Our Top 5 Tips for Kid-Friendly Organization
I’ve heard it time and time again - “My kids won’t keep the playroom clean!”.
While I don’t have children myself, I remember feeling the same way during many of the 12 years I was teaching children ranging from 3-6 years old. It seemed like they could never fully clean up our classroom and, even with help from me and my teaching assistant, nothing was put back in the right spot (ex. baby dolls in the play kitchen oven).
As parents or care-takers of children, it is our job to teach them how to clean up after themselves. After visiting other classrooms and trying different systems, I realized I hadn’t set them up to be successful in helping to keep our space tidy. It was time for a change!
The goal is never to be perfect. It’s to be able to find the items you are looking for, keep them from wearing out quickly and to give them a proper home to live in when they aren’t in use. Think kids as young as 2 aren’t capable of this? Read my top 5 tips for organizing your space in a kid-friendly way and think again!
Tip #1: Create Zones
Whether you’re setting up a playroom, a kid’s closet or outdoor play area, creating zones is critical in making a space function in a way that kids can get the most out of it. Zones are also the key to keeping a space organized!
Start by thinking of the categories of items that will be in the space. For example, in a playroom, you might have a train table, baby dolls and all of their accessories, books, art supplies and building blocks. Set up the train table in its own area with train cars readily accessible. The art supplies should be next to the art table, books in a book nook or shelf, blocks on a shelf in an area that has lots of room for building, and the babies and their supplies close to a play kitchen or dramatic play area.
When everything is jumbled up, children feel overwhelmed, their imagination is stifled and chaos ensues! Zones invite kids to play in a meaningful way and leave no questions as to where toys should go when it’s time to clean up.
Tip #2: Create a System that Makes Sense
This part is actually easier than it may feel. Large toys like trucks, stuffed animals or blocks should either go in large bins or baskets or be placed directly on a shelf. Medium sized items like Barbies and Legos need medium sized bins or drawers and small items (and kids have SO many of them!) should go into small drawers or bins.
When small items end up in a big bin, what’s the first thing kids do? Dump the whole bin out, leaving tiny items all over the floor.
My absolute favorite way to organize playrooms is actually very cost effective. These IKEA Kallax shelves are wonderful for organizing large and medium sized items. Simply get bins that fit the shelves and organize the toys into separate bins. I love using IKEA’s Trofast drawer units for smaller items like cars, doll accessories, sensory toys and Legos.
Tip #3: Invite Imagination
Children see life differently than adults do. They live in a world full of imagination, possibility and inquisitiveness as they build knowledge. So, as you create and organize the spaces they will be spending time in, make it welcoming and fun! They are only little for so long.
One way you can do this is to build a cozy book nook with big floor cushions, fairy lights and book rails to hold their favorite stories. Build your child’s self-esteem by featuring some of their artwork in the space. Use pops of bright colors and different textures to make the space inviting, while encouraging exploration and a sense of calm. In the zones you create, put toys out intentionally thinking, “What do I want my child to get out of playing here?”.
Tip #4: Make it Sustainable
Kids won’t be able to clean up after themselves for many reasons: you don’t expect them to, they don’t know where anything goes, you aren’t setting boundaries, they have too many toys, etc. So, make it easy and fun for them (think Mary Poppins)!
When I was teaching, I always gave a 5 minute warning for clean up time so the kids weren’t caught off guard. When it was time to clean up, they were responsible for cleaning up the toys they got out before they could move on to the next activity (no excuses). If they were giving excuses, I gave them choices like, “Are you going to put the cars away or clean up the costumes?”. If they were having a really hard time, I would ask them to pick up 5 toys and I would do the same. I also made it fun, when needed, by turning it into a race - “Who can clean up the fastest?”. Was it perfect? Of course not. But, the classroom was cleaned up and the kids learned the value of taking care of our toys and knowing where they were next time they went to play.
You may be wondering, “How can a 2-year-old know where to put things up?” The answer is simple: Pictures! As a professional organizer, I create custom labels for my clients’ items that include a picture of the item along with the name of the item. This is great for building print-awareness and is crucial for pre-readers. It truly sets them up to be successful and independent, which, in turn, helps to save your sanity. If you don’t have the time for custom labels, simply take a picture of the items, print it out and tape it to the shelf or bin.
I promise. These simple steps are a game-changer that will revolutionize clean-up time!
Tip #5: Maintain Your System
I get it - life happens, kids are messy and families are busy! But, like any system, it must be maintained.
Sure, you may find Duplos in the stuffed animal basket, markers in the reading nook and cars with the blocks, but if you spend twenty minutes putting things back where they go, which will be much easier with an organizational system in place, your system will keep running smoothly.
Another important part of maintaining your space is to donate toys that are no longer used to a good cause. If you’re in the Austin area, check out Heartening Austin for charities that can use your items! Bonus tip: Don’t ask your child what they want to get rid of. The answer is usually, “Nothing! I still play with those.”. Instead, notice over time what isn’t getting used, then move it to a closet and see if they ask for it. After a month without asking, it’s time to donate.
Last, if all of this seems too overwhelming, professional organizers like me are here to help you! Projects like this and the reward I feel when it’s finished are the fuel that keeps me running. If you have any questions about play areas I have worked on or would like to schedule your free organizing consultation, don’t hesitate to email me at hello@simplifiedaustin.com.