Motherhood: Tips and Tricks for Handling Kid Clutter

for Handling Kid ClutterTips and Tricks

By Mary Jane Bogle Kids and clutter all too often go hand-in-hand. The baby gear from infancy quickly turns to toys, games, and art supplies for preschoolers and band or sports gear for tweens and teens. Added to all the gear is the fact that few kids come hard wired with organization skills, leaving parents with the daunting task of keeping everything sorted and tucked neatly away, ready for the next project or practice.

All is not lost, however. Home organization is possible, and the sooner your kids learn to manage their own messes, the better. Here are five great tips to help you turn your home from mayhem to managed.

Tip #1: Store like materials together.

A dedicated space for books, another for puzzles, and still another for larger toys, will go a long way toward helping younger children remember where everything goes. Investing in garage storage for your teens’ sports gear or a dedicated area for musical instruments is always helpful, too.

Tip #2: Keep storage accessible.

Kids won’t put anything away that requires extra effort. Placing cubbies within easy reach of young children and totes clearly accessible for teens is half the battle. And be sure to label totes and cubbies so there’s no question where everything goes.

Tip #3: Make it routine.

Add time in your day for a regular clean-up session. Whether it’s a quick tidy before everyone races out the door in the morning or a dedicated time to put away everything associated with the day’s activities before bed, keeping a cleaning routine will make the task seem manageable and avoiding huge messes that can pile up all too quickly!

Tip #4: Declutter often.

It might go without saying, but it’s obviously easier to tidy a few wellloved and well-used items, rather than a room full of barely used toys, books, or sports equipment. Purging what you no longer need will go a long way to making organization easier for everyone.

Tip #5: Rotate toys, books, and gear.

If you have attic or basement storage, consider storing at least half of your kids’ items in totes that you rotate every few months. Kids are far more likely to play with toys that seem new, and you can achieve a cleaner space without throwing out or donating toys no one wants to part with.

Obviously, getting your kids to buy into organizing is key. Consider offering small incentives for clean spaces, such as going out for ice cream as a family. And do your best to make clean-up fun. You can leave small treats for your “clean-up fairies” when they’ve done a good job, set a timer everyone needs to beat, or help kids find and pick up all the “red” toys in the room. Whatever system you choose, making clean-up a habit will go a long way to bringing peace and calm to your home in the new year! a