Science in the Neighborhood

Science is everywhere, especially in our own back yards.

Here are 10 places in your neighborhood that you can visit with your kids to learn how things work.  Some may be easier to get a tour with a group (school, scouts, etc), but you may be able to go during a slow part of the day and get a private tour or interview.

Ask the professionals to share what tools and technology they use. 

1.  Utilities - Recycling, water sanitation

Some local utilities have specific dates for public tours or will schedule group tours.

2.  Fire station, police car, ambulance

Ask community helpers to show the inside of their trucks and tools they use.

3.  Local Restaurants

The kitchen in your local restaurant usually has well planned logistics to get food out quickly.  Pizza places sometimes offer tours to groups.  Even fast food restaurants have interesting tools they use to get food out fast and consistently.

4.  Grocery store

Peak behind the scenes in the stock room to see how food gets from truck to shelves and into our homes.

5.  Bank

Help kids understand money is not just about a credit card.

6.  Library

Ok, I am a Dewey Decimal system nerd and love the order of sorting and reshelving books.

7.  Repair shop

Lots of cool tools to ask about.

8.  Gas station

Where does the gas come from and how does it get into our cars?

9.  Local farm, upick or farmer's market

Whether there are animals or fruits and vegetables, there are plenty of learning opportunities  about where our food comes from.

10.  Construction site

Big tools and trucks.  Make sure you watch from a distance and everyone is safe.

October - laundry room 5S

The laundry room is a closet that is actually used quite a bit in my home, but does not receive a lot of attention.  I currently store cleaning supplies and rags, as well as bulk supplies on the shelves above my washer/dryer.

1. Sort

Pull out everything you are storing and confirm it is all still useful and it is in the best place for point of use.  

Example:  each bathroom (or at least upstairs and downstairs) can have its own cleaning supply caddy, to ensure the tools are available at the point of use. 

Old or broken cleaning tools may need to be thrown out, replaced or relegated to the garage for cleaning car tires. 

Once detergent bottles are empty, throw them out or recycle them. If you have detergent samples, use them or donate them.  Those little packets just clutter up the shelves.

2. Scrub

Wipe down the outside of your washer and dryer. You can clean the washer with commercial cleaners specified for cleaning the machine or running 2 cups of vinegar through a complete cycle on the hottest setting.

3. Set

Put like with like, at the point of use.  Use bins or caddies to separate functional items. 

Laundry items (detergent, fabric softener, stain remover) should be together within easy reach of the washer. 

Extra cleaning products and sponges/brushes can be stored, but do not need to be as accessible.  

4.  Standardize

Label any misc bins (dog supplies, light bulbs, etc).

Designate a space and or quantity of spare supplies (ex. 4 packs of toilet paper). Each satellite location should have a minimum quantity as well, so once you run out in this location, you should have time to buy more before you run out in each bathroom. 

5.  Sustain

Dust the washer and dryer with a towel before you clean towels.

Revisit the storage areas quarterly for worn cleaning tools and to ensure you are replenishing supplies as needed. 

5S to Childproof

First of all, there is no ultimate solution for child proofing. As children get older, they learn how to manipulate any devices you use. So it is a continuous process.

Now that my toddler is taller, he can get in drawers and reach counters that I had not anticipated. So how can I use these areas for functional storage, without risk of injury or damage?

1.  Make sure all knives, flames and sharp objects are well out of arms reach. Put them on shelves or as far back for the counter edge as possible. 

2.  Do not put out anything that you will be devastated if it broke. Accidents happen and kids throw things sometimes. I have had to rethink decorations and some of those antiques may stayed packed away until my kids are bigger.  Plenty of time to take them out at a future date.

3.  When you "set" items in place, think about accessibility for the user, as well as for children. Instead of putting scissors in the junk drawer, maybe you can create a "office tool" station that is on a high shelf your children can not reach. 

4.  Create a space that is ok for them to access. In the kitchen, their plates and utensils can be stored where they can help set the table. In the bathroom, the bath toys can be in a cabinet they can reach.  Maybe there are some snacks it is ok for them to reach and some you want them to be ask for.

