Habits of orderliness

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  • jmac17
    Participant

     I know this is a common problem, that we’ve discussed in various forms before, but I’m struggling with how to teach my children the habit of orderliness.  I’m hoping some of the moms with older children who have survived this stage might have some words of wisdom.

    My kids are all young, (6, 4, 3, 2), so perhaps my expectations are too high, but I see them developing all the wrong habits in this area.  Toys, books, and other items just seem to scatter throughout the house.  I can understand a bit of a messy playroom, but, for example, when the girls have been playing ‘house’ and using the toy dishes and food, I will find these toys in the hallway, family room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. 

    I know some of you have a rule that the children only have one thing out at a time.  How do you organize and enforce this?  Are the toys, craft materials, etc. kept inaccessible?  Where?  Do you clean up at specific times?  When 4 children are using something, and one chooses to leave and do something else, how do you manage the ‘one thing out at a time,’ since the item is still in use?  Or when one child finishes using an item, but another immediately starts using it, who is responsible for putting it away?  How do you make sure that actually happens?

    We have decluttered many items and do rotate toys, so I don’t feel that they have too much at once.  I try to do regular clean-ups, so that the mess doesn’t get out of control.  So this isn’t as much just frustration with a messy house, but more a worry that they are obviously developing negative habits.  What I’m trying to figure out is how to train them in good habits so that I don’t have to constantly be on top of them and so they will be able to keep their own spaces orderly in the future.  I feel like I need to be constantly right with each child reminding them not to just drop things in a trail behind them.   In a busy household, that’s just not possible, so how have some of you managed this?

    How do I engage the children so that they will care about taking care of things?  Right now they have absolutely no sense of concern about their things.  Items just get dropped on the floor to be stepped on, kicked, lost, etc.  All of my children will just walk right over things, stepping on whatever is in their way.  If the craft table is full (because they or someone else didn’t clean up), they’ll sometimes just push things over the edge on to the floor to make space for the new project.

    Ok, I’m getting long winded, so I’ll stop and hope that someone has some ideas to share.

    Thanks,

    Joanne

    chocodog
    Participant

    Oh how I wished someone would have addressed this area so I could have read some good advise on this one.

     My children are 10,8, and 5. I feel like we are talking about my van. My one son puts tons of stuff in but hates to take it out. I even told him he couldn’t bring stuff in there. It seems like it is a pit. Now I know it isn’t all me. I have been away from them and my vehicle has stayed clean for weeks but as soon as they get in it is trashed. 🙂

       I can only tell you what I have been developing in my head and haven’t had the time to implement. I have a large closet. I have it cleaned out. (yippee). I just have to get DH to put a lock on the door. This is to make a lending toy library. Almost all of their toys are going to go in the closet. When they are done with their homework and chores they will be able to check out toys. They can renew them or checkout another the next day. I am hoping this goes good. It has gotten better since I put a large toy shelf in their room. I just want them to learn how to put things away all the time not just when I say clean your room. 🙂

                I hope to hear from some others.

    TailorMade
    Participant

    I am enjoying an awesome Bible study called Simplicity: Spiritual Choices that Bring Fullness to Life, by Virgina Estes. It is a very freeing study that has helped with simplifying which brings amazing order. I highly recommend it!

    Becca<><

    Becca where did you find that study, I can’t seem to locate it on the web? Thanks – Linda

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