“Kids” and “organized” may seem like two words that can’t ever be used together. Many parents resign themselves to the fact that their homes will basically be a disaster zone while they have young children. Believe it or not, however, this doesn’t have to be the case!
There are some things parents can do to make their home both organized AND kid-friendly. Here are five of our favorites.
Set yourself up for success.
Before you get started, think about the areas of your home that need to be organized, and think about how to make them easy to organize and maintain. Also think about the things that you want your kids to be able to access, and about the things you’d rather keep well out of their reach. For example, do you want your kids to be able to help themselves to snacks from the pantry? Are they old enough to trust with markers? Be honest about what your kids can handle—and about the messes you’re willing to clean up. This will help set you up for success from the very beginning.
Minimize.
One of the very best ways to organize your home is to cut back on the things that need organizing. The less you have, the less there is to clean up and keep organized. Simplifying kids’ belongings—everything from clothes to toys—will help kids be able to take care of their things by themselves, without it becoming overwhelming. Cutting back will go a long way towards a organized home with kids. Another tip: use a self-storage unit to keep things out of the way without getting rid of them for good.
Use baskets and bins.
One great way to keep your home organized with kids is to use different baskets, boxes, or bins to store things in. This makes cleanup exceptionally easy, even for very young children. While some baskets may be decorative enough to simply leave out on their own, other smaller boxes or bins may be better off stored in a cabinet or closet.
Use picture labels.
When trying to create a “place for everything” in your home, labels can be really helpful. Of course, it isn’t so helpful if your kids are still too young to read. Fix this problem by using labels with picture cues on them instead of words, so even young children know what goes where in the home. This will make cleaning up much easier—and much less frustrating—for both of you.
Maintain—a little bit at a time.
Getting your home organized is one thing, but keeping your home organized is just as important. As you’re working to keep your home clean and organized, you want to make sure your kids aren’t overwhelmed by the prospect of a huge amount of cleanup. Have them clean up one area at a time, or set a timer so you only clean for short bursts of time. This will help cleaning seem more manageable.
Even if you follow this advice, there’s a good chance that your home won’t be perfectly clean and organized all the time. But hopefully, these tips will help your family as your work together to make your home a neat and enjoyable place to be.
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