding children through organizing tasks.
• Techniques to avoid losing items with the use of drawer dividers and dedicated storage.
• Setting realistic organizational expectations that can be followed by all family members.
• Addressing the emotional challenges of parting with items during life transitions.
• Recommendations for dealing with sentimental belongings without compromising functional space.
• Tips on involving children of different ages in organizing, starting with simple choices for toddlers and increasing responsibility over time.
• Recognizing the benefits of including children in decluttering and space planning, fostering long-term organizational skills.

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
• Executive Functioning Focus Group
• Picture Books to teach Executive Functioning
• Victory Organizing's website
• Like Victory Organizing on Facebook
• Follow Victory Organizing on Instagram
• Decorative Vintage Book Shaped Storage Box
• Small Drawer dividers (12.5-17.5”)
• Large Drawer dividers (18-22”)
• Cheaper by the Dozen (explains their motion study stuff early on, more about Dad)
• Belles on Their Toes  (continues after Dad’s death, and tells the story of Mom’s continuation.)

Connect with our Guest, Lauri Newell

Where you see chaos, Lauri Newell sees opportunity. As a mother of three, Lauri understands that life happens, and there’s no shame in needing help. A trusted, Nashville-based organizer for over a decade, Lauri is passionate about transforming cluttered rooms into beautiful and functional living spaces.