Involve your child in tidying up - 6 tips for your child's room
Do you organize, clean, add more boxes for storage - and your child's room is still a mess? Or is it neat only when you clean it yourself?
How do you keep your child's room tidy for longer? And how can you involve your child in the cleaning process, so that in the future he can clean up after himself?
Here are six best practices to help your child keep his nursery tidy:
1. teamwork: cleaning with the child, not for the child.
Cleaning together - this is the most effective way to help your child put his room in order. Of course, for some time your ward will need your help, but the most positive results will come from routine repetition with the child and having fun while cleaning. Of course, this requires patience and self-discipline on the part of the parents, but in the long run it guarantees success. Involve the child in the game, develop a cleaning plan with him (for example, in the form of pictures), as children are usually very task-oriented and learn new skills quickly. Cleaning can also become fun: Sorting toys becomes a puzzle or treasure hunt.
2. creating a friendly environment
Children should be allowed to express themselves creatively. If a child is busy playing, it's a shame for him or her to stop because of unnecessary obligations - for example, when drawing, failed drawings must be immediately thrown into the trashcan. Obligations during play can distract the child and make him bored again. Therefore, use the simplest solutions: For example, place a small container in their room. Since in the office we usually keep one under the table to focus and avoid unnecessary distractions, this scheme will also work in a child's room.
3. a place for everything and everything in its place
Construction blocks, crayons or clothes for a favorite doll - there are many small things in children's rooms. If you put them all in one big container, it will quickly become a mess. At the latest when the child is looking for something he needs. Try to separate small things in drawers and cabinets. Boxes work well here, too, so you can divide drawers and cabinets into sections and thus sort everything into its proper place.
4. where what is - help in remembering
Children have so many important things on their minds. Don't require them to memorize the complicated toy storage system used by adults. Therefore, be sure to label appropriate storage areas. Involve your child in the game so they can participate in designing the labels. It may even be best if the child prepares the labels completely on his own and can show a little creativity. It doesn't matter if it's a picture or writing - this way you can find each item quickly and sort it more easily after use.
5. cleaning with less effort
Toys have the ability to teleport unnoticed to other rooms in the house. So that little feet don't have to travel several miles every evening to collect their toys again, use the following trick: Organize a container (preferably it should always be the same container) into which to collect toys and bring them together to the right place. This method works not only for children.
6. store only what is really needed.
A lot of toys and small items also means a lot of effort when it comes to keeping things in order. Therefore, in your room, keep only those toys that your child actually plays with. To prevent boredom, replace toys regularly, but don't be afraid to get rid of some of them permanently. This is especially true for those that are damaged or were used long ago when the child was younger. Throw away what has deteriorated and explain to your loved one why you want to say goodbye to the item. You can also sell those that your child no longer uses due to his or her age.
The youngest children can also be involved in this process. In this way, you can teach them a bit of entrepreneurship and financial literacy. To ease the pain of parting, you can use a little trick: encourage children to take pictures of toys that are for sale. The desire to use electronic devices usually outweighs the grief of throwing away a toy.
Using all these tips, remember one thing: Patience. Often children see cleaning as interfering with their fun and as a chore. Make it your goal to present cleaning as fun. And who knows, maybe your organization will soon have this image in the eyes of your children.
