I recently read an article, “5 Things People with Tidy Homes Don’t Do.” As a self-proclaimed tidy person, I found the article’s insights intriguing. Some of them applied to me while others didn’t. For example, the author points out that “Tidy People are in a constant state of low-grade tidying.” This is definitely true for me. As I move from room to room in our house, I try to make sure that I take things with me that are out of place. For example, if there is a toy in the bathroom, I take it with me after I’m done and bring it to the right room. As I pick up throughout the day, it makes the mess more manageable.
As kids are naturally messy, it can be hard to teach them to be tidy. And honestly, you may have to lower your standards a bit for the sake of free play and creativity. However, you can have a tidy house (or at least certain rooms that are tidy) even if you have kids. Here are some things we do in our house to keep it tidy:
First, we have an organization system in place that we constantly maintain. Whether it’s toy storage in the playroom, cloth bins underneath the sinks, or baskets in our closets, we try to make sure that there is a place for everything that we need. This helps us keep things organized but out of sight. For instance, we have cloth bins under our sinks to hold extra towels and cleaning supplies. In our main hall closet, we have over a dozen baskets that hold travel toiletries, office supplies, and electronics. Because everything is already subdivided, and we make sure to maintain the system, we are able to stay more tidy. A great book to teach kids about staying tidy is The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room
Second, we emphasize chores. If you’re looking for ways to motivate your toddler to do chores, you can check out this post. Or if your are looking for printable to remind you of the most essential chores to do daily, weekly, and monthly, you can read this post. Currently, our three year old has the following weekly chores that he is expected to do every Saturday morning before he is allowed to watch cartoons: wipe down kitchen chairs and the lower parts of kitchen appliances, pick up toys in the playroom so daddy can vacuum, wipe down the toilet seats in both bathrooms, and wipe down the floor in his bathroom. It’s so important to make man-cubs clean up after themselves in the bathrooms, especially when they are still working on their aim. Our son also helps me clean the inside of the toilets by spraying them with a vinegar and water solution. The key to chores is consistency. We’ve spent countless Saturdays battling with our son to complete his chores, but the payoff has been worth it. Since we stuck to our guns, his complaints have gone down significantly. He also sees that mommy and daddy do their Saturday chores at the same time, so it’s a family effort. A great book that talks about what happens when chores go undone is The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Chores
Third, we make exceptions. The playroom is my biggest exception. I let my son keep out a few “projects” for several days without making him clean them up. These are things he is currently building that he wants to continue the next day. I know there are certain toy sets he will end up dumping out almost every day, so it doesn’t make as much sense to have him clean them up at night only for them to be out again in the morning. So I’ve shifted my focus and only have him put everything up a few times a week. I also keep the toy clutter under control through toy rotation. Toy rotation limits the amount of toys your child has access to. Although your child has less toys available at a time, they are more likely to play with those toys since that’s all they’ve got. All other toys are in storage and can be rotated in (while taking others out) every few months.
While you may have to make some exceptions, by maintaining an organization system and emphasizing chores, it is possible to keep a tidy house with kids!
Man-Cub Mamas 