Legos. Building blocks. Barbie dolls. The life of a child is one of clutter.
Once you have kids, nothing is ever really the same. Unfortunately, this goes for organization as well. For many, the growing up years is nothing but chaos, and the constant scrambling to stay on top of everything you need to do.
But do you really have to give up organization when you have kids? Absolutely not! In fact, there are many ways to be more organized than ever when you have kids. Start with these tips:
Purge as Often as Possible
While it’s easy to get caught up in sentimental feelings regarding certain toys or clothing belonging to your child, there comes a point where these items are outgrown. it’s OK to keep a memento or two, but the rest needs to be sorted through as often as possible. keep in mind, donating these items to places such as women’s shelters allows you to bless others with something you no longer need.
Stock Up
No more midnight runs to the store for diapers. When you know you are going to need things, your best bet is to keep a surplus of those items around at all times. Keep an extra package or two of the things you need most often and make a point to restock as soon as you get low.
Enlist Help
As soon as a child is old enough to pick up a toy and put it in their toy box, you have helper. Teach your children about being organized by giving them places to put their things and making a game of it when it comes time to clean up. Children love to help. There is nothing wrong in taking advantage of this.
Create a Family Command Center
Hanging up a dry erase board place where you can leave messages, and make lists helps everyone to stay on task. Put this board in a central location where everyone can see it. Encourage everyone to make use of it to help keep track of their schedules and needs.
Plan Meals
Nothing can derail an entire family like the question, “What’s for dinner?” Always have an answer by scheduling the meals and leaving a visible meal plan for everyone can see. This also helps you to keep everyone eating healthy and means grabbing less fast food because you’re tired and frustrated and don’t know what else to make.
As with anything, organization is about planning. When you have kids, it might seem a little challenging at first to get organized. By putting in the effort, and cutting yourself some slack for the days when everything blows up, you will find yourself organized in no time. The best part? Freeing up time to spend with your family doing all the fun things rather than scrambling just to survive.