IT’S a tough job coordinating the family’s time so that everything runs like clockwork and you don’t scramble at the last minute because you’ve forgotten that violin class has been rescheduled to Tuesday this week or that swimming is now on Sundays.

There is only so much one person can do. We say rope in the entire family to help!

Create a central family schedule that lets you know at a glance what everyone is up to at any one time. Choose a place where everyone congregates every day. It can be the kitchen, somewhere near the fridge or the dining room.

Put up a white board or wall calendar and pencil in all the activities, classes, parties, birthdays, plays and such.

Use colour stickers to code all the activities. For instance, birthdays in blue, classes in red, play dates in yellow, etc. This way, at a glance, you will know what’s going on.

Another option is to go electronic, but that would mean every person in the household having an electronic device with which to access the schedule.

If this is not possible, at least the adults have an electronic version of the white board/calendar at home. Make sure the electronic calendar you choose allows auto updates – if one person changes a detail on the calendar, it is automatically updated on everyone’s device.

The plus point about having an electronic schedule is that you can set up alerts to remind you of events and other stuff.

Google calendar is an excellent freeware that is available to everyone with a Google or Gmail account. All that’s needed to access it is a smartphone, computer or tablet with WiFi connection.

ParenThots has more tips about getting your family organised this year.

Focus on the Family

If you have a spouse who verbally and emotionally abuses your children, it is time to talk to him or her about it and even see a family counsellor.

Focus on the Family advises you to tell your spouse that you and the kids have reached the point where you need professional help to deal with the fallout of his or her verbal assaults.

Urge your spouse to join you in seeing the therapist. Make it clear that, from your perspective, this is absolutely necessary in order to protect the children’s emotional health and preserve the integrity of the family.

Let him/her know that, in any case, there can be no question of maintaining the status quo.

For more tips from Focus on the Family, head on over to ParenThots.

Readers write in

This week, Anis Syamila shares how her family teaches her brother about logic – with games and building blocks.

Meanwhile, Menambigai Kurupatham believes that boys and girls should be treated equally.

Win a puzzle

If you want to win a Penguin Rescuer Game (pic), then write in to parenthots@thestar.com.my and tell us (in 200-700 words) “What type of educational games my child likes to play”.

The Penguin Rescuer Game is for children aged three years and above. It helps children develop problem-solving skills, decision-making and teamwork.

Find the details, terms and conditions on ParenThots.

>ParenThots is The Star’s parenting portal. For more information, e-mail parenthots@thestar.com.my or surf to www.parenthots.com.

• Family upholds the spirit of adventure by scaling Mt Kinabalu
• The mind-body link in treating diseases
• Retirees venture into home-based food enterprises
• Ibu Robin Lim advocates natural birth
• There’s no one like Dad
• Travelling opens the window of learning
• Elderly woman's approach to selling kaya catches attention of PJ diners
• Monthly giveaway
• Looking for Malaysians with amazing stories
• Homemade spotty jars