Kids’ Closet Decluttering Tips for Young Ones to Follow

Keep it Simple

Kiddos aren’t always chaotic on purpose. They’re curious about the world around them, which can sometimes look a little (okay, make that a lot) messy. Chiding them for this behavior isn’t as effective as explaining why they should want to maintain an organized bedroom.

Don’t explain decluttering in adult terms, such as “a neat house” and “less stress.” Those terms don’t resonate with little ones. Instead, tell them about how they’ll be able to find their favorite clothes easily. Tell them that tidying up makes room for new toys.

Keep your language playful and kid-oriented. Touching on the points that interest them will make them more enthused about decluttering their closets. They may be more willing to commit to the task regularly in the future.

Make it Fun

Surely, you’ve noticed how kids seem to gravitate away from their chores. And why? Chores are no fun.

However, you can make them more engaging and enjoyable in a few different ways. For example, you could set a timer and tell your children to tidy up their closets, giving them five minutes to do as much as they can. If you build that habit into their daily routine, closet maintenance will become a lot easier.

Another way to make organizing closets fun for tikes is to make it into a game, such as a scavenger hunt. Ask them to find their purple shoes or alien t-shirt, then let them sort through what's in their closet until they come up with the required item.

And if you’re still seeking ways to get your children interested in organizing, why not add gamification elements to it? If your children earn rewards, points, or even allowance money for organizing their closets and/or donating a specific number of items, they’ll usually be a lot more likely to do it.

Learn to Categorize

Children learn more effectively with modeling and clear instructions, so make sure you step in, and show them how to categorize the items in their closet.

You have plenty of ways to sort their closet items. For example, you can organize by color or season. You might also separate their wardrobe into items they use for school versus at home.

The classic organization method of using “keep,” “donate,” and “store” piles also works here. The “keep” pile should be for toys, clothes, and shoes your children still wear/use and want to hold onto.

The “donate” pile can go to other children who would appreciate the items, while the “store” pile is for items that need a better storage system than what they have at present.

Remember though, you don’t want this task to feel too much like work. Sorting can be made more exciting by using stickers for label categories, introducing colorful bins into the mix, or even listening to music while categorizing.

Show Why it’s Good to Give

It feels good to give, but you have to allow your child the opportunity to do so. Tell them that while they’re very fortunate, not everyone out there is as lucky. Explain that donating to those in need is a way to help other children.

If you have a story that shows how impactful generosity can be, share it with your kiddo. Otherwise, examples help, even social media posts showcasing other kids using donated items.

You should spearhead the donation process as the parent, but get your kids involved. Bring them with you when you drop off the donated items. Praise your child for their good deed. The process will be meaningful and feel good to you both, making your kid happy to donate again in the future.

Make Organization Easy to Maintain

As kids develop, learning new skills can bring with it a lot of frustration. The harder it is to organize their closets, the more likely they are to get annoyed and even quit. This is where you should step in and ensure the organization system you create is easy to maintain going forward.

Using labels with pictures, strategically placing low-hanging rods, and opting for simple organizing tools will make kids feel like they’re fully-capable of keeping their bedroom neat themselves.

Once your kiddo feels like they grasp closet organization on their own, they’ll take pride in their ability and want to do it often.

Check In Regularly

That said, you shouldn’t let close organization be an entirely hands-off process for the parents. You should check in with your child weekly to see how neat their room and closet are. You might schedule decluttering sessions between the two of you where you tackle more clutter together.

Stress that closet organization isn’t a one-and-done process. It’s something they have to be willing to commit to often to keep their space tidy.

Conclusion

Involving children in the decluttering process does more than take a load off you, the parent. It’s also valuable in teaching them solid foundational skills for their independent adult life someday. 

The key is to make decluttering fun through games, bright colors, and rewards. Introducing these skills to your tikes now and encouraging them to keep it up will equip them with the tools they need for life.

Source

• https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/behaviour/behaviour-management-tips-tools/teaching-skills#:~:text=You%20can%20help%20children%20learn,key%20to%20learning%20new%20skills.