Tips for Organizing Young Children

Our last post talked about organizing kids to send them off to college. Now let’s take a few steps backward and go over some organizing tips for those of you that have young children at home.  The most important thing to remember is that homes with children are active spaces and active spaces can’t be kept perfectly clean and organized.  So, give yourself room to know that some days may feel more organized than others!  And, focus on the strategies that work best for you and the way you and your family live.  Here are some tips:

1. Try to organize your entryway so you have holders and places for items that come in and out frequently.  For example, places for jackets, shoes, mail, backpacks, cell phones, small toys, and seasonal essentials is key.
2. Try to place at least one laundry basket in each bedroom to collect dirty laundry, and, keep some extra laundry baskets in your laundry room or space to bring up the clean items.
3. Attempt to practice and teach kids the one in, one out rule.   One new purchase means one currently owned item gets donated or tossed.  Identify a local charity and help your children to learn about it so they feel good about donating items to those in need.   Designate a basket or bin your ‘donation basket’ so kids can place the item in that bin for you.
4. Work on one project a day.  As you know, sometimes it is frustrating to feel like you haven’t accomplished anything all day.  So, don’t bite off too much and only aim to do one thing each day to reach your organizing or cleaning goal.   
5. Create a snack area, drawer, or cabinet.   Keep healthy snacks in this location so kids can access them on their own.
6. Enlist your kids.  Young children like to help!  If possible, have them carry dirty dishes to the sink, put their shoes in baskets, bring their dirty laundry to the washing machine, pick up toys from the floor, etc.   A chore chart (if you think you will stick to it) can also be a nice way to rotate their responsibilities.    Be specific when you ask your children to help as it can seem overwhelming to a child to be asked to “clean your room or clean up the playroom.”