Kids + Play Spaces Organization

Do you have a . . . cluttered, overwhelming kids’ or play space?
Wish that space could be fun AND tidy?

We get it . . . life is busy and our spaces can feel out of control. As professional organizers, we work with families all the time to help them create manageable kids spaces.

In this post, we will share:

1. Our top tips for decluttering and organizing kids’ items.
2. A client testimonial on how her 5-year-old can now keep her room tidy!
3. Our feature on Fox21 News where we share how we’ve helped another client organize toys, clothes, and baby essentials.

The secret? Organizing solutions for little hands.

Whether you have a whole playroom, a play closet, or a basket of toys in the living room – you need easy organizing solutions so little hands can help out with cleaning up!

Let’s start with our simple steps for decluttering and organizing your kid’s spaces.

Decluttering Kids Items + Toys

1. Involve your kids.

• Talk about sharing toys with other kids who could use toys.
  
  “Could you share 3-5 toys with someone else who doesn’t have any?
  Could we fill up a box?
  That would make another kid really happy!”

 

• Ask kids to make room for new items.
  
  “That new toy/book/craft would be really cool to have!
  I would like to get you some new things.
  First, let’s make some space for new items by choosing 3 items you no longer need.”

 

• Ask your kids to pick out their favorite toys.
  
  Others can be stored in a closet to rotate out so you have less to pick up and keep organized.
  
  And it feels like Christmas to change out toys for ones they haven’t seen in awhile!

2. Decluttering tip!

It’s okay to make executive decisions sometimes.

You probably know what your kids like and don’t like as much.

You can pick out toys they don’t seem to play with as much and move them to a temporary spot out of sight. If kids don’t notice they’re gone after a few weeks, it’s safe to let them go!

Organizing Kids Items + Toys

1. Give every item a “Home.”

• Group similar items together.
• Make sure every item has a “home” or storage spot.
  The room can’t be tidied if there isn’t enough space in the drawer or toy box.
• If items can’t fit, you have two options:
  (1) Declutter more or
  (2) Add more storage.

2. Kid-friendly labels makes it fun.

Label drawers, bins, and shelves with words or pictures.

This “locks in” the organization system!

Labels make it easy for kids (and parents!) to put items away when it’s time to tidy up.

3. Establish a routine.

Add in routines to maintain this space regularly.

Here are some examples:

• Kids are in charge of picking up their room before dessert time at night.
• At the end of a play date, we take 5 minutes to pick up toys together.
• Sunday night after dinner, we all tidy up the house together.

Quick Start Tip!

We know starting a new habit is work.

Here are some easy ways to make a big impact:

1. Set a timer for 15 minutes.
2. Ask a friend to sort clothes or toys with you.
3. Ask for professional help.

You are not alone! Asking for help can make the process more fun and efficient

Joyful Spaces Testimonial (Organizing Client)

We helped Katie and her 5-year-old daughter transform her room in just ONE session!

Katie learned some valuable organizing tips and now her daughter is going to grow up knowing how to let go of items and keep her space organized.

Joyful Spaces featured on Fox21 News

We were just featured on Fox21 News to talk about kid’s spaces: “Tips to Organize your Kid’s Rooms.”

We share tips in a client’s home for organizing toys, dresser drawers, closet, and baby essentials:

Organizing Systems for Real Life

We want kids to enjoy their stuff, so kid’s spaces inevitably get messy.

Organizing is a skill that can be learned just like anything else. We do this work so you have more time and energy for things that really matter to you.

The trick is having a system in place, so spaces are EASY to tidy.

You can conquer your Kiddo Clutter!