Getting Kids Organised

Parenting is a journey, filled with laughter, challenges, and buckets of love. When it comes to raising children, an organised environment can have a profound impact on both kids and parents.

Do you ever find yourself dreading the moment when you have to open the door to your child’s bedroom or the playroom? It’s a scene familiar to many parents. The sea of toys and stuffed animals where the floor used to be, is enough to send you round the twist.

At So Organised, I have developed a practical approach to keeping the mountains of kids belongings in order and getting kids organised. In this blog post, we explore the art of decluttering toys, clever storage ideas, and how to promote your child’s independence. Read on to discover how some simple changes will empower both parents and kids to live their best, most organised lives.

Here’s the Why…Less Clutter = More Imaginative Play.

A cluttered room filled with too many toys can be overwhelming for a child. It leads to a situation where it can be difficult for them to focus and they may struggle to choose what to play with. Often, in these situations, a child will complain of being bored and say there is nothing to do.

By decluttering their play areas and bedrooms, we unlock more creativity and imaginative play. The decluttering process creates more space. Kids thrive when they have room to explore and it allows them to concentrate and experiment more freely. Less becomes more when it comes to stimulating young minds and it eliminates the overwhelm.

When decluttering kids’ things, I encourage parents to include their children in this process. It’s an opportunity to teach them about the importance of order, and it empowers them to decide what they truly value.

1. Empty every toy box, cupboard, corner and move to one space.

2. Categorise them into as many groups as possible; cars, dolls, dolls clothing, building toys, games, role play, costumes, cuddly toys etc.

3. Now you will see the duplicates, the broken toys and the outgrown toys. Put them straight into a box or bag and pack them in the boot ready for delivery to the charity shop.

During the process, it is important to remind your child that there is not enough space to keep everything and they should only keep the things that they love and use. I find during this process that the parents can sometimes struggle when their kid decides to let go of something that sparks a memory for them. If you are worried that they are letting go of something they may regret later then put this into a holding area, out of sight and wait to see if they ask for the thing.

In my experience, 99% of the time kids forget about these items and you are safe to donate them.

The goal of the declutter isn’t to eliminate all their toys but rather to keep the things that they love, create an environment where everything has its place, and they can easily access what they want independently.

When you have completed the declutter, it’s important to keep items contained in their categories.

Regular decluttering before birthdays and Christmas is a must to avoid the clutter building up again.

My most successful way to manage and maintain a tidy space is Toy Rotation. What’s toy rotation I hear you say?! This is where you keep a small amount of toys in the playing area and the rest are stored elsewhere. The toys are switched over periodically which allows a fresh lease of life to be injected into the playroom. It also eliminates kids being overwhelmed and at the end of the day less stuff means less tidying up.

Every year, there is an influx of toys on your child’s birthday and Christmas. Not to mention, some well-meaning family members like to give gifts at Easter or everytime they come to visit. Times this by multiple children and your home will soon become overrun with kid’s possessions.

There is no doubt that receiving new toys triggers a dopamine response in a child’s brain and who doesn’t love to see the smile on a kid’s face. However, this response is often short-lived and the toy’s future is only to gather dust and take up precious space. Instead, suggest clutter free gift ideas to family members like tickets to events or gift vouchers.

We want to promote independence in our kids so they can go off into the world as capable young adults. Starting this at a young age is vitally important.

We can start by ensuring that their toys are easily accessible to them but if you want to go a step further when it comes to promoting independence, then read on.

The Kids Station; a dedicated area for storing kids’ plates, bowls, cups, drinks, lunch boxes, snacks, and breakfast items.

With a Kids Station, children can take charge of their own breakfast or prepare a snack with minimal assistance. This simple act instils a sense of responsibility and independence, giving them a taste of what it means to contribute to the household.

Empowering children to handle their own food and drinks brings a real sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s a small but significant step towards raising responsible, self-reliant individuals.

Parents naturally want to take care of their children, it’s our job at the end of the day. However, part of parenting is guiding children toward independence. Teaching them life skills and household responsibilities is an investment in their future.

When children do things themselves, it can be a slower and sometimes messier process. Yet, it’s essential for their growth. Children learn best by doing, and these lessons in responsibility will serve them well as they mature.

While it may take more time initially to let children handle tasks on their own, it ultimately saves parents time in the long run. Children can take on responsibilities like making their beds, tidying their rooms, or helping with simple meal preparations, alleviating the overall workload.

At So Organised, our mission is to make life easier for families by introducing order into their daily routines. We understand that parenting is a journey filled with its unique challenges and triumphs. We will empower you to accomplish a sense of achievement as a family and grow together towards a more organised, imaginative, and harmonious family life.

Let us be part of your village and support network with our non-judgemental approach.