Becoming a parent naturally comes with an influx of items in your home, and sometimes fighting your kid’s clutter can feel like an all-out war. A tidy home leads to a mind at ease, and we want to help you stay ahead of the mess. From labeled bins to rotating toys for play, there are many small steps you can take to get your kid on board with keeping their space clean. Use these tips to keep your kid’s room—and your home—clutter and stress-free.
Schedule a weekly clean-up.
When it comes to cleaning your home, doing a little bit each week goes a long way. Block off a consistent time on the calendar each week for a family cleaning session, and eventually, it will become a routine that everyone buys into. This stops the clutter from reaching an overwhelming level and keeps your space looking fresh, all for only an hour or two of your time each week.
Take inventory of your space and break down the cleaning of each room into individual tasks. This allows you to decide what needs to be done every week, and what can be done on a monthly basis. You can also divide up tasks to members of the household based on skill level, such as letting your younger child wipe down surfaces while a parent vacuums.
Invite your kids to join in.
Inviting your kids to join you when you declutter your home is a great opportunity to teach them the importance of keeping their space clean and instills great cleaning habits at an early age. Children are natural sponges and take in everything that they see in their environment, so if kids see that their parents work hard to keep their room tidy, they will want to do the same. Set the example that you want your kid to follow and show them the ropes early on!
Item management is key.
When your child’s room or play area gets to be a little too messy, you will want to set up a system that makes cleaning up easy. Kids may grow tired of hearing the old saying that “everything has a place”, but when this is reality, their tidying up becomes much simpler. Storing items in labeled bins gives your children a very clear idea about where their toys are supposed to go, so if you tell them to “put this where it belongs”, there are no questions as to where that might be.
Store toys, art supplies, and clothes in close proximity to where you use them. That way, your child has easy access when they want them and can easily put their stuff away afterward. Finding creative places to store bins – such as under their bed or in a cubby system – keeps them out of the way and organized so you can reduce clutter on the floor.
Phase out toys that aren’t played with any longer.
Parting ways with toys can be a difficult process for children, but it is one that is sometimes necessary. Toys that are broken or missing important pieces take up valuable space and add to clutter, so working together to throw them out is important. Including your child in the decision-making process makes letting go of the old toys easier, and can help them learn when to get rid of items they don’t need in the future. Chances are your child will not regret getting rid of that old broken toy soon after it is gone, even if they had a hard time working through that choice.
Old toys that are in good condition can always be sold or donated. If you expect your family to continue growing and want to save toys to pass down to future children, stowing them outside of your home in a storage unit could be a feasible solution to reduce immediate clutter in the meantime.
Rotate toys to help keep them fresh and exciting.
If your child’s closet feels stuffed with a lot of toys, it may be a good idea to initiate a rotation system. Put two-thirds of their toys in a bin in the closet and rotate them out every few weeks, giving your child a new selection to play with. This not only cuts down on clutter in the playroom, but it can also keep your kid interested in the toys that they already have. You may not need to purchase new toys as frequently because of this!
Cut back on clothes.
While it may be less noticeable than toys, the clothes in your child’s room can accumulate very quickly if you are not careful. Children are constantly growing and changing their style, so staying on top of their clothing situation can lead to a lot less clutter as you parse out old and unnecessary items. Have your kid try on outfits to make sure that everything fits and are things that they want to wear. If you are struggling to have them focus on this task, you can always use a shirt and pair of pants that you know fit and use them as a reference.
Don’t feel like you need to keep every art project.
While it’s easy to want to keep every homemade piece of art or school paper that your child brings home, this is a quick way to accumulate clutter. Keeping some of these items is important, but limiting the amount of sentimental items you retain before it turns into a mess throughout your child’s room and the rest of your home can be helpful in keeping your space organized.
Designate a container for keepsakes, such as a drawer or bin, and when you have filled it up, you have reached the limit on items you can keep. This is an easy way to hold yourself accountable and to maintain a clutter-free home.
If you can’t bring yourself to get rid of things, consider creating a digital copy of their work! This can be a great solution if you are tech-savvy – your home remains free of clutter and you will always be able to look back on your child’s work.
Prioritize experiences over things.
While toys are beneficial for growth and learning in children, there is a lot to be said in investing in experiences for them as well. Enrolling them in a camp, taking them through the exhibits at the local library, or making daily trips to the park playground gives your kids an exciting environment outside of the home to learn and play. It also provides valuable and enriching experiences that are hard to find elsewhere.
Prioritizing getting out of the house and exploring over staying home can reduce the amount of clutter in your kid’s room for the simple reason that they are spending less time there, and the need to purchase more toys or other supplies is diminished if they are busy doing other activities elsewhere.
Self Storage Can Reduce Your Clutter
Struggling to find a way to reduce the clutter that comes with children happens to the best of us, and sometimes having a little bit of extra space can go a long way. Prime Storage offers clean and affordable storage options with a variety of features, providing you with the solution you need for your unique situation. To learn more about self storage, find a Prime Storage facility near you!
