Image credit: www.texashomeorganizationblog.com
A teddy here, some building blocks there,
Little shoes and clothes everywhere.
Don’t you wish you had a magic wand, to make it all disappear?
The story of every mum’s life you think? Toddlers after all, are known for their exploratory skills, short attention spans and messy ways, so having an organized playroom may sound like something straight out of those fairy tale books! Only it’s not!
You, dear mommy can actually have the whole thing in order in a few minutes! All you need is
- Storage boxes or racks.
- A wee bit of creativity.
- An extra dose of energy.
Now that you are equipped, the only question that remains is, how do you go about mission de-clutter? Here are some tips that have worked well for me:
Arrange The Little Playmates
Toys are usually the culprit. They litter the floor, bed, cupboards and all empty and occupied spaces of your child’s room.
But, they’re also your toddler’s pride and joy. So, the best thing to do would be to create a pile of their favorite things and knick-knacks. Once you are done with that you can invest in some cutesy and practical storage boxes or wall caddies to store the all-important toys in, the rest can be arranged in the cupboard.
Look for attractive colors and designs that’ll match the room’s décor. Multi-layered storage racks are also an excellent option.
Don’t have enough space to add in new furniture? Just remove some of the old. Replace the kiddie chairs with round stools or cushioned boxes that come with in-built storage compartments.
You may also invest in some adorable and bright wall organizers that double up as room décor pieces as well as storage solutions.
Organize The Cupboards
If your kid’s clothes and shoes are also all over the place, you need to sort them out as well. First of all, put on your robes of generosity – give away any and all items your child has outgrown.
For the remaining clothes and shoes, arrange them in the cupboard(s) in an organized manner. For instance, you can create separate stacks for party dresses, playwear, night-clothes, etc. Similarly, for shoes arrange the flip-flops, sandals, and floaters in the front and create another row for fancy party shoes.
Out Of Reach, Out Of Mind
If they can’t reach it, they can’t break it or throw it around for that matter! So, invest in some wall-mounted furniture and put everything you don’t want your kids to play with on these shelves—your pictures, little decorative pieces, keys, etc.
Can’t Beat Them? Join Them!
Errm…not in creating a mess, but in the fun and games! If your toddler is older than 27 months, you can teach them to clean up, by making a game out of it. Who can put toys back in the storage boxes faster, or identify a fun song that can be your clean up anthem, you can dance to it as you clean up or sing it together.
If you have any great tips and ideas on de-cluttering, please share them. Would love to hear what you have to say!
Arti is the mum of a playful 3.5 year old and heads marketing at Hopscotch.in, an online store that offers the world’s top baby and kid brands, at unbeatable prices. She also moonlights as an instructor for Music Together, the internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers & kids. To invite Arti to write a guest post on your blog please connect with her at https://twitter.com/Hopscotch_in