5.  Get your kids involved.  Let them pick out what should be included in "their" spaces.  It gives them some ownership and control.

As with any 5S activity, it is a process. Kids will learn and grow, but they will also be more aware of breaking things and boundaries.  Continue to re-evaluate as your family develops.

September - 5S Garage

Time to put away the summer toys and start thinking about those holiday decorations.  What a great time to sort through the garage, before it gets to cold.

1. Sort - A seasonal sort of the garage is ideal so you can pare down the toys that got broken and pack up the ones you will save until next year.  For this area, I would recommend being prepared with empty bins and bags as you sort.  Items in the garage tend to be big, so the sooner you can get rid of it or packed up, the easier it is to move forward in the process.  

My biggest problem right now is empty boxes.  We have a bunch of flattened boxes from our last move.  We have been thinking about moving again, so we have been hanging onto these boxes for two years.  Currently they are lining our garage.  Alternately, we could stack full boxes on top of them on the shelves.  Realistically we need to decide if we really need all of them and get rid of some.  It is often easy to check Freecycle.com to get boxes from others that just moved.

2. Scrub - Time to clear cobwebs and sweep the floor.  Wipe down shelves, as appropriate.  Also wipe down equipment and toys before you pack them up.  It is easier to clean them now than when you are unpacking to actually use them.

3. Set - Really think about what boxes you are going to need when.  Rotate last season's boxes to the back and next season's to the front.  Right now, Holiday boxes should be easily accessible, since winter is coming up fast.
A couple of storage ideas I have seen (on Pinterest, etc):
- Putting skinny shelves in between the two car spaces (2-car garage).
- Wall hooks for bikes, tools and storage baskets.
- Wall baskets or bins for kids toys (balls, helmets, jump ropes, etc)
Remember to put like items together.  Separate tools and garden implements from the kids toy areas.  Don't want them messing with the wrong bins.

4.  Standardize - visuals
In a manufaturing shop, they typically create shadow boards for hanging tools and equipment, so they can see if something is missing.  You can do the same with your tools and garden implements.  
Labeling is the other option.  This is most important for bins and boxes that may not be obvious at a glance.  We all know how annoying it is to sort through multiple bins trying to find that one set of special occasion silverware.  

Inventory the seasonal bins and label on the outside, so you can quickly review them before unpacking.  This is a good task to do before you pack them up at the end of the season.  You can also note on the list what may be needed next year.

5.  Sustain - The easiest time to rotate and revisit your garage is with the seasons. 
Fall - pack away summer toys;  unpack Halloween and fall/winter tools (rakes, shovels, etc).
Winter - Pack Halloween deco and prep Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hannukah boxes.
Spring - Pack Holiday boxes (be sure to note what may be noted next year);  Prep Easter stuff and gardening tools.
Summer - Unpack all the summer toys (esp. swimming, camping and picnic stuff).

Any other ideas for garage organization?

August -5S the kids rooms

Time to prep for school and make room for all the new clothes and supplies you are stocking up on. 

1. Sort

Clothes - starting with the closet is the first thing for me. I try to pare down my son's wardrobe at the end of each season, since he usually starts to grow out of things by then. As we near the end of summer, separate any clothes he/she will not be able to wear next year.  Keep a pile of shorts and short sleeves they may be able to wear in the next few warm weeks or month (these should be the favorites).  

Make sure you include the diaper bag or daycare stash. I usually have extra clothes in strategic locations and need to make sure they still fit. 

Re-evaluate the long pants and shirts to confirm they still fit, as we move into cooler weather.  Double check that you have enough coordinating outfits. 

Donate, sell or store (if you have younger children that may need them) anything that does not fit. This is the ideal time to trade in winter coats and holiday attire (including costumes) to used children/consignment shops. 

Toys - pull out all the toys and books.   Evaluate if they are still age appropriate. Depending on your child's age, involve them in the process to decide what items to give away or sell. 

Closet misc - I have used the upper shelves in my son's closet for storage of toys and books that he is not ready for yet. There is also a handful of baby items that I had not purged yet. Sort through it all and confirm what you want to keep for the future.

