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Care to share any creative ways you manage your children’s “stuff”?
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Because we live in a small house, I have learned how to organize things pretty well, but am struggling with the “stuff” my children accumulate. We are not big toy fans, so that’s not a problem, but they have alot of things that add up quickly, like: stickers, notepads, pictures, cards they make one another, creative play projects they make, small trinkets, etc… In listing these, it would seem that they wouldn’t take up much space because it’s nothing big in size, but it builds up quickly and we have four dc. I do “go through” their assigned drawer/containers every now and then to TRY to keep things controlled, but I am hoping someone can share some creative ways you keep your children’s things from growing into something to be afraid of. 🙂
Rebecca 🙂
Hi Rebecca! I totally hear you! We too live in a small house with four, soon to be 5 dc, and the stuff can really get out of hand. When we moved here we had to downsize, and really simplify our life. Just recently with trying to organise and prep for the baby, I have been noticing how quickly things add up and take over! I purchased some (pretty) photo boxes for the kids, and am in the process of having them sort through what they would like to keep, and what they would like to purge. I have put all notebooks, felts, that typpe of thing into a large tupperware container and it goes in the laundry room. I don’t care whos notebook it is…it goes in the bin. Trinkets need to have a home in one container…and each room has a hanging thing about 3 tiers. On it is where they can place some of the trinket, frames, etc and then cycle through at the end of the month and change what is on display so they can always enjoy what they have, but without the clutter. After things are put away for some time, it’s amazing how they realize they dont really need it. Also, I am teaching my oldest about putting her things into folders, or boxes, or a scrapbbok that she wants to keep. She feels the need to keep every invite, card, etc. It can be so hard to control this, so I am really looking forwrad to hearing what others have to say!!! Blessings!
My home is teeny tiny. I do what Christina does and cycle things on display and then get rid of them. I don’t have any storage area and I can’t keep many things for sentimental reasons. We enjoy things “in their season” and then let them go.
One “aha” moment I had in my own organizing struggles is that I don’t need to find a place for everything. I don’t need to have a great rack for my magazines, for example. What I need is to get rid of the magazines. I focused too much on putting everything away without questioning if I REALLY need to keep the items. I’ve been trying to pass this approach to my kids when they clean up their things. Sometimes I think it’s a relief when I tell the kids they don’t need to keep everything – they might hang on to things because they think they are supposed to.
For the things we do want/need to keep, having proper storage containers is essential. They are the tools to get the job done. I suggest to my kids that they never fill a container or shelf all the way to capacity. A container stuffed full isn’t as useful as a container with space.
Another thing that has helped ME is to accept this is ongoing challenge. I feel bad after I organize everything beautifully and then later have to organize it again. I feel like a failure. But then I changed my approach and faced the reality that keeping organized is something I have to do constantly. Life can be messy sometimes, but messes can be cleaned up. Maybe others already knew this fact of life and I’m a slow learner!
And this might be going off on a tangent, but I like to put on nice music and perhaps make some special tea or cocoa for the kids and me when we organize our stuff. I like to take the “dreaded chore” concept and turn it into a nice thing – that taking care of our things should be enjoyable. The things we surround ourselves with should be a joy, not a burden.
Having said all that, I stepped on a Tinker Toy in the front hallway more than once this week, and that was not a joy.
I thank you both for your response. 🙂
Christina, you are so right in your “After things are put away for some time, it’s amazing how they realize they don’t really need it.” I love your cycling of displays idea.
Esby, you gave ME an “aha!” moment – THANKS! (I especially like the cocoa for the kids concept; you are so clever…and wise!)
Hugs of appreciation – Rebecca
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