I think it is important to start as early as possible, the younger our children are, the easier it will be to teach good habits! We have to realize that kids will only clutter as much as we, the parents, allow them to. We have to be willing to take control of the stuff before it takes control of our kids. If we don’t, we will end up raising packrats who save every object they ever own, and don’t we all know people like that? That alone should be enough motivation to keep us on the right track!

 

Clutter causes real chaos in our lives, and can have a huge effect on our kids.  Think about the last time you lost your car keys amidst your clutter, and how crazy it made you feel. Well, kids with lots of clutter lose more than just their toys. It can lead them to lose schoolwork or forget assignments. Also, a clutter filled room can be very difficult to sleep in

 

Start by talking with your child, asking what their favorite toys are. Ask what they love about their room, and what parts of the room are the easiest to play/work in. Kids are usually very open about their likes and dislikes, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting some good insights here. Then ask what toys/objects THEY think they have outgrown, or broken, or simply don’t like anymore.    You may be surprised by some of the answers. It may be that the expensive, ‘hot toy of the year’ is on their dislike list, while the $5 Wal-mart puzzle ranks high on their list of keepers!

 

Pass on the things that your child no longer needs or wants. This will open up a tremendous amount of room for you to work with!

 

Walk through the room with your child. Open drawers and look deep into the back of the closets. What is working/not working in the room? Here is a quick list of things that can be real problems for kids:

¨      Closets- The hanging bar is far too high to be effectively used by a child

¨      Toybox- They only have access to the top layer, so they have to pull everything out to get to their toys.

¨      High Shelves- Unreachable

 

Sort their toys into piles, puzzles in one, Bratz dolls in another, etc. This will allow you to see what you really are dealing with, and come up with a storage solution that will work. Try really hard to hold yourself back from buying any organizational supplies until you complete this step otherwise you may end up with piles of bins that just don’t work and only add to the clutter!

 

When you hit the stores to get the bins, baskets and boxes for storage take your child with you. First, they need to LIKE it or they won’t USE it, and second, you need to see if they can open and close them!

 

Today’s stores carry a wide array of colors and styles to choose from, so you will have many options. Choose storage that will grow with your child. Winnie the Pooh boxes may be adorable for a 2-year old, but your 6-year old probably won’t like them much! Remember to keep within the décor or theme of a room, for example I chose 3 mid-sized square rattan boxes without lids for the storage of toys in my family room. They hold a lot, are easy to carry (built-in handles), and they look very attractive in the space. In my daughter’s bedroom, however, I stuck with the pastel blue theme of her Little Tykes shelf by choosing shoebox-sized boxes in the same color. (She can store her shoe collection in them when she becomes a teen!)

 

All organizing should be done at a child’s level. Get down on your knees and look around. This area is where you have to focus your attention. Low, open bookcases and storage shelves are a wonderful solution when combined with bins or baskets. The high shelf of a closet should be reserved for items that are not used often. 

 

By helping your child set up an organization system now, you are also helping them to feel more comfortable in their space, to sleep better, to feel calmer, AND teaching them a process that will help them in many aspects of their lives as they grow. Grab the trashbags and let’s start de-cluttering!

 

Blessings,

 

Lori