The family command center is quite literally the center of our home. So many things revolve around this corner of our kitchen. Without the family command center to organize literally every little thing, our family would be complete chaos. With four kids there are constant dates to remember, papers to sign, homework to do, and events to supply things for. Then you add my husband and I in the mix and everything that comes with running a household. The family command center is the answer to organizing all the chaos of the home and keeping everything together.

Why You Need a Family Command Center

As our family has grown, the need to keep track of more dates has increased. It’s a full time job running the family calendar. While I am a big fan of putting everything in my phone so it’s constantly at my fingertips, there is a difference when I can also look at the month as a whole constantly and keep upcoming things at the front of my mind. The same goes with a paper planner if you prefer that over your phone. Having a monthly calendar on the wall is something that you will walk by multiple times day. It keeps every approaching engagement at the forefront of your mind on a daily basis.

Kid’s Routine Charts and Daily Schedules

The family command center is also the perfect location for kid’s routine charts and daily schedules. Kids thrive on routine and rhythms, so having their routine where they can see it and know the expectations can help with the chaos of busy moments in your day. The command center is a perfect location to display daily checklists and chore charts for kids. You can frame them, create magnetic white boards, or display them on clipboards like I did. They are easy for both my toddler and early reader to understand and they refer to it multiple times. Their chore charts also sit in the same area for easy reference.

Kid’s Reward System

Rewarding kid’s for their chores and following their morning routine is a great way to keep them excited about it. We set up a pom pom reward system above their charts and it serves as a perfect visual reminder for their routines. When they complete the days routines, they earn a pom pom. They also earn pom poms for chores and making good choices. When their jar is full, they earn a prize. They can see the jar fill with pom poms as the days go by keeping them excited about their routines.

Tips for Your Family Command Center

The way to get the most out of your family command center is to utilize the space wisely. Keeping everything that is most important in once spot and at the central focus only helps if you don’t allow unnecessary things to clutter the area. If it doesn’t need to be there, don’t just set it in the space “for now” because it likely will create clutter. I have a mail organizer in the doors of our laundry room for things that don’t need immediate attention, but still need to be kept within easy reach. I can store papers, coupons, and other school information there for easy reference. The family command center only holds the most important things.

I utilize the side of our refrigerator for school papers. The kids can reference their school menus, school schedules, and other school papers directly on the side of the fridge. If a permission slip needs to be signed and returned, I leave it on the side of the fridge to remember to sign and send back when due. I usually write the date on the top of the paper or highlight it in the paperwork so I don’t forget. I also place bills on the side of the refrigerator that need to be still have to be mailed in until the due date comes.

Putting together a family command center was one of the best decisions we made. Locating it in the kitchen is a great way to keep all the important information and dates at the center of your home. Keep your family organized and the chaos away by putting together your own kitchen command center.

Do you have a family command center in your home?