First, start young when it comes to organization, I’m talking young-like baby. Get yourself organized before baby comes so you have structure in place. If you aren’t naturally organized, work with a professional organizer in your area or with me virtually if I’m out of your area. As your baby gets older and starts playing with toys, get even more structure in place with baskets or toy bins and labels. When my kids were really little and they went down for a nap, I quickly restored order so that when they woke up, things were back in place and reset to start over.
As your littles get a bit older, show them how to put things away by putting one type of toy away at a time. For example, grab the “ball bin” and have your child help you put the balls away. Then grab the next toy bin and do it again. Teach these lessons early, early, early.
As your kids get older, keep cleaning up with them-do not send them off by themselves to clean their rooms. I know it can be frustrating, but they need company usually through elementary school, even if you are just there to chat or read a story while they clean up.
Less is more-take toys out of rotation, put them in a bin and bring them out again at a later date. Your kids do not need every toy at their disposal. I can guarantee that kids do better with fewer toys that they have easy access to rather than disorganized toys that they are overwhelmed by.
Have patience and grace. Even when you have the best systems and baskets and labels in place, kids mess them up-again and again. Don’t get discouraged. These are life lessons and you need to be consistent, do it with them and know that it will pay off when they are older. These are seeds you are sowing that may not fully take hold until the late teen years or even after kids leave home. Sometimes my kids’ rooms were a straight up wreck and now both are organized adults!
