These simple tips from the National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan will help your family get and stay organized.
1) Decide:
Determine
what volume of toys can fit comfortably in your playroom and make homes for
them on shelves or in drawers. Keep an eye on that volume: as new toys come in,
old ones must go out. Move them to a storage space for future use (labeled) or
– better yet – donate to charity.
2) Contain: Store broad categories of toys (avoid the temptation to be super-specific) together in bins that are easy to move to and from play spaces. Avoid lids for easier access. Label the containers, even if you think its contents are obvious. Involve the kids; they can draw picture labels if they're not writers yet.
3) Collect:
Toys have a
way of escaping the playroom. Place smallish bins in other areas (e.g., living
room, kitchen, stairs) to collect the escapees and return to the playroom when
they're full.
4) Teach:
4) Teach:
Staying organized is an essential life skill, so teaching your kids
how to put things away so that they can find them again is part of your job as
a parent. That means they need to practice! Just as it would be a shame for a
30-year-old to have never learned how to tie his shoe laces, it’s sad to see
one who hasn’t learned the basics of organizing. So make putting toys away an
everyday part of the end of the day ritual.
Organizing your playroom
is easier than you think!
Article submitted by Chapter member Molly Boren of Simplicity Works Organizing Services: www.sworganizing.com
