Outdoor Play

Organizers frequently help their clients to establish a drop zone for each family member to put their stuff as they walk through the door. This provides a guideline as to the acceptable size and location of the piles that can appear at the front entrance.

But I’m finding that at this time of year, the focus shifts from the drop zone to a smooth exit. Not following? We travel light in the warmer months. No coat, hat, scarf, mitts. We have less to “drop” when we get home. But preparing to go out still poses some challenges – particularly if you’re getting young children out the door. How often have you been ready to walk out the door, then needed to run back upstairs to get sun block?

To save yourself some time and keep the family moving, why not store some of the things needed for outdoor fun and safety at the front door? The same basket used for your winter woollies can just as easily contain suntan lotion, a hat, sunglasses, sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Ask yourself what things you always have to run back in the house for, then try to find a way to store them within a few feet of your main entrance/exit. And just to be safe, throw in a box of Band-Aids.