Organizing Children

Yes I’m a Professional Organizer, but what is much more interesting is that I have three children six and under and I lead an organized life!  Okay don’t get me wrong, I still have Goldfish crackers smashed on the floor of my car and apple juice droplet on my kitchen floor, but I can actually find things when I need them and believe it or not my children have learned some important organizing skills already.

Many times Mom’s ask me why they should organize when the kids are going to trash the room the next day anyway.  It may seem fruitless some days, but done right it really can make your days easier and train your children to have invaluable skills to help them in the future.

Keep in mind that organizing your home is not going to automatically make your children behave the way we would like them to.  But like anything else we do as parents we need to show them the proper way things are done, continue to reinforce the importance of it and if necessary take disciplinary action.  I’m sure when you taught your children to say please and thank you it took some time for them catch on, but it was important so you kept at it.  You also may have held back on the toy/candy whatever until they said the “magic word”.

Well organizing is no different.  We need to show them that everything has a place.  Teach them the skills they need to get it done.  Continue to reinforce the importance of it and have consequences if it’s not done (i.e. No TV until your toys are put in the toy box).  Only then will they become self-sufficient and begin doing it without realizing it.  But from my experience, I see success everyday!