Juggling family life with work and school commitments can be tough. There’s commuting, meetings, conference calls, laundry, cooking, endless activities, homework, parties and playdates… the struggle to get your kids organised is real. And even though your kids may have magical powers when it comes to accumulating mess, a sorted, clutter-free space can make everything much easier. Keep things streamlined with schedules and lists, daily and weekly routines and clever storage solutions – here are our top tips and tricks on how to do just that.
How to Keep Toddlers & Preschoolers Organised
If your young kids have many toys, the challenge to keep them tidy can drive you mad. But the best way to organise a preschooler's playroom is to start good habits early – you’ll save yourself a lifetime of stepping on stray puzzle pieces. After play, encourage clean-up time where everyone pitches in. Plastic storage boxes and tubs are useful for painless packing away and keeping things clean and tidy. Help them take ownership by labelling boxes with sticker letters or, even more fun, let them decorate their storage boxes with permanent markers and stickers, then, come pack-up time, they’ll be super-keen to put their things away in their special boxes.
What To Try
- Really Useful 35L Box Clear
- J.Burrows 32L Storage Container Purple
- Really Useful 4L Box Clear
- Really Useful 4L Box Blue
- Creation Plastic Easy File n' Store 32L Blue
- Creation Plastic Easy File n' Store 32L Purple
Hot Tip Puzzles are great for young kids’ development but they’re also a nightmare when pieces go missing, so keep them contained in clear plastic storage boxes.
Sort through the massive pile of art supplies and pack their kit into a trolley – it keeps the pens and paint tidy, plus everything’s on wheels and accessible when inspiration strikes. Display their finished masterpieces on a pinboard or trim to fit in gallery-style frames.
What To Try
- Really Useful Box 4 Drawer Trolley Assorted Colours
- J.Burrows Corkboard with Accessories 900 x 600mm
- J.Burrows Push Pins Assorted 50 Pack
How to Keep Primary School Kids Organised
The secret to decluttering kids’ rooms and maintaining a clean home is having a dedicated place for everything. A cube bookcase is the perfect nook for school gear. Encourage your child to stow their stuff as soon as they step through the door to keep things clean and tidy.
If you’ve got a gaggle growing up, then a larger shelf system is the right idea. Use chore charts to make unpacking and putting away an official part of the weekly duties. Merit stickers are a great way to reward them when everything is put back in the right spots.
What To Try
- Kadink Merit Stickers Stars 210 Pack
- Kadink Merit Stickers Cute Animals 140 Pack
- Kadink Merit Sticker Book
- Monkey and Chops Weekly Activity Planner
- Monkey and Chops Chore Chart
- Monkey and Chops Daily Routine Chart
- Kadink Merit Stickers Medal 120 Pack
- Kadink Merit Stickers 120 Pack
Some more ideas to get your kids organised: keep track of lunch boxes and library books by storing on shelves or in plastic storage tubs. Mount wall hooks for backpacks. Magazine files, paper files and document trays can collect important papers and permission slips – you know, those things you were supposed to hand in yesterday?
What To Try
- Collapsible Cardboard Magazine File Purple
- Otto Brights Document Tray Pink
- Otto Brights File Sorter Blue
- Collapsible Cardboard Magazine File Red
- Collapsible Cardboard Magazine File Blue
- Otto Brights Document Tray White
- Otto Diamond Metal 3 Tier Letter File Lilac
- Collapsible Cardboard Magazine File Lime
- Otto Brights Document Tray Blue
- Otto Brights File Sorter Purple
Hot Tip It is never too late to label every single item your kids own. A laundry-proof marker or set of clothing labels will help you avoid the lost property box.
What To Try
SEE ALSO STEM 101: For Early Primary Kids, It’s About Fuelling Curiosity
How to Keep Tweens Organised
Tweenagers are kids aged 9-13. At this age, they’re starting to crave privacy, which you can deliver with a locker-style storage cupboard. Functional and old-school, it helps declutter kids’ rooms and keeps trinkets off the floor.
It’s a good idea to help them make decorating decisions, you’ll have more success in keeping rooms neat and tidy. Floating shelves can display special toys or knick-knacks and can also help organise your kids’ rooms. Clear jars are good for storing hair clips and coloured pens. Study-wise, this is the perfect time to establish good homework habits. A designated study space, with snazzy stationery and high-tech gadgets, will entice older children away from the TV. Settle into a daily routine now and you’ll set them up for the future.
Invest in highlighters and sticky notes and help get your kids organised with to-do lists to plan and prioritise their workload. Devise organisational ideas for maximum efficiency, like different-coloured folders for each subject, or use a cool clock for alternating timed periods of study with short breaks to keep them on task.
What To Try
- Post-it Super Sticky Notes Assorted 15 Pack
- Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant
- Staedtler Textsurfer Classic Highlighters Assorted 8 Pack
- J.Burrows Weekly Planner Board 280 x 360mm
- J.Burrows Tabs 25 x 38mm Assorted 3 Pack
- Studymate To-do List Sketchy Dog
Between school, sport and socialising, it can also be tricky to keep track of them at this age – let alone their belongings. It is a good idea to invest in a family calendar to make a note of key events like birthday parties or exams. Get your kids organised by taking it to the next level with colour-coding with designated markers, using a different pen for each family member.
What To Try
