I’m pretty sure you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t actually take the teacher out of her. Classroom management was my thing. Apparently it still is.
Our first t-ball game was a little chaotic. The dugout was crazy; no one had a helmet when they needed it; we couldn’t quickly match kids with their corresponding caps and gloves. It was not my style at all.
I remembered going to my nephews’ games and there being a lot more organization. The kids were sitting in their batting order. Everything had a place. I remembered cubbies above their bench (I can neither confirm or deny whether or not this is actually a reality.)
So I made a plan and a trip to Hobby Lobby. I went in looking for hooks I could write their names on and hang on the fence. Then their cap would go on the hook and their gloves, water, and other paraphernalia would go under their seat on the bench. No such luck.
Instead, I found little chalkboards attached to clothespins. They would have to do.
I wrote everyone’s name on their pin. When we make the line ups for the game, I put everyone’s pin behind the bench in order. The kiddos come in, sit down, get a water (I keep a Sharpie in my pocket to put names on waters). Gloves and caps go under the bench (some have started getting creative and hanging their cap on their pin). They sit in their order before and after their at-bat. When it’s time to take the field, all their stuff is right underneath them.
It took a few games, but we have it down now!
(You know, just because he’s cute.)
That's an awesome idea! Our benches have a a ledge behind them to set there stuff and a hat rack but it still gets all jumbled up. I'm going to have to consider this because yes it's total chaos in the dugout!