Teaching Kids to Develop Organizing Skills
If we teach our kids to organize their things, later on we won’t have such a hard job keeping their things picked up.

This is like anything else that we teach our kids: we do for, we do with, and then they do.
First we are going to show them good examples of how we organize our things and talk out loud about it. “I put my socks in this drawer and underwear in this drawer.”
Then we do it with them by saying, “Let’s put all your shorts in this drawer and pants in this drawer.”
Lastly we expect them to do it by asking them to put away their clothes. We can do the same with school supplies, groceries, and toys.

To help kids be more organized without having to do it for them we basically need to remember the three things.
1. Set them up for success.
Give them a landing zone when they come in the house. This is an area with a bench or hooks and wall pockets and file bins to put their backpacks, lunchboxes, important papers, coats, and shoes. Everything needed in the morning including lunches can be placed here so it is easy to grab everything and go.

As kids get older they need to be responsible to make sure their papers needing signatures are set aside in this area for review and other items are filed or recycled.

Another thing is to have their rooms and bathrooms set up so they can easily access what they need to get themselves ready. Kids can pick out their clothes on a weekly basis and set outfits in hanging cubbies or they can pick them out the night before.
2. Procedures should be in place
Procedures help kids know what to expect. Have a morning routine that is established that works for your family. Then they know what to do when they get up every day and are not waiting for you to tell them what is next.

The night before is a great time to pack lunches, review clothes to make sure it will work for the next day’s activities and weather, and have backpacks set out. Also teach kids to consistently put back whatever they were working on or playing with after the activity or in the evening so there is a fresh start in the morning. There are many benefits to teaching children to do age-appropriate chores too.
3. Toy control
Having toys under control makes for a happier family.
Rotate toys in a way that only ¼ to 1/5 of all their toys are out at a given time. Sort toys by categories and put some of each category in a bin.

Let children play with these toys for 1-2 weeks, then switch them out. This relieves boredom and they play differently each time. Also have toys that are “ask for” toys that are put away normally but can be used with supervision such as playdough, puzzles, or any activity that is messy or has lots of pieces.

Children Organizing
The goal is that children will become productive adults one day and know how to take care of their belongings, their time, and their own homes. We really can start this when they are little so it is not such a shock when they are older.
Are you ready to get your space or schedule organized? Let me know how I can help you get to a more Peaceful Place.
