wfmw.jpg 

“Okay, I give,” my guests have often said after opening every cabinet door within reach. “Where do you keep your dishes?”

That’s when I explain my kitchen organization.

Our plates (both big and small), bowls (both serving and cereal) and small juice cups are stored in lower cabinets close to the kitchen table.

“That’s not very convenient,” one guest commented. “I’d hate bending over all the time to put things away.”

“Ah,” I grinned. “But you see, I don’t have to bend over all the time to put things away. They’re down low so that the kids put them all away! Everything’s right at their level.”

Some people think I’m brilliant. Some think it’s weird. Some say it would never work at their house. But, hey, it works for me.

You can decide for yourself.

Summary of Advantages:

  1. Kids unload dishwasher
  2. Kids set table by themselves
  3. Storage down low reduces breakage by minimizing distance between the storage location and the floor (safer for the kids, too–they aren’t climbing up on the countertops to access an upper cabinet)

Kids Unload Dishwasher
Storing 95% of our dinnerware down low (the tall glassware is in the more predictable spot–upper cabinet next to the sink) has made it possible for even our youngest kids to unload almost the entire dishwasher single-handedly.  The young one may have to go slow and do it plate-by-plate, but everything is at his level. The few items that are stored in upper cabinets are placed on the counter for me to put away.

I like enlisting everybody’s help from an early age. You can decide for yourself when your youngest is ready, but I started giving a few items to The Boy when he was quite small (I’m sorry, but I can’t remember what age he started this chore). This one simple storage decision has allowed me to delegate that chore to very young kids.

Kids Set Table
My preschooler is proud to be capable of pulling off the same chores as his older sisters and enjoys setting the table by himself. I’ve seen that the youngest years are when my kids have loved to help, so I decided early on to see how low I could go in order to get some help.

Bonus Advantage–Boosts Math Skills: With the dinnerware down low, The Boy calculates (Is someone gone for the evening? Do we have guests? How many? Let’s see, our family of six, plus their family of four….) and counts out the appropriate number of plates, bowls and glasses needed for dinner. If they were stored up high, I’d probably just pull down the correct number in a stack and all he would do is set them out. By keeping them low, he gets free preschool math practice while setting the table! 

Reduces Breakage
Keeping the plates down low also decreases breakage. In the few instances when a plate has fallen from The Boy’s–or anyone’s–grip, it only falls a few inches. They are not plastic or Corelle; they’re sturdy everyday dishes, but they are breakable. They wouldn’t have to be. I just expect everybody to be careful. If the plates were stored up high, a tumbling plate would fall much farther–almost guaranteeing breakage. In seven years of four kids accessing our dinnerware and juice classes in that location, I think we’ve only broken three items: two glasses and one plate.

So that’s the low-down on my dishes. Kids may be able to do more than we think they can. Raise expectations by lowering storage.

Please visit Rocks in My Dryer for more great ideas!

My previous Works-For-Me-Wednesday Ideas:

Crepes? Mais, Oui!

Containerize Kids’ Laundry

Let It Snow, Let Us Slow (Crockpot Steel-Cut Oatmeal)

Family LoveFest

Joy of Lifelong Learning–For Free!

MP3 Accompanist

MP3 Note-taking