How to Teach Kids to Organize While They Are Home This Summer
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When your kids are on break from school it seems like routines go out the window! Here’s how to teach kids to organize when they are on a school break.
Summer is in full swing, and for those of us with kids at home, we’ve had a few weeks to keep our kids busy while they’re out of school. If you’re starting to run out of ways to keep your little ones from fighting each other or wreaking havoc throughout your home, you aren’t alone. This guide will give you a few more ways to teach kids to organize their own days while they are at home.
The best way to teach your kids how to get organized is to start at the bottom – with new habits! This guide will look closer at that, but first, make sure to check out the Change Your Habits Guided Workbook! It takes you step-by-step through forming (and sticking to) healthy habits.
Wondering where to begin? Get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret, and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!
How To Teach Kids To Organize During Summer Break
There are lots of ways you can teach your kids organizing skills this summer. Let’s go through them one by one!
1. Eliminate excuses
The very first thing you should do is make sure your kids are ready to learn. That means making sure they are in the mindset. How do you do that? You get rid of anything that’s in your way.
After you eliminate all the excuses, you’ll be able to focus on teaching them the skills they need.
These are the most common excuses and how to get rid of them.
Excuse #1: The Kids Can’t Focus
If your kids have too much energy, let them go outside and play. There are other ways to expend this energy too. Take them hiking, fishing, camping, swimming, biking, or enjoy one of these fun DIY backyard games – anything to get them away from their screens and into the world.
Excuse #2: They Are Hungry
Turn their hunger into a learning experience and teach them to cook.
Many parents are hesitant to let their kids into the kitchen, but I think introducing them to the fundamentals of cooking at an early age is important. After all, we’ve all got to learn how to cook for ourselves one day! Why not get a head start?
Whether you teach your kiddos the basics or find a local class or camp to show them how to whip up a few of their favorite recipes, cooking classes can be a fun and productive way to keep your kids entertained when they’re out of school.
Excuse #3: They Are Bored
If your kids are complaining about being bored this summer, set up some art projects and let them express themselves artistically.
Whether they love to paint, draw, sing, act, or play an instrument, find ways to let them explore their creative interests.
2. Teach Teamwork
Another way to teach kids to organize is to encourage them to work together. Even as adults we don’t do things completely alone. Life is about helping each other.
If your kids share a bedroom together, we have some helpful tips and tricks for organizing a shared bedroom. Specifically, we share some:
- Ways to unify the overall look of a shared bedroom, even when both people in it have clearly different tastes.
- Tips to store clothing, whether you’re using a shared dresser, closet, or both.
- Things you can do to maximize storage in a small shared space.
3. Let kids organize a small space of the house
After your kids work together to organize their closets and clothes, encourage them to take ownership of a small public space in the house.
The entryway or mudroom is a perfect place to start.
We shared a guide to organizing your entryway that will give you tons of ideas for your kids!
4. Assign age-appropriate chores
The best way to teach kids to organize is by giving them tasks they can mentally and physically handle. As soon as they feel overwhelmed they won’t enjoy it and they won’t learn much.
Remember to modify the chores and the rewards for each child. You know better than anyone how different they all are!
Check out this guide to kids and chores for some more helpful information.
Here are some chores you can start with.
- Teach them to cook. Even the littlest kids can lend a hand in the kitchen. While they’ll slow you down as you’re teaching them how to help, they’ll be a great aide before you know it!
- Take care of pets. Whether you own a cat, dog, fish, or another pet, your child can – and should – learn to be responsible and help care for it. Teaching your child to feed the cat, walk the dog, or clean the lizard’s cage can go a long way.
- Help with the dishes. Kids can easily help rinse and load plates, cups, and utensils in the dishwasher. When the dishes are clean, teach them how to safely put it all away.
- Tidy up the yard. Keeping the backyard neat and clean can be a lot of work. Kids can help rake, pick up sticks, clean up toys, and do much more to keep your outdoor space organized.
5. Teach Kids to Organize Laundry
Another really fantastic way to teach even really young kids to organize is by letting them help with the laundry.
Preschoolers will learn the basics of sorting, especially using a laundry sorting system. Older children will learn how to take responsibility for something when it needs to be done.
In fact, everything you will teach your kids about organizing is in laundry skills. Sorting, basket management, maintenance – it’s all there.
6. Lead By example
Finally, if you want to teach kids to organize, lead by example and always encourage them to join what you are already doing.
Kids are super smart. If you are trying to get them to do something that you aren’t doing, they won’t learn it. It’s as simple as that.
Make organization a lifestyle in your home. Let them see you picking up after yourself and bring them shopping with you when you buy more bins and labels. Make organizing your house a family project and they will be more likely to learn it.
Teach Kids to organize Without Losing Your Mind
Learning how to organize a closet or bedroom isn’t something that happens overnight. Take it slow and teach them when they are the most open to learning. This is something they will learn over a lifetime. Stay consistent and patient and eventually they will get it!
Struggling to get motivated? Sign up to get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret, and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!
More Family Organization Inspiration
You are doing a great job! Here are some more tips and ideas as you continue to keep your family organized.
