Tips: Organizing with Kids

Organizing with kids can be fun and productive.  Again, its all about setting limits.  Cleaning out the excess.  If that can be done then it will be a whole lot easier to maintain and keep the house under control.  It will be so much less stressful and the home will be a peaceful place to be.  The kid's space is personalized but not cluttered.

1)  Color code.  Each child has a color.  Try to purchase anything for that child in their favorite color.
2)  Have a tote for each child for their next size of clothing.  Anything purchased ahead of time or gifts of clothing go in this bin.
3)  Have a bin or tote in the closet for when they grow out of clothes.  Too small?  Goes in the bin.  Once its full you can sort all the items.  Donate, hand me downs or give away.
4)  Use a file folder for each child.  Their favorite or best school work or projects go in here.
5)  Have a treasure tote for each child.  Special things go in here.  Favorite stuffed animal or blanket, baptism items, baby shoes, gifts they're not old enough for.  This will be the tote they leave home with.
6) Put together snack bags on Sunday.  Store them in a tray where little hands can reach them for snack time.
7)  Buy a shower caddy and use for art supplies.  It will keep markers, crayons, pencils etc contained and organized. 
8)  Keep all toys in toy area organized. Use baskets and bins so one or two sets of toys can be taken upstairs, into bedroom at a time.  When they are finished with that toy it is put back and another can be taken out.
9)  Use kids artwork as decor in the playroom or their rooms.  We put up an "ART" rope and hung pictures by using clothes pins.  Cute and useful!
10)  Place extra books and puzzles up on shelves.  Rotate the books out.  I have them tell me which books they would like on the lower shelves within their reach.  That way all the books are not strewn all over the house.
11)  Place limits.  Number of pajamas, stuffed animals, sweatshirts, toys, puzzles, books etc. 
12) One on one out.  When the kids get new gifts from birthdays or Christmas we expect that they go through their belongings.  They can donate to charity, a younger sibling or sometimes an item makes it way to Grammy's.  Then they have some activities to do when we visit.
13) The "crap" basket.  I use a small plastic basket with handles.  A couple times a day I fill it up with things I find laying around the house.  I have the kids help gather and put items back in their proper place.  If I'm tired and everyone's asleep I'll pick stuff up and keep it in there until morning.
14)  Every Monday we take a laundry basket and bring all extra toys downstairs to the playroom.  I also walk through their rooms with a trash bag and throw all random items away.


Kids Closet and Bedroom

Playroom

It is possible to get and stay organized with kids in the house.  We have two girls and one boy ages one year to six years old.  We have a wide variety of toys.  We try to keep the toys that everyone loves or will love.  The key is getting rid of excess.  Purging the gimicky toys and keeping the classics.  Stay tuned.  My next post is about our favorite, timeless toys.  The best ones to keep for your kids if you are looking for a guideline.