BETTER LIVING: Organizing Kids’ Rooms
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Keeping order in your child’s room can be a daunting task. Kids these days have so much stuff: clothes for school and play, sports gear, toys, games… the list goes on. And in many cases, the amount of stuff supersedes the space allotted to contain it.
You can stem the tide of overflow in your child’s room with a few simple organizing steps. But to hold it back on a more permanent basis, you’ll need to enlist your child’s help. Focus on one area of the room at a time to minimize stress for you and your little one. Here’s how to get started.
Toys and Games
Toys are often difficult to control, because not only are there a lot of them, but they often hold sentimental value for your child. By getting your child involved in the process, you can make organizing a part of their routine.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST- Lay out every toy your child owns on the floor. Ask them to choose a specified number of favorites of each type of toy – ten trucks, four dolls. Explain that everything they do not choose will be donated to needy children, so that they can have toys to play with too. Often, children will surprise you with their generosity.
- Once you’ve cleared out all the things that no longer get played with, pack them up and deliver them to your favorite charity. Bring your child along to get them excited about the process.
- Now, organize the toys that are left. If you have a toy box, wonderful – but if not, baskets and plastic bins which fit snugly in the closet, bookcase, or under the bed are good storage options. Ask your child to help you organize the toys by type.
- Keep a few select favorites out on display – but not too many, as superfluous objects can collect irritating dust.
- Enlist your child’s help in maintaining their toys. Every six months, ask your child to collect the toys they’re no longer using, and donate these to charity. Involving your child in the process encourages responsibility, and ensures that you don’t inadvertently do away with a quiet favorite.
Clothing
- Keeping your child’s wardrobe uncluttered involves much the same process as dealing with their toys, with a few minor differences.
- Ask your child to help you identify items in their wardrobe which no longer fit. Donate these items to charity, or save them for a younger sibling – but don’t let them sit in the closet.
- Of course, your child will have favorite items of clothing – and not-so-favorite items as well. Use your own discretion here, since some occasion-appropriate clothing is always necessary. But endeavor to let your child develop their own sense of style as well. If there are items in the closet that neither of you like – that awful reindeer sweater from your great-aunt, for example – agree to give these items away.
- Make sure that your child does not own an excess of any one type of clothing. If this is the case, pare down with your child’s help.
- Organize the closet with your child in mind. Favorite or oft-worn items should be easy to reach – and easy to put away. Seasonal items should be stored – or donated in advance if you’re sure they won’t fit next winter. Lesser-worn items like formal clothing should be relegated to the back of the closet to minimize dust and damage. Favorite shoes should also be within reach of little hands, although seasonal shoes can he stored on a high shelf, out of the way.
As with toys, take a six-month inventory: chances are there will be outgrown items in the
wardrobe every time. Again, make your child a part of the donation process, so they can feel good about getting rid of former favorite items.
Candita Clayton is the founder of Your Life Organized and author of Clean Your Home Healthy. Visit her online, here.
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