School summer break is in full swing, and this is a good time to let your children spend their time doing all the things they love and enjoy. And why not! They’ve earned it after a busy academic year. But before you know it, schools will reopen and a firm routine will come back into play. Before that happens, why not create a comfortable and efficient space for your children – one that inspires them to put in their best academically, yet not feel stressed or rushed? Here are some tips to declutter and organize your child’s study, and some additional hacks to include them in keeping their own spaces tidy and clutter-free.
1. Build and personalize the study area
A study table technically needs three things only – a table, a chair, and some storage. How you and your child add personal touches to these is totally up to you. Some children love a series of organizing items like calendars, to-do pads, reminders, planners, etc., to help them stay up-to-date on their academics and projects. Others love creative gear like décor items, stickers, posters, mason jars, and other fun stuff to keep their space cheerful. Remember to consult your child while creating the study area, so they feel connected to it and look forward to spending constructive time at the desk.
Next, make arrangements for ergonomic seating and the right lighting, so kids feel comfortable, especially during long learning hours like exam days.
2. Sort and categorize supplies
Children have surprisingly large amounts of school supplies. From textbooks, notebooks, and worksheets, to art supplies and stationery, there’s so much you will have to sort through and create categories for. Categorizing will help children store similar items together. This naturally makes finding them easier. Create separate storage spaces for textbooks and notebooks; a filing system for worksheets and other loose papers will ensure they stay secure and do not create litter. Separate jars for pens and pencils, erasers and sharpeners, a caddy for art supplies, and a tray for miscellaneous items like Post-Its, clips, staplers, tapes, bookmarks, etc. will ensure kids know where to look when they need one.
Extra tip: Get a label maker to label all boxes, jars, and folders, so children don’t have to rummage through shelves and drawers.
3. Invest in storage
Yes, at AIA, we always say to analyze what you own before buying new supplies. But unless your child’s study has a sufficient number of drawers, shelves, or cupboards, you’re going to need storage where all their multiple supplies can be kept neatly and be easily accessible to them. Although, our one piece of advice remains the same – don’t go on a blind shopping spree. Make a plan on what items must go where. Based on this analysis alone, buy additional floating shelves, boxes, containers, or rolling carts. Remember to stick to a theme, be it a color or a pattern, to build a coherent space that invites positive energies and allows your child to focus on the tasks at hand.
4. Encourage independent decision-making
Each child has their preferences when it comes to what a study must look like. When you’re in the process of creating a decluttering and organizing system, ensure your child is involved closely. Ask them what they’d like – where they want their books to go, how their stationery should be arranged, whether they’d like containers on the desk or shelves on the wall, etc. Smaller kids will need your help here. Offer them support by giving choices, maybe with pros and cons, to help them make decisions. Instead of implementing ideas and systems that work for you (and expecting them to work for your kids too), allow them to find a system that’s their own.
6. Inculcate the habit of letting go
Kids find it all the more difficult to give up things that do not serve them. Empower them to instill the habit of letting go of things that are not useful to them or which can be used by others. Set up a donation box, where they can put in stationery pouches or boxes, extra pencils/erasers, old books, crayons and markers, and so on, which they don’t need anymore or have extras of. This can be dropped off at charity homes.
7. Start now and be patient
Our most important tip when it comes to teaching children how to stay organized is to start them on it right away. There’s no right age or perfect time, but now. The earlier you start, the sooner they will learn the benefits of having a tidy desk. The habit of maintaining a decluttered study will eventually flow into other parts of their lives, and you’ll find that they’ll begin to lend their hand to keeping your entire home organized. The trick lies in staying patient with children, until things fall into place, literally and figuratively!
Before we conclude, here are some added tips for parents – children reflect our attitude to tasks around the house. If tidying up is a daunting chore for you, your children are going to express similar feelings about it. Even if you find decluttering and organizing hard, understand that it’s a slow process and you’ll find your pace sooner or later. And if you keep your spirits high, your kids will pick up on your vibe and echo your sentiments.
Need more assistance with decluttering? Write to arrangeitall.01@gmail.com and we’ll come to your rescue.