Building Character Through Organizing - Toddler Edition
Have you ever heard the quote about how kids bring out the qualities in you that need to be further developed? If this is true, YIKES- because the qualities I need to develop are PATIENCE. Also a tolerance for discomfort. And perfectionism. And being too self-critical. That seems like an awful lot of self-discovery for one little person.
Even if kids are not specifically designed to suss out our weak spots and challenge them, I do think that parenting as a whole is a huge lesson in self-discovery. Parenting is an opportunity - and a challenge - to be intentional about the values and morals we are modeling to our kids.
Above all, I want Aily to be a kind person who shows empathy to others. But as a person that values a tidy, organized home, I also want her to learn how to take care of her things and the home she lives in.
Girlfriend is 16 months, so I know this is a battle I'll be fighting throughout her childhood, but it's never too early, right? RIGHT?
Anyways, these are the things I'm working on to help her be more organized as she grows. Perhaps some of them may be applicable to your family:
- Putting toys back where they belong. This means everything needs to have a home to begin with and she knows where it is. Each time we finish playing in a space, I announce we are going to put things away and let her help me. In most rooms, it's one bin for her toys. Even at her young age, she knows how to put toys back in a bin. She's too young to do much more than that, but at least it's a foundational tool she can use when it gets more complicated as she gets older. And I always thank her for helping!
- Modeling tidying up in front of her. If you have kids, you know how creepy it is how much they pick up from just watching you! Aily sees me put our stuff back where it belongs all day long. I try to talk about it in front of her or explain why I do things so she understands.
- Consistency. Kids love routine, structure and a plan. They respond well to bins without lids, labels (especially pictures of the items that go inside rather than words), kid-sized things (like coat hooks and cubbies) and encouragement when they get it right. As Aily gets older, I will have to shift how we organize her things, but my guiding principle is always to make it as easy as possible for her to succeed.
What organizing tip has worked best for you and your family?
