I am a huge advocate for teaching children how to be organized because I see it as a huge win for both the growing child and the parents. Organizational skills help children do well in school and stay on track at home. It reduces their stress and prepares them for other necessary life skills they’ll continue to acquire in the future.

Many children struggle with basic organization and time management skills, which puts them at risk of falling behind or feeling overwhelmed when faced with busy school schedules and extracurricular activities.

On the other hand, children that have already developed their organizational muscle have the ability to create and maintain systems to keep track of information while also being able to collaborate and communicate better with those around them.

As a professional organizer, I’ve seen my fair share of messy children but with the right investment of time, energy & patience, I managed to teach both the parents & the children how to become more organized in their lives & homes.

While teaching your young child organizational skills can seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be! The trick is to start them early and always make it fun. For the rest of the job, follow my tips below 👇

Tip No. 1 – Lead by Example

Children are watching and learning every day so use this time to prepare them for adulthood by teaching them how to act & think.

If you want to teach them how to be organized, let them watch you tidy your closet/room/home. Problem-solve out loud so they can start understanding the process. Talk to them, let them ask questions and get involved if they wish to do so.

As you spend time together, share with them your experiences, feelings, and values of organization.

Tip No. 2 – Establish Daily Routines

Kids thrive on routines as they provide structure and order to an otherwise unpredictable day. By knowing their daily schedules, children can begin to think more independently and constructively manage themselves.

In your family’s daily routine, include 30 minutes of tidying up and give everyone realistic tasks they have to complete. With the right attitude and a helping hand from you, your child will love feeling responsible and included in household chores.

Overtime, a daily routine will also teach your child the importance of consistency and teamwork.

Tip No. 3 – Teach Them How to Sort & Categorize Their Things and Have a Home for Everything

The easiest way to introduce advanced organization into your children’s lives is by teaching them how to sort and categorize their items.

Start by taking out all of their things in one big pile while verbally communicating every step of the process. Prepare new bins for them to sort everything in. Let them separate their stuff in a way that makes sense to them and then have them help you label everything so they always know where to find what they’re looking for. This also encourages faster learning & problem solving skills.

Tip No. 4 – Declutter Often

At first, if unpredicted, decluttering can be especially hard for children as it can lead to anxiety and overwhelm. However, if you want to teach and practice this skill regularly, your kids will have no problem with it at all. Start by decluttering your own things and have them watch/help you.

This activity will most likely get them interested in decluttering some of their own things. You can teach them how to appreciate the things they have and encourage them to share with you why certain items mean so much to them. Explain to them that we are not defined by our things and why sometimes we need to let go of possessions when they no longer have a purpose.

Introduce them to the concept of donation drives, book exchanges and toy exchanges. This is such a fun way to teach children how to let go while also introducing them to more complex ideas of sustainability & community building.

Use the one in, one out system to keep track of their things and get them used to regularly assessing and letting go of things they no longer want or need.

Download my free printable decluttering signs here

Tip No. 5 – Teach Them to Plan Ahead

Forward-thinking is an essential skill and a key component of organizational and personal success going forward. By developing an organization skill early on, children learn how to be responsible for themselves and will revel in that opportunity. They’ll be more confident, less stressed and better equipped to handle their school year and growing up.

Key Takeaways:

• Children with developed organizational skills are less stressed & anxious, more independent, responsible and better at communicating
• Children will always try to mimic what we do so start showing them the importance of organization in your family life
• While this can be a repetitive process for the parents, it is one worth investing time and effort in early on

Children are our future and I believe it is our job to give them the right tools — along with the time and patience to practice using those tools — in order to become productive, confident, and engaged leaders of tomorrow.

If you need additional help setting your child up for success by cultivating the skill of organization, you can contact me for a power session. For more organizing tips and trick, follow my instagram page @bless_the_mess_

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MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US FOR MORE GOOD IDEAS

Instagram | Facebook | Little Red Book | Wechat

You can also contact me or subscribe to my newsletter here.