Professional Organisers, Claire Savage and Lisa Skinner, share their tops tips for getting the whole family involved in decluttering and organising the home.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to spend more time in our own homes, we’ve become ever more aware of our surroundings and how they affect our well-being. While lockdown may a thing of the past and one that we would rather forget, it has changed the way we use our homes for the long term. For many people their home still acts as an office space, at least for part of the week. Then there’s the Generation Alpha children who are more used to being at home than any others before them. It is therefore essential that our spaces are fit for purpose – conducive to work, play and leisure.
Of course, making sure our living spaces are functional, yet calming spaces requires some work, primarily decluttering and creating systems of organisation that will work for everyone in the house. Every member of the family has a role to play and it’s good to teach our kids to be responsible and organised with their things starting from a young age. So how can we make decluttering and organising a collaborative and positive experience for the whole family?
Set Clear Goals
Plot a plan of action with your children laying out expectations for the decluttering process, rules like, toys should be put away before bedtime or games/toys should be tidied away before starting a new activity.
Lead by example
If your children regularly see you decluttering and organising the home they are more likely to follow suit. As with all things, model the behaviour that you wish to see the other members of your household imitate. Make sure to involve them in your decluttering and tidying routines, so that they understand the process.
Assign responsibilities
We’ve found that when children are encouraged to get involved in the decluttering and organising process, they take ownership over it and that motivates them to maintain the system in the long run. Divide tasks up among family members according to age, ability, and interest. Assigning specific responsibilities ensures everyone contributes and feels accountable for the outcome.
Respect individual preferences
Some personality types find it easier to declutter than others. Recognise that different members of the household may have attachments to certain items or prefer different levels of organisation. Try to respect each other’s feelings and compromise.
Label appropriately
If you want to create a system of organisation using labels as a guide for your children to follow, ensure they are age appropriate. By that we mean use images for the children who are not yet reading and written labels for the ones who can read.
Provide them with the necessary tools
Make sure your children have the resources they need to help them declutter, such as access to bins, labels and plastic tubs/boxes for sorting items.
Make it fun
Try to make the activity fun, it doesn’t have to be a chore. A favourite game in both our homes is that of Snap, but with the contents of the laundered sock basket. Whoever matches the most socks win the game, there may even be a small prize involved. This game is always met with enthusiasm from our kids, they don’t even realise that they’re helping to sort the house. Get creative to get them organising!
Create a Reward System
Offer incentives or rewards for completing tasks. This could be extra screen time, a small treat, a fun outing or even a play date for a newly tidied room. The reward should also be age appropriate and meaningful to your child.
Work in short bursts
Break up the decluttering tasks into manageable chunks. Schedule short, focused decluttering sessions. You could set a timer for 15 minutes and see how much can be achieved in that time. Or pick a small area to work on. If you try to take on too much in one go, it will likely leave you and your children feeling overwhelmed and defeated.
Create a sorting system
Unfortunately, not all of us can decant our homes into a giant warehouse like we see on Stacey Solomon’s SYLO. Nevertheless, we can set up designated zones or have containers for those items we plan to donate, dump, keep, recycle or sell. Clearly label stations, bins or boxes to make sorting easier for everyone.
Celebrate the wins
Acknowledge and celebrate achievements along the way. Whether that be completing a 15-minute decluttering session or a milestone like having tidied a whole room. Positive reinforcement encourages continued participation.
Make it a regular habit
Incorporate decluttering and organising into your family’s weekly routine to prevent clutter from accumulating again. Try and get into a cycle of decluttering, everyone will then know what is expected and when.
Be sure to start involving your children in tidying up as early as you can – healthy habits cultivated early on in life should carry on into adulthood.
Donate Together
Much like adults, children often feel more at ease with decluttering their things when they know it’s going to someone who really needs it. Maybe they know a younger child who could benefit from clothes or toys they have outgrown? Maybe they would like to donate toys or books to a nursery they attended to or to their school fayre? Is there a charity that is special to your family that you could donate items to? Try to involve your children in decisions around where their preloved items should go.
Give children ownership over their own spaces
Allow your children to have a say in how their space is organised. You could do that by letting them pick their own storage solutions, decorations and layout arrangements that reflect their individual tastes and personalities. This will act as another incentive for them to keep it tidy because they’ve curated that space themselves.
Create shared spaces
You could zone the shared spaces in your house, by that we mean give members of your household a say in where they would like their things to be kept in that room. Whether it’s a drawer in the kitchen with their plates and bowls or a cupboard in the living room with their board games. Again, this creates a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Be patient and flexible
Getting to grips with decluttering and organising can take time and there may be some setbacks along the way. Be patient with each other and remain flexible in your approach. Don’t give up, remember consistency is key when it comes to forming good habits.
Hopefully, by implementing these strategies, you can equip your children with the skills they need to declutter and tidy up effectively, setting them up for a lifetime of organisation and productivity.
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