The Christmas holidays are a busy time for you alone.  Keeping your children organized this season with all their school activities and gifts can be crazy.  Here are a few ideas to help keep your kids (and you) organized this Christmas:

Write it all down on a calendar.  This is probably the single most important thing you can do to keep your schedule organized.  Keep a large, write on / wipe off calendar in your kitchen where everyone can see what is on the schedule for the day.  This will help to prevent over-scheduling or double booking a day this year.

Keep a running list on your refrigerator of what you need to buy as far as groceries go.  You know your children will be asked to bring refreshments of some sort for their class holiday party.  If you keep a running list going you won’t forget anything on your trips to the grocery store, and can even keep an eye out for sales on items you’re going to need to buy.

Start early teaching your children about budgeting.  Give your children a set amount of money they have to buy gifts for family and friends.  Talk to them about setting spending limits for themselves on each gift they purchase, and that it is the thought that is most important, not the price of the gift.

While helping your child with a shopping budget, encourage them to make a shopping list as well.  Have them list the names of the people they want to buy gifts for and what they think they might get each person.  It will make your life so much easier when you take them to the mall or Target to do their shopping if they have it all written down.