Storage & Organisation
How to Teach Your Children to Tidy Up – KonMari Style
She’s sorted our shelves and tidied our drawers. Now Marie Kondo takes on a bigger challenge: teaching kids to tidy up
Kondo with her daughters (photo from KonMari Media, Inc).
Teach children that tidying can be fun
Kondo first learned about the art of organisation when she was five years old. Having stumbled on a homemaking magazine, she started thoroughly cleaning the entire house. Now she’s a mother of a three- and a four-year-old herself, her kids help her, too – her eldest most enthusiastically. Kondo assumes this is because “she sees me tidy so happily”.
Kondo loves organising, and makes a point of carrying out every chore – whether folding clothes or tidying – diligently and joyfully. “If the parents look depressed when folding their clothes, the children will think it’s boring. So, why not start by treating it as a fun activity?”
Teach children that tidying can be fun
Kondo first learned about the art of organisation when she was five years old. Having stumbled on a homemaking magazine, she started thoroughly cleaning the entire house. Now she’s a mother of a three- and a four-year-old herself, her kids help her, too – her eldest most enthusiastically. Kondo assumes this is because “she sees me tidy so happily”.
Kondo loves organising, and makes a point of carrying out every chore – whether folding clothes or tidying – diligently and joyfully. “If the parents look depressed when folding their clothes, the children will think it’s boring. So, why not start by treating it as a fun activity?”
If you’re short of time, make tidying clothes a priority
Even if parents do enjoy tidying up, work and other chores often get in the way. If that’s the case, organising even just one corner of the house may be enough to brighten up the interior.
“If you’re busy, start by making sure your clothes are put away neatly and your wardrobe is in perfect condition,” Kondo says. “My ‘KonMari method’ puts clothes first. You wear them every day, so it’s easier to decide what you need when they’re put away properly.”
Making a habit out of it might help you get ready faster in the morning.
Need help organising your home? Search for home storage designers and organisers near you
Even if parents do enjoy tidying up, work and other chores often get in the way. If that’s the case, organising even just one corner of the house may be enough to brighten up the interior.
“If you’re busy, start by making sure your clothes are put away neatly and your wardrobe is in perfect condition,” Kondo says. “My ‘KonMari method’ puts clothes first. You wear them every day, so it’s easier to decide what you need when they’re put away properly.”
Making a habit out of it might help you get ready faster in the morning.
Need help organising your home? Search for home storage designers and organisers near you
A scene depicting tidying up from Kiki & Jax (photo from KonMari Media, Inc).
Find out what sparks joy for your kids
Part of Kondo’s job is to visit clients’ homes to teach them the art of organisation. She often sees opportunities for kids to help, too, and she’s learned an important lesson: “Even very young children can pick out the things that ‘spark joy’ in their heart,” she says. That is, they can identify a thing they like so much, it makes them happy or excited.
“Gather all their things in one place and ask which ones spark joy in their heart,” she says. “Or just ask, ‘Do you like it?’ if the child is too young for complex questions. Most kids can tell you which things they like so much they wouldn’t want to let them go. The point is to take everything out and gather it in one spot. It’s also important that children recognise how much they have.”
Find out what sparks joy for your kids
Part of Kondo’s job is to visit clients’ homes to teach them the art of organisation. She often sees opportunities for kids to help, too, and she’s learned an important lesson: “Even very young children can pick out the things that ‘spark joy’ in their heart,” she says. That is, they can identify a thing they like so much, it makes them happy or excited.
“Gather all their things in one place and ask which ones spark joy in their heart,” she says. “Or just ask, ‘Do you like it?’ if the child is too young for complex questions. Most kids can tell you which things they like so much they wouldn’t want to let them go. The point is to take everything out and gather it in one spot. It’s also important that children recognise how much they have.”
Help them tidy in short bursts
Many parents are bothered by their kids’ ever-expanding collections of toys. And this affects the tidying process, too: it’s easier to put everything back where it belongs if there are fewer toys, and children might get tired partway through if there are too many.
