Getting the Kids Involved in Organizing
Does the idea of organization sound impossible simply because of the amount of stuff your kids can drag out and destroy in the space of an hour? This is not all together new problem for most moms; in fact finding a way to get the kids organized and help them stay that way is one of the most difficult challenges of many moms.
Helping little ones become organized and learn how to keep their things that way, admittedly isn’t easy. With that said; however, there are a few tips you take advantage of in order to begin helping them make the transition from clutter to organization.
One of the most frequent techniques many moms seem to use to handle the mountain of clutter their kids accumulate is to simply tackle it by themselves. While it is probably easier on mom to do it this way, and quicker, this technique won’t accomplish much in the way of teaching kids how to become organized. It is imperative that the kids become involved as much as possible; even if it means that the job ultimately takes longer. Not only does it teach them the correct way to do things, but it also helps them to become invested in the idea of keeping their spaces organized.
If you’ve walked into your kids’ rooms lately with the idea of getting things organized you may well have felt like throwing up your hands in despair because you had no idea where to start. Facing a kid’s messy room, especially if it has been that way for awhile, can certainly feel like an overwhelming challenge. The secret to success is taking things one at a time and begin by sorting.
Go through everything and sort according to a system that allows you to make decisions based on keep, throw away, give away or sell. It is extremely important that your kids be involved in this stage of the process. If they have a tendency to want to keep everything, explain to them that you have limited space and keeping everything they own now limits the amount of new things they can acquire later on.
After everything has been sorted, it’s time to begin handling the sorts. Obviously, everything that is broken or doesn’t work anymore or is just plain and simple trash should be taken immediately to the dumpster or trash can. Items that are appropriate to give away to charity should be boxed and labeled so they are ready for the trip. If you opt to sell items, either through an online auction or a garage sale, make sure that you remove these items and place them in an area where they will not be likely to picked up once again by little fingers. Many kids who were once reluctant to let some of their excess items go, find they feel much better about the process when they learn they are helping someone else in need or find they can make extra money by selling items they no longer need or want. The funds from the sell can easily be used to purchase new clothing or for a family day of fun.
When approached with this simple step by step process, no less than twice a year, you’ll likely find that it’s much easier to keep the amount of clutter your kids seem to magically obtain under control.
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