One of the biggest sources of clutter in the home is “kid clutter.” Let me clarify…I don’t mean kids lying around everywhere (unless you’re the Gosselin’s or the OctoMom)…I’m talking toys, puzzles, dolls, stuffed animals, art supplies, books, homework, clothes, etc. It can all pile up to the point of utter frustration. You ask your little ones over and over again to clean up but to no avail. You start to think that your child just won’t listen, is purposefully defying you, totally lacks the motivation to help clean up or has been possessed by a demons. The good news is, the problem most likely isn’t your child…and the chances of demon possession are less than 30%. The problem is just that your child needs a little discipline…a little organizing training…a little kid-clutter Kung Fu if you will. Once again, welcome to my dojo.
So how do you teach your child about organizing? First, Grasshopper, let’s look at a few basic concepts:
- Organizing is a learned skilled…one that can be learned as children…or later on as adults.
- Kids (especially little toddlers) love to sort and collect things in groups. My daughter absolutely loves pulling out all of her stuffed animals and sitting them up in a group and gathering all her toy food to push around in a toy shopping cart. Likewise, with my pre-teen son who loves to organize all of his reading books and personal writings.
- Kids are like sponges. Yes, they may have short attention spans but they can process a heck of a lot of information…you just have to feed it to them. Wax on, wax off.
- Kids want to grow towards competence. They want to do things on their own and show off their skills! Nothing makes my little toddler happier than when she’s figured out how to do something, like getting dressed on her own and then running off to her father in excitement saying, “Papa, Papa. Look! I did it. I did it!” Or with my son who was so proud when he mowed the lawn for the first time (of course that excitement wore off quick). The same goes with kids and organizing. They just need a little positive reinforcement.
- Kids like routines. It gives them a sense of control when they know what to expect, when to expect it and how to do it. Establishing routines for cleaning up and controlling kid clutter is just a matter of teaching your kids how to do it and setting your expectations.
Now that you have some basic concepts regarding kids and organization, here are a few suggestions on how organize the kid clutter and teach your kids to organize:
- Set up zones. Whether it’s the kid’s room, play room, living area or basement, be sure to establish specific zones for things like:
Reading: set up a chair, lamp and book shelves.
Arts and crafts: table and chairs (and art supplies if children are old enough, otherwise keep supplies out of reach)
Play area: a space where toys are kept and can be played with (usually just an open space on the floor with toy bins nearby)
Clothing: closet, dressers and laundry basket
Backpack and schoolwork: hooks to hang up backpack and bulletin board for calendars, assignments and lunch menus.
- Categorize items. Cars, dolls, stuffed animals, books, Legos, puzzles, building blocks, toy food, video games, card collections, throwing stars, etc. Get the kids involved in sorting and categorizing their stuff.
- Use bins and baskets to store items. I recommend using open bins without lids. For some reason lids are too much effort for kids (and adults). Open bins are great because you can easily see what’s in them and just as easily toss stuff back in when you’re done. Large bins with lids are broken toy graveyards…c’mon, we’ve all seen Toy Story…
- Use vertical storage such as shelves and stackable baskets or cubes. Keep in mind you want to store frequently used toys and items at eye-level or below so your kids can reach them. Items you don’t want them to get to without first asking you like puzzles and art supplies, keep them up on a higher shelf and out of reach.
- Label your bins. Use a label maker or pen and stickers to write what items are stored in each bin or on each shelf. Use graphics or take pictures of items to use as label for kids not old enough to read yet.
- Establish rules. For instance, no more than 3 toys out at a time; only one craft project at a time; can work on a craft but need to clean up toys first, etc. I’m not talking prison yard rules here…just some good guidelines. You’ll know what works for your kids…
- Establish routines. You may want to establish a routine of cleaning up before going to school, before lunch, before nap time or before bedtime. You may also want to personalize your routines by singing a song or playing a game to make clean up fun. Whatever the routine, the important part is to stick to it. Believe me, if you stick with the routine the moaning and groaning will greatly diminish.
- Establish expectations. This goes hand-in-hand with routines. Let your child know exactly what you expect from them when you ask them to clean up and put stuff away. You’ll have to show them a few times at first but then all you’ll have to do is inspect it. I remember the first time I had my son clean off the dinner table. I showed him how to clear the dishes, put them on the counter near the sink, showed him how to wipe down all the crumbs, put the centerpiece back, sweep under the table and move the chairs back in their place. Now, he’s awesome at it!
- Maintenance. As with all organizing projects and systems you’ve got to maintain it. Frequently reinforce your routines and expectations with your kids as well as purging and tossing/donating old and unused toys. Toys aren’t like diamonds…they’re not “forever.” I harp a lot on the idea of “less is more” and your kids’ toys are no exception. Speaking about “less is more,” I’d like to recommend a post on that subject by Joshua Becker over at Becoming Minimalist titled Why Fewer Toys Will Benefit Your Kids. I think his 12 tips are spot on.
So there you have it…your first lesson in kid Clutter Kung Fu. I’m proud to be your Get Simplifized Sensei! What are your questions, Grasshopper?
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