How to Develop Your Child’s Organizational Skills

As you go around the house organizing, consider getting your kids involved in the process too. Encouraging their organizational skills around the house can help them with schoolwork in the near future, make things easier around the household, and instill good habits they take into adulthood. These tips for toddlers are ones that you can adapt to slightly older kids too.

Cleaning Up

If they spill their juice, show them how to wipe up the counter or floor. When it comes to small spills like this, your toddler will likely enjoy helping you clean it up.

When they get to the point where they can try pouring the juice themselves, there will be at least a few small spills. That’s to be expected! Show them how to clean the counter or floor with a washcloth, letting them slowly watch you do so before trying it independently.

Putting Things Where They Belong

After your toddler finishes playing with their toys, do they put them away? If you do it for them, start to include them in the process to help them begin organizing.

Create a basket each for different toys, such as one for wooden blocks and another one for crayons. When each bin holds only one type, it’s easier for your little one to distinguish where it goes.

Keep the bins at a low level that your child can reach. If they forget to put toys back at the end of the day, gently remind them. Help them do so and show them how much better the room looks once it’s clean to motivate them to do so again tomorrow.

Turning Off Lights

Energy use is not something you might think your toddler needs to know about yet but turning off lights when not in use is a good habit to begin at a young age. When they realize that being energy efficient is good for the future of the planet, they will want to do their part too.

Consider letting them turn on and off the light switch in a particular room, such as their bedroom or bathroom. Make it fun and easy for them to remember to do so by creating a fun song for them to sing as they turn off the light when entering the room and turn it off when leaving.

Getting Them Involved without Nagging

If you’re unsure how to make organizing fun for the youngster, here are a few pointers. It starts with using a positive tone of voice.

Even if you get frustrated, try to keep that encouraging, uplifting way of speaking. If needed, leave the room for a minute, or take a long sip of coffee before trying again to get your toddler involved in small organizing tasks.

Rather than nagging, be clear as to what you want them to do. For example, “please put your stuffed animals into the bin” (rather than “pick up after yourself”).

Do you want more tips on organizing around the home? Are you tired of trying to clear away the clutter all by yourself? Our professional organizers are here to help. Reach out today to talk about how we can help you achieve what you need at home.