Home Organization is Not Just for Adults
Many parents become frustrated when their kids' rooms are messy and items are strewn about the house, but organization is a skill that must be learned and practiced over time. Here are seven ways parents can begin to teach the skill of respecting and caring for one's home and get their kids on the path to organization.
Lead by example. Children love imitating what they see the adults doing. If lifelong organization is a skill you want to cultivate in your children, it pays to lead by example. As you are putting away your own items, talk about what you're doing and involve your kids in the process. Seeing home organization modeled by someone they love plants the seed of organization in their minds early.
Audit your storage solutions. Your child can’t put things away if there’s no place to put them. Before you get started, you may need to purchase a few baskets, bins, storage cubes, and shelves. Baskets and bins make great receptacles for small and miscellaneous toys and are easily rotated to keep the selection fresh and interesting for younger children.
Involve them in the organizing process. Kids are more likely to take ownership of their belongings if they have a say in where they go. Let them choose where they want to put their toys or clothes and support them to create organizational systems that make sense to them. By giving them choices, kids learn decision-making skills and begin to develop their own sense of style.
Label everything. Once you and your child have assigned a home for all their belongings, work with them to create labels for the bins, baskets, cubbies, drawers, and shelves. If they are very young, you can use pictures. Knowing where items belong empowers them to tidy up on their own.
Make it routine. Consistency is key when it comes to teaching new skills. Just as organizing is likely a part of your daily or weekly routine, encourage your kids to make it a part of theirs. The more habitual tidying up and organizing is, the more likely it will take root and grow into adolescence and early adulthood.
Declutter regularly. Kids outgrow clothing and toys all the time. Designate a few times a year to clean out the old and make room for the new. Present them with items they rarely use and ask them if they are ready to let them go to another child. They may surprise you with the logic behind what they choose to keep and what gets donated. Regular donating teaches kids not to cling to items that have lost their original purpose or meaning and promotes compassion for others.
Make it fun! What are some creative ways you can engage your kids in keeping their things organized? Perhaps you frame it as a scavenger hunt for specific items or challenge them to see who can clean up the fastest. Making it fun teaches kids that organization is an enjoyable task.
Including children in home organization teaches them valuable life skills, helps them develop a sense of responsibility and ownership, and makes them feel like important members of the household. By following these seven tips and finding creative ways to involve your children, you can teach them valuable skills that will benefit them for years to come.
If this seems too daunting or you are struggling with your own organizational challenges, a professional organizer can help get you started down the road to better family organization practices.
