5 ways to help get your kids organized

Before we begin, decide what you want to organize. I don’t know about your kids, but mine are notorious for not putting things back where they belong and then getting upset when they can’t find that one special toy! My kids function best with routine, so these tips come strictly from my own experience. 

• Our oldest likes to take her time with everything. Always. Sometimes I’m tempted to step in and do the task myself just to speed things up, but I know that wouldn’t help her learn to do it on her own.
• Our second is very obedient and usually moves at what I call “supersonic speed” just to show how fast he can finish the task he’s been given. 
• Our third kiddo lives in her own little world and often struggles with listening, so she needs a lot of extra guidance.
• Our fourth babe is walking and traveling EVERYWHERE, but is already learning to put things back where they belong.

Routine. As little as they are, kids are still their own people. They each have their own challenges, and they need help learning how to move through their routines efficiently. One of the most important things we can do as parents is be patient. Sometimes that can feel absurdly difficult—especially when we are in a hurry. As moms, we tend to carry the mental load of everything the kids need wherever we are going. We’re constantly thinking through the “what ifs” and making those last-minute runs back inside for the “oooh, I almost forgot; I need xyz...” 

1. Regarding school... create a routine. Do the same thing every day in the same order. This list pertains to kids physically attending school.
   1. Wake up at 7 am. Go to the restroom. Brush teeth. Get dressed. Put shoes on. Sit down for breakfast. Grab the bag and head out the door. 
   2. When they get home, have them do the following: empty their lunch box and pack their snacks for the next day. {I want to pause here and say that you need to show them what snacks are appropriate. Grabbing some leftover Halloween candy and crackers may be tempting, but it’s not the best choice. Try to make sure they are getting nutritious snacks like organic apples, oranges, carrots, or bell peppers. Make time for this. It is crucial not only for teaching responsibility, but also for establishing good eating habits.}
   3. Have them change their clothes. The majority of the germs coming home will be on their clothes, so it is important to change them out. After they change, have them prep their clothes for school the next day. Trust me, it saves time—especially with snoozing alarms in the morning. 
   4. Have them do their homework, if they have any.
   5. Let them play while you prep dinner, and then have them shower before bed. Most of the time, a shower or bath helps my kiddos relax and rest well. You can also use this time to have them help you in the kitchen. 
      1. Have them help set the table with utensils, napkins, and plates
      2. Get drinks out for everyone
      3. Wash dishes so there are fewer to clean later on
   6. We let the kids sleep in on Saturday unless we have plans. Use it as their rest day. They are growing and need that time to recharge. Sundays are our church day, so we get up early, although not as early as we do on weekdays.

Toys.  Toys can be wonderful tools for helping your kids build developmental skills and use their imagination. But they can also become a hindrance when they have collected too much over the years. Sometimes it’s okay to fill a few trash bags with toys to donate while they visit their grandparents for the weekend. Other times, it’s better to let them sort through what they are willing to give away so they can learn that helping others is a beautiful thing.

1. Now that we’ve already talked about weeding out the excess, let’s discuss how to keep toys organized.
   1. If you have a bookshelf, go to Dollar Tree and get some plastic bins, then label them with a permanent marker. You could even buy stickers and let them put them on the bins to help them remember what goes inside {dinosaur stickers for the dinosaur box}. 
   2. Have them help you organize instead of doing it while they are gone. When they are involved hands-on, it really helps them understand how things should flow in the room.
   3. Make sure everything has a place, and once they take something out, help them get into the routine of putting it back before getting something else.

Books. Do your kids love books? Mine do, and it seems like everyone outside our family knows that because we tend to receive plastic bins full of books at a time. Needless to say, we’ve learned to weed those out too and rotate them with boxes stored in the shed, so the books can cycle through as the kids grow.

Clothes. I have 2 girls who love to dress up. We have been blessed with friends who have passed clothes down to our girls, so I have never had to buy any for them. They go through phases. One whole week, one will only want dresses, and the next week she will want shorts and a T-shirt. They both love dressing themselves and changing at least twice before going anywhere {p.s. Just because you tried on a shirt and didn’t like how the colors matched with your cute skirt does not mean it is dirty and should be put back where you found it}. 

1. Clothes are fun, but they need a place to be.
   1. I tend to hang dresses and anything considered “Sunday best.” Everything else gets a place in the dresser drawers. We do not have much space in this department, so whatever works for your family is great. We try to keep their clothing collection to a minimum, but sometimes that is difficult. Take time every quarter to see what they have outgrown or what they “do not like anymore.” It helps keep everything organized and prevents drawers from overflowing.
   2. Once laundry is done, have them help fold the clothes and teach them how to do it. No, it will not be perfect, and yes, it may take a while for them to catch on, but it will be worth it. Have them put their clothes away and learn that responsibility. 

Shoes. They grow sooooooo much in those first years that it can feel a little ridiculous to buy anything new. They usually get new shoes for birthdays and Christmas from grandparents, or when I realize I have forgotten to keep up with how their current shoes are fitting. Our oldest has her second toe growing in a different direction than the others, and I seriously think it is because I left her in shoes that were too small for too long. I cannot stress this enough—take the time. 

1. Shoes are fun, but do we really need that many?
   1. With 3 of our 4 in shoes, we need to keep the collection to a minimum. A good goal is 2 pairs of tennis shoes for school, dress shoes for church and special occasions, 1 pair of sandals, 1 pair of play shoes you don’t mind them destroying outside at home, and maybe some rain boots if you live in a rainy area. That’s it. No more. Maybe even less if you do not need it.

I pray this blesses you and that you can apply some of my tricks to your own routine. I would love your feedback and to hear anything that works well for you too! I am always looking to learn from other mamas! 😊 

Love in Christ, 

Sara Gama