Teaching Kids to Clean Up... KonMari Style
She's sorted our shelves and tidied our drawers. Now Marie Kondo takes on a bigger challenge: teaching kids to clean up
There are toys and clothes everywhere, and you just wish your kids would clean 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. Read on for the organisation guru’s tips to teach kids the joy of cleaning up.
Kondo with her daughters; image from KonMari Media, Inc
Kondo loves organising, and makes a point of carrying out every task – whether folding clothes or tidying – diligently and joyfully. “If the parents look depressed when folding their clothes, the children will think that it’s boring. So, why not start by treating it as a fun activity?”
Need a professional organiser to help plan your home’s storage system? Find one near you on Houzz for expert help in decluttering and organising
Kondo loves organising, and makes a point of carrying out every task – whether folding clothes or tidying – diligently and joyfully. “If the parents look depressed when folding their clothes, the children will think that it’s boring. So, why not start by treating it as a fun activity?”
Need a professional organiser to help plan your home’s storage system? Find one near you on Houzz for expert help in decluttering and organising
Tidy clothing is important… for the whole family
But 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,” says Kondo. “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.”
As a bonus, making a habit out of doing this can help you get ready faster in the morning.
But 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,” says Kondo. “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.”
As a bonus, making a habit out of doing this can help you get ready faster in the morning.
A scene depicting cleaning up from Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship; image 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 learnt an important lesson: “even very young children can pick out the things that ‘spark joy’ in their heart”. That is, they can identify a thing they like so much that it makes them happy or excited.
“You gather all their things in one place and ask which ones spark joy in their heart. Or just ask, ‘Do you like it?’ If the child is too young for complex questions. Most kids can tell you what things they like so much that they wouldn’t want to let them go. The point is to take everything out and gather it in one spot. It is also important that children recognise how much they have.”
10 Smart Organising Tools for Tidying Kids’ Spaces
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 learnt an important lesson: “even very young children can pick out the things that ‘spark joy’ in their heart”. That is, they can identify a thing they like so much that it makes them happy or excited.
“You gather all their things in one place and ask which ones spark joy in their heart. Or just ask, ‘Do you like it?’ If the child is too young for complex questions. Most kids can tell you what things they like so much that they wouldn’t want to let them go. The point is to take everything out and gather it in one spot. It is also important that children recognise how much they have.”
10 Smart Organising Tools for Tidying Kids’ Spaces
Many parents are bothered by their kids’ ever-expanding collections of toys. And this affects the clean-up process, too: it’s easier to put everything back where it belongs if there are fewer toys, and kids might get tired part way through if there are too many.
“It’s hard for kids to focus, I know,” says Kondo. “I think it’s a good idea to divide the clean-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.”
Just one hour dedicated to organising every weekend can be a little game that teaches kids to be more thorough in tidying up. If you don’t have any time on weekends, try incorporating this when you’re preparing for holidays.
You Too Can Experience the Miracle of Organised Children’s Toys
“It’s hard for kids to focus, I know,” says Kondo. “I think it’s a good idea to divide the clean-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.”
Just one hour dedicated to organising every weekend can be a little game that teaches kids to be more thorough in tidying up. If you don’t have any time on weekends, try incorporating this when you’re preparing for holidays.
You Too Can Experience the Miracle of Organised Children’s Toys
Or just leave it to a professional
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 organiser can help.
“Even if only a little bit, there are people who can help you organise your wardrobe, or the whole house if need be,” says Kondo. “It’s good to ask a specialist to help you identify the issues you and your child are having with organisation.”
A Professional Organiser Investigates The Marie Kondo Way
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 organiser can help.
“Even if only a little bit, there are people who can help you organise your wardrobe, or the whole house if need be,” says Kondo. “It’s good to ask a specialist to help you identify the issues you and your child are having with organisation.”
A Professional Organiser Investigates The Marie Kondo Way
Cover of Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship; image from KonMari Media, Inc
Don’t force kids to tidy up – teach them to see it as rewarding
When Kondo’s first daughter was born, she started wondering how to best teach her own children to clean up. After two years, her thoughts grew into a picture book entitled Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship. 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’ friendship, I wanted to show that putting things away can be fun,” says Kondo.
It’s important that kids have some kind of motivation for organising, whether it’s getting to play more with other toys or a reward like a snack. Kids or parents, we all prefer cleaning up when it’s rewarding.
Tell us
What other tips can you share to encourage kids to tidy up? Spill your secrets in the Comments below, like this story and save the images. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Browse kids room photos for design inspiration
Don’t force kids to tidy up – teach them to see it as rewarding
When Kondo’s first daughter was born, she started wondering how to best teach her own children to clean up. After two years, her thoughts grew into a picture book entitled Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship. 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’ friendship, I wanted to show that putting things away can be fun,” says Kondo.
It’s important that kids have some kind of motivation for organising, whether it’s getting to play more with other toys or a reward like a snack. Kids or parents, we all prefer cleaning up when it’s rewarding.
Tell us
What other tips can you share to encourage kids to tidy up? Spill your secrets in the Comments below, like this story and save the images. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Browse kids room photos for design inspiration
Teach kids that cleaning can be fun
Kondo first learnt about the art of organisation when she was five years old. Having stumbled on a home magazine, she started thoroughly cleaning the entire house. Now that she’s a mother of a three- and a four-year-old herself, her kids help her too, her eldest most enthusiastically. Kondo assumes that this is because “she sees me tidy so happily”.