A small child running around can bring a lot of joy to your house.
But it’ll also bring the mess in. I want to start the article with a disclaimer.
Having your house tidy and sparkling clean all the time is a hard to do task, especially if you have kids.
So try not to overthink it.
Of course, you want to spend more time playing with your kids on the floor with the scattered toys rather than putting toys away constantly.
In this article, you can find some tips you can implement to keep your house organized and mess-free so you can enjoy more free time for your family.
Define what tidy means to you
When you become a mother, you need to revise how tidy your house needs to be so you can feel good in it.
When you have kids, there will be times of the day where the living room will transform into a fully equipped playground.
And that’s okay.
I get that you want to keep your home as clean as possible. And it can get frustrating that the room is tidy for exactly 10 minutes.
But you need to acknowledge the fact that this is your kids’ home as well. They need to feel comfortable and have fun.
So having toys lying around is a must.
Declutter regularly
The cluttered your house is, the harder it’ll be for you to keep everything in order.
It’ll also be harder for kids to learn to put things where they belong.
Throw away empty containers from the bathroom and magazines that you no longer read.
Put away things from the shelves in drawers.
Ask yourself if you want something to be displayed and if the answer is no, you’ll most likely be able to find a place for it in some drawer.
Find a place for everything
Organize your house in a way that makes sense and find a place for each item.
For example, place the coat hanger next to the door.
Put the coffee mugs next to the coffee maker.
Store books and magazines in the living room next to the sofa.
Make sure that everyone in your family knows the place of each item. This way it’ll be easier to return items back at the places they belong to.
Rotate your kid’s toys
Create a system to rotate your kids’ toys to avoid having the floor overwhelmed with puzzles, games, cars, dolls, and balls.
It’s likely that your child is playing with particular toys an hour or two and then gets bored with them.
Leave only a couple of toys and put everything away in boxes and baskets.
On a weekly basis, you can rotate certain toys and give your little ones different dolls and games.
On the plus side, your kids won’t get bored quickly from their toys and you’ll avoid buying new ones constantly.
Include your kids in the process
Teach your kids how to clean their own mess and do their own chores.
Let them play around and scatter toys. But when playtime is over, involve them in the tidying.
Some days they might be willing to help and some days not. You need to be patient and consistent.
Help them organize their stuff in a way that makes sense to them.
After all, you won’t be happy if they come and reorganize your wardrobe, right?
Have them come up with their own system. Let them decide whether they will put puzzles on certain shelves, toys in a certain basket etc.
As they grow older this system will predispose them to put away their own stuff. Kids follow your example. So be involved in the process as much as you can.
Establish a daily cleaning routine
Establish a cleaning routine that fits your schedule.
Have the entire family help to tidy and cleaning for 15 minutes every night. You’ll be surprised how much you can do in 15 minutes if you’re doing it every day.
Put things where they belong. And have the kids to put away their toys, clean the dishes.
You can even have some fun together if you turn the process into a competition.
This way you’re teaching them to take care of their home and because you’re doing it every day, there won’t be a lot of work and the kids won’t be frustrated doing it.
Well, at least most of the time. After all, they’re kids. Remember that and be patient.
Clean while your kids are entertained
I’m not saying that you should glue the kids in front of the TV, but you probably already allowing them to spend 30-40 minutes to watch their favorite show.
So if you struggle finding time to clean the oven for example, why not do it while the kids are occupied.
Let me know what you think. How can you keep your home tidy, even with toddlers?