Changing table - I still have diapering to do, so I need to sort my changing table and make sure I have not cluttered it with items (such as old creams) that I no longer use. 

2. Scrub

Think spring cleaning. Get your kids involved to give them ownership of their space. 

Remember, everything should be pulled out of the room (except furniture) so you can get drawers and shelves clean. 

3. Set

Clothes - separate the clothes by season.  Put the summer clothes (that they will fit in next year) in a bin for storage. 

Some people organize by color. I usually organize by school clothes and play clothes. 

Toys- I have seen several other blog posts about rotating toys and games. I have also noticed that my son gets overwhelmed when he has too many toys out at once. So pack 3-4 boxes with a mix of toys, games and stuffed animals. Rotate one box out every week, to keep the choices interesting. You can even use the boxes as a toy box to put toys away daily. 

I have also tried this technique with seasonal decorations and activities. Every 3 months I bring out a fresh box of decorations and seasonal books and pack away the old. It gives the house a new feel to have changing decorations. Why wait until Christmas?

I have seen several ideas for corraling Stuffed animals, besides just a toy box.  Hanging nets seem to work well, positioned at child height. On Pinterest they have several ideas for "cages" that kids can pull stuffed animals out between slats, so they can reach the bottom and top of the pile. 

Future items -box up with a dated label

4.  Standardize

Clothes - I have not started it (my son does not care about picking out his clothes yet), but I love those days of the week organizers for clothes. It allows the children to be involved in outfit selection, but helps minimize the arguments in the morning getting dressed. At least that is what I assume. I will let you know when I get a pickier dresser. 

Start a household rule that something needs to go out when something new comes in. This could be clothes, shoes, toys or stuffed animals. This forces everyone to think about if a new item is worth getting rid of an old. 

5.  Sustain

Maintenance of the kids room is really a daily task. Kids should be involved in cleaning their rooms regularly. 

At least quarterly, you should work with your child to evaluate clothes and toys to see if there is anything they have grown out of or do not use anymore. This process sometimes entices them to use old toys again, so they may rediscover something. 

Any other ideas?

July - 5S the Pantry

My pantry is a set of cupboards near my kitchen. I use them for dry goods storage as well as non-daily appliances and reusable shopping bags. I have also started an emergency kit that I keep at the bottom. 

1. Sort

This is the fun part when you get to take everything out. 

Check dates and throw out expired food, vitamins, spices, etc. 

Start a donation pile for canned/dry goods that you never use. I know the intention was good when you bought them, but unless you decide to cook it this week, maybe it is better with someone else who needs it. 

If there are ingredients stored that you have been meaning to try, take the opportunity to plan a meal with them now. Leave them out and use them this week. 

If you store any appliances or extra kitchen gear, re evaluate if you still need them all. If you have not used them in over a year, it may be time to admit that you no longer need an espresso maker, etc. 

Misc-  I also store my reusable bags here, so I need to take them out and make sure they are all in good condition. It is easy enough to get new ones, so they should be tossed once they get holes. Luckily, that can be washed, if you use them regularly. 

2.  Scrub

Clean shelves and floor. If shelves tend to get sticky, use contac paper so they are easier to clean later. 

Wipe down appliances and wash, if you have not used recently. 

3. Set

Use bins for like items, especially those that do not stand up well on their own (soup, dry mixes, snacks). 

Store snacks and cereal at kid height, so they are easily accessible. 

Potato and onion storage

I have been having an awful time keeping potatoes and I do not have a cellar. Here are some tips I gleaned from the Internet: 

- Do not store potatoes with onions. 

- Potatoes do well when stored with an apple. 

- Potatoes should be stored dry. To help provide air circulation, put in a drawer or basket lined with newspapers. 

- Onions also need ventilation. They can be stored in a mesh bag or tied individually into stocking hose (check out this clever idea on Pinterest).

Move shopping bags to the car. Designate other uses for the bags (library books, etc). 

Wash shopping bags regularly (especially when used for dairy or meat).

4. Standardize

I have seen several suggestions for keeping an inventory list inside the pantry door. Take a count of your key consumables on a weekly basis. Designate a minimum quantity you want on hand before you buy more. 

