Falling behind on keeping your house organized after you bring home a newborn is far too easy. Unfortunately, while putting tidying aside can afford you more time with your child initially, if it becomes a habit, clutter can have negative impacts on how you parent.
Good Organization Sets An Example
First of all, keeping your space organized and clutter free is as easy as installing wall organizers, keeping things off the ground and clearing floor space, and making the most out of your closet. Secondly, it will show your child that there is a correct way of doing things.
Setting good housekeeping examples in the first few years of a child’s life is very important, as they are learning lifelong habits from you during this time. Getting them to clean up later on will be a breeze if they are used to a tidy, organized area.
In the beginning, the clutter will be almost always something you left out on the counter and forgot to put away. Once your child is up and moving, however, they might leave toys scattered about which can pose a hazard to both you and them. Stepping on a Lego is certainly a painful experience, but trips and falls should not be discounted as they can lead to some pretty serious injuries.
When your child starts up their schooling, if you’ve instilled a good organizational sense in them, managing back to school clutter doesn’t have to be a chore. If they have noticed how tidy and proper you keep your desk, they will be far more likely to copy that behavior when setting up their homework station.
Plus, once they are old enough to have a locker at school, good organization will mean far fewer lost homework assignments in the disorganized fray.
Kids Crave Structure
Children develop habits quickly in their first few years, so it is important to provide them with the structure that they need in order to thrive. When kids know that there is a place for everything and that it should be put back when they are done, it instills a good sense of tidiness and even work ethic later on.
Also, you’ll spend far less time trying to find their shoes for them if they’ve learned to put them in a specific place every time.
There are plenty of ways that you can provide structure in your child’s life that don’t strictly revolve around a set schedule. In the same way you would scan documents into your computer to avoid clutter, children can be provided various tools to help them self-manage their organization.
Instead of one bin for all of their toys to be placed in loosely, give them access to something with multiple compartments or drawers so that they can put things away in a way that makes sense to them.
Other creative solutions for addressing your kid’s clutter could be installing a library wall to keep all of their books organized. You can also get inventive and use cereal storage containers to store all of their art supplies. Also, choosing a bed frame with built in drawer space, or putting the frame on risers and getting some sliding, low-profile storage bins can add some storage options in a place you would normally associate with losing things.
Cleaning Up Can Be A Bonding Experience
Finally, cleaning and organizing shared or personal spaces with your child can be an amazing opportunity for bonding. Getting a bit Feng Shui and reorganizing your living room together can be a great way to see how your child thinks, and for you to teach them why certain arrangements are better than others. Sure, putting the couch in front of the TV may give them a better view, but it also blocks off the middle of the living room so there is less room to play!
Letting your child have some input when designing their room is also a great chance for them to express their creativity in a way they can enjoy every day. While a minimalist design with lots of room to play is a great idea, letting them decide on fun colors can let them know you want to hear what they think.
All in all, keeping an organized home lets you spend more time with your kids. Whether that time is spent playing, learning, or just relaxing, doing it in a clean and safe environment shows them that being clutter free is simply better! Now, grab your kid and get to organizing!
Sam Bowman writes about families, wellness, and how the two merge. He enjoys getting to utilize the internet for community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore.
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