How to get your kids' room organised (and keep yourself sane!)
Mess, mess, mess!
It's everywhere. On the floor, on the bed, on the desk. Even in the toy box. How does it get there? It seems like as soon as you tidy up, it all appears again. It's like the mess multiplies when you're not looking.
There are a few reasons why kids rooms are so disorganised. Firstly, kids are naturally messy. They're exploring the world and trying new things, and they don't always know (or care) where things go. Secondly, kids have A LOT of stuff. Toys, clothes, books - it can be overwhelming for them to keep track of it all. Finally, kids are often too busy (or tired) to tidy up properly. The easiest option is just to leave it on the floor instead of hanging things up or putting them away – and it doesn’t get any better when they are teenagers, believe me!
So what can you do about it? Unfortunately, there's no magic solution that will make the mess disappear overnight. But there are a few things you can do to help your child keep their room more organised. Encourage them to tidy up regularly, help them sort through their belongings and get rid of anything they don't need or use, and make sure they have enough storage space for everything. With a little effort, you can help your child keep their room clean and tidy - and maybe even enjoy it in the process!
✛ Don't underestimate the power of storage! Investing in some well-designed storage solutions can make a huge difference in how tidy your home looks and feels. It can be as simple as adding baskets or containers to give toys a home, or getting rid of excess clutter that's just taking up space.
Image: @harperavathelabel
✛ Keep it simple. In order to set your child up for success, the system needs to be easy to follow. If it's too complicated, they're just not going to bother.
✛ Label EVERYTHING. Use labels or pictures to help your child know where things go. I used to have picture of puzzles on the puzzle boxes, picture of blocks on the block boxes. There are some great companies creating beautiful toy labels but even the trusty home printer and some tape will do the job. This will make tidying up quicker and easier when the kids can visually see what belongs where.
Image: @cocreative_design
✛ Focus on play. Make sure the items your child most wants to play with are easy to get their hands on. This will cut down on the amount of time they spend rummaging through toy boxes or piles of toys looking for the one they want. You can also consider rotating the toys so it’s new and exciting when something shows up again after a month.
✛ Make it fun! Ok, so you may not be Mary Poppins but add a little bit of excitement to the process by incorporating games or activities into tidying up time. From singing songs to making it a race against the clock, there are lots of ways to make cleaning up more fun for everyone involved. Why not try rainbow organising your Lego or books like the team at The Home Edit.
✛ Add some colour. It's not only aesthetically pleasing but colour can effect a child's mood and behaviour. Incorporate some bright colours into their play space to help create a happy and inviting environment.
✛ Lastly, be a good role model. If you want your child to keep a tidy bedroom, make sure your own room and the rest of the home are tidy as well. Stuff attracts stuff so take 2 minutes and put it away.
Making sure your child's bedroom is tidy and stays that way can seem like a never-ending battle. But by following these tips, you can help make it a little easier. Just remember to be patient and keep at it. Soon enough, tidy bedrooms will become a habit for both of you.