Example:  minimum 4 cans diced tomatoes, 2 cans beans, 2 packets pasta. 

5.  Sustain

Since we all have items that we buy with great intentions, but get moved to the back of the cabinet, inspect your pantry monthly for any untried ingredients and try to make use of them. I have been attempting this with my freezer, as well. At the end of the month I pull out the meals or veggies I have stored up and plan meals around them. It saves money and keeps things in rotation. 

Your Emergency kit should be inspected quarterly to keep the water fresh and food within expiration. I will post more ideas on emergency kits in the future. 

June - 5S the office/study

For me, this means the desk, bookshelf and file cabinets where I work from home one or two days a week. 

1. Sort

Desk

Time to dump out the drawers and throw out the random trash that tends to clutter up. Get rid of old pens and other broken or unused supplies. You only really need a handful of pens, so consider donating the excess to a school or charity. 

File cabinet

The desk is probably the easy part;  sorting paperwork is much more daunting. Start by reviewing the recommendation for how long to keep documents. Then sort into general piles, like financial, health, work, personal, etc. (we can get more specific as we "Set" back in place). 

Save recommendations:

Tax documents and annual financial summaries - save for 7 years

Retirement planning, tax returns - save forever

Expired cards, credit card and bank statements - Shred

Keep in mind what you can access online.  No need to keep paper copies when you have soft copies online. 

Bookcase

This is also a difficult area for me, because our family loves books. Regardless of the fact that my husband has an e-reader that he uses daily and we go to the library every week. My son has so many kids books, I have started rotating them every week, so he feels like he is getting fresh books regularly.  So I have to really consider if the books we have will be read again (or ever), or if they are better in someone else's hands. You can test this by rotating some of your own books out for a month to see if you miss them. I have also tried bringing books to my bedside to see if I would still be interested in reading them. If I start them, but tire quickly, I will put them in the donation pile. 

Keep in mind, the library is always a great place to borrow books if you decide to read it later. Most timeless classics are also free on e-readers. 

2. Scrub

Clean out drawers and shelves.  Wipe down the top of your desk and work areas. 

While empty, move furniture and clean behind, if possible. These areas are often hard to reach and do not get attention. 

3. Set

Desk

Decide what you really need at hand at your desk and keep it on the desk or top drawer. There are plenty of desk caddies out there, but the top of the desk can get cluttered quickly. 

At my work, we have an open office environment and we do not have assigned workspaces. Besides a keyboard and mouse, I keep most of my supplies in my laptop bag (pen, notebook, etc). This forces me to be extra savvy about what I really need. 

If there are generic supplies that you use every once in awhile (stapler, tape, etc), those can go in a drawer, out of the way. 

Our other challenge is that we have small children that like to explore drawers. We use child locks, but have not found an effective device for the desk drawers yet, so we sometimes need to get more creative about where we place supplies (in closets or on high shelves).

File cabinet

Find a system that works for you. I used to separate my financial documents in multiple files, but have started simplifying, since so much of it is online now. 

A couple recommendations from justorganizeyourstuff.com

Everyday file - current year records and frequently accessed.

Reference file - accessed when needed.

Important file - previous tax records (accessed infrequently). 

Vital file - vital documents, keep in a safe place. 

Bookcase

I have seen examples of artistically organized book shelves. Putting books of similar colors or heights together, looks more pleasing to the eye. You can also arrange keepsakes and knic knacks strategically with groups of books for aesthetic value. 

Like I have said before, do what works for you. I like to organize my books by genre (leadership, organizing, travel, cooking). I put the kids books on low shelves that they an reach. I put the special books high, where they can not reach. 

4.  Standardize

Paper clutter can build up fast, so plan a system for sorting the paper (mail, receipts, etc) as soon as it comes in. 

When paper comes in, consider:

Do you need this? (tax paperwork, reimbursements, bills - take action or file).

Will you use this? (Reference docs or articles - take action, file or scan).

Does it make you smile? (Kids artwork - frame or scan).

5.  Sustain

Target clearing your work space weekly. 

The filing system should be reviewed monthly and fully cleared out after tax time. 

Good luck and let me know if there are other ideas that work for you.