“It’s hard for kids to focus, I know,” Kondo says. “I think it’s a good idea to divide the tidy-up into several days, devoting a different day to each category: toys, clothes, and so on.
“It may be worth dividing it up further if there are too many toys: a day for stuffed animals, a day for dolls, a day for cars…” she adds.
Just one hour every Sunday dedicated to organising can be a little game that will teach kids to be more thorough in tidying up. If you don’t have any time at the weekend, try incorporating this when you’re preparing for holidays.
Many parents are bothered by their kids’ ever-expanding collections of toys. And this affects the tidying process, too: it’s easier to put everything back where it belongs if there are fewer toys, and children might get tired partway through if there are too many.
“It’s hard for kids to focus, I know,” Kondo says. “I think it’s a good idea to divide the tidy-up into several days, devoting a different day to each category: toys, clothes, and so on.
“It may be worth dividing it up further if there are too many toys: a day for stuffed animals, a day for dolls, a day for cars…” she adds.
Just one hour every Sunday dedicated to organising can be a little game that will teach kids to be more thorough in tidying up. If you don’t have any time at the weekend, try incorporating this when you’re preparing for holidays.
Cover of Kiki & Jax (photo from KonMari Media, Inc).
Don’t force children to tidy up – teach them to see it as rewarding
When Kondo’s first daughter was born, she started wondering how best to teach her own kids to tidy up. After two years, her thoughts grew into a picture book entitled Kiki & Jax. The book teaches children the joy of tidying up through the story of two best friends: when Kiki’s room is so cluttered with toys and other things that there’s no room to play, her diligent friend Jax helps her tidy up.
“If you just order kids to tidy up, it has the opposite effect. Through Kiki and Jax’s friendship, I wanted to show that putting things away can be fun,” Kondo says.
It’s important that children have some kind of motivation for organising, whether it’s getting to play more with other toys or a reward such as a snack. Kids or parents – we all prefer tidying up when it’s rewarding.
Don’t force children to tidy up – teach them to see it as rewarding
When Kondo’s first daughter was born, she started wondering how best to teach her own kids to tidy up. After two years, her thoughts grew into a picture book entitled Kiki & Jax. The book teaches children the joy of tidying up through the story of two best friends: when Kiki’s room is so cluttered with toys and other things that there’s no room to play, her diligent friend Jax helps her tidy up.
“If you just order kids to tidy up, it has the opposite effect. Through Kiki and Jax’s friendship, I wanted to show that putting things away can be fun,” Kondo says.
It’s important that children have some kind of motivation for organising, whether it’s getting to play more with other toys or a reward such as a snack. Kids or parents – we all prefer tidying up when it’s rewarding.
Know when to ask for help
Young kids may only have toys to take care of, but their belongings multiply as they grow up. Some, such as school supplies and papers, aren’t as easy to throw away. When advice is no longer enough, a professional can help.
“Even if only a little bit, there are people who can help you organise your wardrobe, or the whole house if needs be,” Kondo says. “It’s good to ask a specialist to help you identify the issues you and your children are having with organisation.”
Tell us…
Do you have any decluttering tips or ideas for getting children into good habits? Share your ideas in the Comments.
Young kids may only have toys to take care of, but their belongings multiply as they grow up. Some, such as school supplies and papers, aren’t as easy to throw away. When advice is no longer enough, a professional can help.
“Even if only a little bit, there are people who can help you organise your wardrobe, or the whole house if needs be,” Kondo says. “It’s good to ask a specialist to help you identify the issues you and your children are having with organisation.”
Tell us…
Do you have any decluttering tips or ideas for getting children into good habits? Share your ideas in the Comments.
There are toys and clothes everywhere, and you just wish your children would tidy up after themselves, but how often does that happen, really?
Perhaps a professional can help. Marie Kondo, the iconic author of international bestseller The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, has recently published a picture book on the same topic – Kiki & Jax: The Life-changing Magic of Friendship. We got the organisation guru’s tips for teaching kids the joy of tidying up.