Kids’ room, toy storage, lunchtime, oh my! We’re covering it all.
Getting kid clutter under control can feel like a never-ending battle, but it’s easier to do if you have a plan. And what better way to get started than with 5 mom-approved organization ideas for kids stuff.
Whether you’re starting fresh for a new year, a new season, or just need to press pause for a refresh, it’s never too early (or too late) to start organizing kids’ stuff. Try our tips for taming the kids’ clutter— and help your kids practice good “helper habits.”
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1) Take the guesswork out of organizing: give everything its own place
“A place for everything and everything in its place” is a classic mantra for a reason. When it comes to organization ideas, clearly labeled storage bins make it easier for kids to practice helping.
When kids are putting away things in labeled bins, they don’t have to figure out where items go each time. Which gives you a break from an endless refrain of “mom, where does this go?”
Here are some more benefits of organizing with labeled bins:
- Toys are “out of sight, out of mind” which removes distractions during distance learning hours or quiet time
- Storing extra toys “out of sight, out of mind” helps kids fully enjoy their toys one at a time
- Limited space makes it easier to stick to the “one in, one out” rule
- When there’s no space in the bins, you know it’s time to purge
2) Must-do toy organization ideas: get really specific if you need to
Most times you can get away with organizing toys by broad categories like “dolls & stuffed animals,” “board games” etc. However, there are some toys parents know are just beasts to organize. For example, Lego® and other building block toys or model kits of any kind.
Not to mention, sometimes your kids also have a very specific interest or hobby that might need to be broken down into several containers. For example, a budding artist might have a bin just for painting supplies and one just for coloring supplies.
Don’t feel pressured to cram everything into big storage containers. Getting specific will make it easier for kids to find what they need and put stuff back where it belongs.
Do get creative with organization ideas and think outside of the storage bin. Try a binder to keep track of Lego® instruction manuals or use file folders to organize coloring books.
3) Help littles learn to organize and clean up after themselves
Teaching good habits early can set your kids up for being organized their whole life. Instead of a catch-all toy bin in the family room, try more specific organization ideas such as designated baskets for different types of toys.
Not only does it help clear up kid clutter, but sorting and classifying is actually good for cognitive development. Using pictures to designate the baskets makes it easy for preschoolers to practice being good helpers by matching the toy with the right basket. And as a bonus, picture tags on toy baskets are like a practical, everyday flashcard for little kids learning to read.
Pro Tip: Picture-tagged baskets are great for the closet too. Especially for items that aren’t hung up like socks, underwear, and accessories.
Another way to help teach kids to be good helpers is to help them take ownership of their space. Give them tools and time to practice keeping their own stuff in order and keeping their own space clean.
Putting kids’ chores on magnets makes helping and keeping their stuff tidy seem more fun. In reality, it’s just very practical.
For our magnet project pictured above, we covered printable magnetic business cards with a self-laminating sheet to instantly make our magnets easy to clean and disinfect— a must-have for little hands!
4) Stop the lunchtime madness with organization ideas in the kitchen
“Is it lunch yet?” Help your kids learn about independence, starting with helping to prepare their own lunches and snacks. Organize lunch and snack items to help your kids learn to build a balanced lunch on their own.
Putting kids in charge of choosing their own lunch and snacks each day gives them a confidence boost and saves you from the daily lunchtime rush.
Start by organizing lunch and snack items by food group (drinks, veggies, fruits, protein, dairy/calcium-rich foods, etc.). Set up bins for each food group in the fridge and for the pantry or countertops.
Use small containers or zip-top bags to portion any items that aren’t individually packaged into individual servings. Add durable kid-friendly labels with instructions to help kids pick the right serving of each item.
For example, veggies and fruits might have a label indicating “Pick 2” while a drink might have a label indicating “Pick 1.” Let the kids build their own lunch by picking the indicated servings from each bin.
5) Closet organization ideas for kids’ clothes
Kids grow out of clothes incredibly fast. Help them keep their closets tidy by regularly removing old items and making sure that wearable everyday items are easy to access. Here is a simple plan for getting seldom-used items out of the way so that kids can easily find the clothes they actually wear:
Start with sorting the kids’ clothes into three containers or piles: toss, donate, seasonal/special occasion.
- Toss anything that is severely damaged or stained
- Donate clothing they’ve outgrown, refuse to wear, or has minor damage and/or stains
For seasonal and special occasion outfits, use simple garment bags and printable tags to separate formal wear, costumes, and items that are currently out of season. Then start adding clothes back to the closet based on use.
- Formal wear & costumes all the way in the back
- Next, out-of-season items like heavy raincoats in summer, bathing suits in winter, etc.
- Current and transitional clothing like light sweaters or jackets at the front
No more pulling everything out of their closet looking for something to wear. Or wearing the same hoodie every day because they don’t want to dig through the closet.
Explore more organization ideas to start fresh for a new year, or refresh any time
Getting organized isn’t a one-time activity that’s a magical fix forever. It’s a process that good planning and clever ideas can help make achievable on a day-to-day basis.
If things get messy, that’s okay. Life is messy. You can always pause, take a deep breath and organize your space.
Do you have any great tips for organizing kids’ stuff? Share with us in the comments!
Tag your organization projects on Instagram with #averyproducts to share your tips with all of our Avery parents.
