Helping Children Get Organized

An important part of creating healthy habits in our children is starting them out at a young age. This is especially true when it comes to being organized. Young children are not yet developed enough to be able to organize their belongings on their own and need a parent to create that structure for them.


If you want your kids to do a proper cleanup you need to provide the right type of storage space for them. Since they are smaller everything will obviously need to be at a much lower height. This includes all shelving, storage bins, and closet modules. If they cannot reach storage space they will certainly not be able to use it. At first you will need to teach them what goes where and model behavior. As they begin to understand what is meant by cleanup you can pull away from participation. If they know where things go they are more likely to put items away on their own. Two games you can play are doing a cleanup song, or a cleanup scavenger hunt.


When it comes to clothes children will learn best starting out with colorful plastic hangers they can easily grab and manipulate. Have a separate drawer for each type of clothing or compartmentalize each drawer. Creating a fun themed environment also helps. There are many options for children’s hangers, such as glam hangers or plastic hangers in any color you can imagine.


Of course at time all kids refuse to listen to their parents. Have expectations clearly outlined and hold your children to them. They need this structure and discipline to develop self confidence and generate a sense of security. Think about how being organized will help him be more successful as an adult.


Once a child understands where their toys go and how to use a clothes hanger they will enjoy cleanup time as part of their play. It then becomes more of a game and keeps it from being an enormous chore at the end of the day when the floor is covered in toys. Your children will be able to play more freely with their belongings and perhaps even begin to dress themselves in the mornings. Knowing where things are they can save time looking for things and gain more value from playtime. They can then begin to develop the important life skills of organization that will last a lifetime.



About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of Everything Hangers, a leading online provider of clothes hangers and plastic hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.everythinghangers.com.

Turning Childrens Chores into Child's Play

“Why can’t my kid use the closet instead of the floor for their clothes!?”

Does this sound familiar? You are not alone. This is a common question voiced by parents around the world. Unless something is done early on it only gets worse as they move into the teenage years. What can be done? You’ve tired nagging. You’ve tried grounding. You’ve even tried pleading, though you may not admit to it. Here are some ideas to help you motivate your child to keep their room tidy and clothes in the closet where they belong. By starting at an early age you can avoid the teenage disaster zones that have been foretold. Three great ways to motivate your tykes to be tidier are to give verbal encouragement, make it fun, and reward them for a job well done.

Studies have shown that kids respond more positively to words of encouragement instead of criticism. Think about the kind of encouragement you appreciate from your boss or co-workers and pay it forward to your kids. Praise them when they do remember to clean up or at least get something on a hanger. Remember to be sincere. Keep from going overboard and gushing praise; you risk creating the opposite effect. Encouragement can also include explaining the benefits of having a tidy room, such as being able to find toys, having space to play, and making it inviting for other kids to come over and enjoy.

Kids are more likely to participate in clean up if you make a game out of it. A great clean up game to play with younger kids is to have them clean up things in categories like colors, starts with, or sounds like. You will need to start out playing the games with them until the clean up becomes a habit. Make the closet a fun place. Decorate it with their favourite theme. Closet organizers help make sense out of the mayhem of clothing. Standard hangers may not fit your kids clothes, however many stores now carry children’s hangers more suitable to a smaller garment. These also come in different colors or themes and make sorting clothes easier. Create colourful tags and label drawers and shelves for shirts, pants, and sweaters.

You and your child can have fun creating a progress chart. Hang the chart on the inside of their door so they see it before they leave their room. Each time they put away their clothes, hang up their shirt, or put dirty clothes in the hamper a sticker goes on the chart. The chart will help you and your child keep track of their progress and let them know how close they are to receiving their reward for a job well done. Everyone likes to receive gifts, but a well earned reward is a lot more enjoyable. Rewards don’t always have to be toys. Other ideas might include a trip to the children’s museum or science center, a night at the movies, or a slumber party on their tidy bedroom floor.

This may seem like a lot of time and effort on your part, but consider it an investment. In the long run you will have helped your child to develop lifelong organizational skills. Keeping a room clean doesn’t always have to be a chore. Encourage and praise your kids when they do clean up, make it fun with games and decor, and help them chart their progress and reach their goal. You might even have fun too.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of Everything Hangers, a leading online provider of childrens hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.everythinghangers.com.