What we like to do with color...

If you will notice we are now in 'Ordinary Days' in our liturgical calendar and the vestment colors have gone from white to green. This unspoken use of visual colors that our Church's liturgical calendar wisely uses has opened up many unspoken secrets within our own family. Today I want to briefly touch on this silent secret of using colors!!

I have read in many cases where people use 'colors' to help children with learning disabilities. It is a visual aide that helps the child learn through another sensory input. Well, I think this same modality can be used across the board with all types of persons, children, adolescents, and even adults. It has been over the past three or four years that I have slowly integrated the use of colored visual aides into our home that sends a message without me ever having to say a word.

Here are some examples....

At Knotty Pines Academy the children wear knit shirts that are color coordinated to the Church's liturgical seasons and saints. On school days, this has eliminated the morning dressing battles, and there are no longer delays in starting morning prayers. Plus the children from preschool on up always know what season or saint we are celebrating. On days that we honor martyred Saints they will wear red shirts, and on a days we honor Mary they wear blue shirts, etc. This has turned out to be another wonderful way we can all live our faith.

With our weekly school schedule we have color coded the blocks of times we allow for certain studies throughout the day. This sends a silent message to all the kids so they know where they need to be again without my having to say anything. Each child has their own color codes school supplies and instruction cards in the learning centers. This has enabled the non-readers with more independence and teacher to properly direct after school clean-ups ;-)

Our chore board meal times are color coded according to the day of week. This has served several good purposes. First the non-readers in the family know exactly what day is *theirs* to set up the altar in preparation for prayer times etc. We also have certain chores assigned to certain days and the colors help the children remember without my having to say anything.

We have color coded the children's bathroom towels and certain toiletries. Each child has their own colored toothbrushes, hair brushes and towels. This helps me keep track of who is leaving what where and who did what and who didn't so that I might instruct directly.

What secrets has color coding brought into my home? It has brought order, accountability, unity, sanity and peace.