Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: Start Young

Do you have messy kids? Here are some simple tricks to have tidy kids. These tricks have been a life saver for me. Starting to teach the kids to be tidy when they are young is very important. Most little ones are quick to learn and love to be helpful, so this is the perfect time to teach them these tidy habits.

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: Consistency Is Key

No matter how good your tidying system is, you will not be successful if you aren’t consistent with what you are teaching them. Children need the stability of routines so that they know what is expected of them. For example, every day when my kids got home, they put their shoes by the door so that they knew exactly where they were the next morning as they are running out the door for school. Here are some helpful routine rest ideas to enjoy.

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: Practice What You Preach

The last but probably the most important tip before I get to the tidy Kid tricks is to practice what you preach. Studies show that your kids learn by copying you. I have been called out by my kids on more than one occasion for not doing what I am trying to teach them to do. An example of this is when you are teaching your kids to make their bed every morning and they walk by your room and notice that your bed isn’t made. Your guaranteed to get something like,” Mommy why do I have to make my bed every morning if you don’t?” Ouch!

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: #1 Eat And Drink At Kitchen Table

One of the biggest ways to keep you house tidy is to make sure that everyone eats and drinks at the kitchen table. This is a big deal at our house. Not only does it keep your house cleaner, but your kids will also be more likely to eat regular meals and not snack all day. You will also know where their sippy cup is. The best time to start this is when they go from bottle to cup. If they are older and already eat around the house, it is still doable with consistence and persistence.

I still remember the duels that I had with my granddaughter and her chip bag. She was so stubborn but now she eats her food and drinks at the kitchen table, and all is well. Once she figured out that I wasn’t going to budge on that rule, she stopped trying to sneak the chip bag in the living room to watch TV. Oh happy day.

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: #2 Toys Stay In One Area

This rule is a game changer. If at all possible, keep their toys in one spot so your kids know where they should play with their toys. Sometimes it is not possible for little ones to play in one room if you can’t see them so two areas might be required for them until they are a bit older. My grandkids are 5,6, and 8. They know that their toys belong in the playroom and not in the living room or kitchen. Every time I see them with a toy outside of the playroom, (except outside) I stop what I’m doing to remind them where they go and wait for them to take it back.

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: #3 Put Toys Away After Playing

Teaching kids to put their stuff away after they are done using them is a skill they will hopefully use throughout their lives. The little ones learn by getting them to help you pick up the toys. This task is easily taught to the littles by playing a clean-up song and singing with them as you help them pick up their toys. As they get older, they will need your help less and less.

Make sure to organize their toys in baskets or bins to make it easier for them to put away. My granddaughter used to love to dump the whole basket out just for one toy. It didn’t take me long to figure out she had way too many toys. So, I decluttered them on a regular basis and rotated them every few months. Problem solved. At first, she refused to pick them up at all so I warned her that I would take the toys away that were not put away. She tested me so I hid all of the toys she left on the floor in the attic. She got the message.

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: #4 Tame Clothing Chaos

Most of us know the struggles when the littles insist to pick out their own clothes or when most of the contents of their dresser is on the floor. After I had to pick them up for the 100th time, I started pairing their clothes into sets right out of the dryer. Then I went through the rest of the clothes in their room getting rid of the clothes that no longer fit, had stains or holes, or that didn’t go with anything. I set out two outfits and they choose the one they wanted the night before school so there was less drama in the morning.

I also put a laundry hamper in their room and taught them that all of their dirty clothes go in the hamper not on the floor. This will be one of those things that you will thank yourself for when your kids become teenagers. When my kids were old enough, they did their own laundry. If they ran out of clean clothes, it was on them. They had it worked out in short order and that is one more thing that I don’t have to worry about.

Simple Tricks To Have Tidy Kids: #5 Train Them In The Way They Should Go

I am very thankful that I taught my kids to be helpful and pick up after themselves. They are certainly not perfect but for the most part, they do a pretty good job. Just remember if you have children that have picked up bad habits, they didn’t not get them overnight and they will not get rid of them overnight. Take baby steps and remember that consistence and persistence are the keys to success.