organization Archives - The Mabelhood

How Disorganized Parents Can Teach Organizational Skills: Even When Your Own Life Feels Like a Circus

Guest — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:26:57 +0000

So, you’re the parent who always seems to be running late, has a never-ending pile of laundry, and might have once lost their phone in the refrigerator (true story!). And now, you’re tasked with teaching your child the art of organization. Panic not! You don’t need to turn into a model of perfection to guide your little ones toward becoming organized superstars, disorganized parents can teach organizational skills too!

With a bit of creativity, a dash of humor, and a few practical tips, and some faking it, you can help them master organizational skills for school and life—even if you’re still working on finding your keys every morning. Here are some ways disorganized parents can teach their kids organizational skills.

Turn Chaos into a Learning Opportunity:

First off, let’s embrace the mess. If your house looks like a whirlwind hit it, don’t hide it—use it as a teachable moment. Be open and honest with your kids about your own struggles with organization. Show your kids how to tackle clutter one step at a time. Explain that organization doesn’t mean having a perfectly clean space all the time; it’s about finding a system that works for you and sticking to it.

Tips to declutter with younger kids:
Make a game out of decluttering. Set a timer for 10 minutes and see who can clear the most clutter.

Or, have a “Treasure Hunt” where kids search for misplaced items. Not only does this make tidying fun, but it also reinforces the idea that organization can be a manageable process.

Create a Fun Family Calendar:

Get yourself and your kids on the same page with a family calendar. This can be a colorful wall calendar or a digital version everyone can access. Use it to track school events, extracurricular activities, and family plans.

Calendar tips for younger kids:
Let your child decorate the calendar with stickers or drawings. The more they personalize it, the more likely they are to use it regularly. You can also use different colors for different types of events, so it’s visually engaging and easy to understand.

Set Up a Homework Station:

Designate a specific spot in your home for homework. It doesn’t need to be fancy—just a quiet, organized space with all the necessary supplies. Teach your child that having a dedicated space helps focus and reduces distractions. This will also help parents know where to find school supplies, it can be the dedicated spot for homework – but try your very best not to use it as a dumping ground!

Include the following items in the homework station: Pens, pencils, paper, markers, scissors, tape, eraser, and a spot for papers/files etc.

How to label your homework station accordingly:
You can also label different sections for different subjects, making it easier for your child to find what they need quickly. This is a great starting point!

Teach the ‘Daily Routine’ Drill

Children thrive on routine, and establishing consistent daily habits can make their lives (and yours) run smoother. Create a morning and evening routine checklist together. It might include steps like brushing teeth, packing school bags, and setting out clothes for the next day.

Use a visual chart or a whiteboard to track the routines. Let your child use stickers or checkmarks to mark off completed tasks. This not only helps them see their progress but also makes the routine more interactive and engaging.

Introduce the Magic of Lists and Labels:

Organized people love lists, they can be a lifesaver when it comes to organization. Help your child create checklists for daily tasks, homework assignments, and even packing for school. They’re a great way to track what needs to be done and ensure nothing gets forgotten. Plus, there is satisfaction in crossing items off a list!

Disorganized parents can teach organizational skills and also organize with style!

Make organization appealing by involving your child in picking out their own storage solutions. Whether it’s colorful bins, quirky folders, or a funky backpack, letting them choose makes them more invested in keeping things tidy.

Let them pick out their own name labels, and they’ll stop losing their stuff

Celebrate Achievements:

Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Celebrate your child’s organizational successes, whether it’s a neatly packed backpack, a completed assignment, or a tidy room. Acknowledge their efforts and offer praise to keep them motivated. And don’t forget to acknowledge and celebrate your own too!

Tips: Create a “Success Board”
Make a place where your child can display their organizational achievements. This could include completed checklists, creative solutions to organizational challenges, or even “before and after” photos of organized spaces. Reward their efforts with small treats or special activities. This can help with keeping one another accountable to your own organization!

Remember, organization does not mean success!

It’s important to remember that being disorganized doesn’t automatically equate to a lack of success. People find different paths to achieving their goals, and some may thrive in environments that seem chaotic to others. While organizational skills can certainly aid in reaching one’s potential, success is also about resilience, creativity, and adaptability.

Many successful individuals have unconventional methods or embrace a degree of flexibility in their approach. Please encourage your child to cultivate organizational skills but also to embrace their unique strengths and find what works best for them. The goal is to balance structure with personal style, allowing them to thrive in their way and achieve success on their own terms.

Here is another great post for parents of kids with ADHD, and how to help with executive dysfunction

The post How Disorganized Parents Can Teach Organizational Skills: Even When Your Own Life Feels Like a Circus appeared first on The Mabelhood.

Laundry Tips for Staying Organized

Kristi York — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:33:43 +0000

Laundry. It never ends. Six years ago, I wrote a Mabelhood post about the incessant burden of laundry and how I was considering giving up clothes entirely to save my time and sanity. Unfortunately, the nudist lifestyle didn’t pan out, and here I am — still constantly sorting, washing, drying, and folding clothes. I have even more washloads now, as my kids and their clothing have gotten bigger (and smellier).

The laundry struggle is real, and we’re all in the same sweat-soaked, ketchup-stained boat. With this in mind, I have compiled some tips to help maximize your laundry organization and efficiency.

Embrace a new laundry mindset

It’s time to accept the fact that laundry is a constant in your life. As parenting author and mom of six Dawn Meehan put it: “I don’t have laundry day. I have laundry life.”

The great news is: we are not living in pioneer times. We have high-tech washers and dryers that whir away independently for an hour at a time. Be strategic and keep the laundry going in the background at every opportunity. For example, throw in a load while you’re doing dishes, watching TV, or sleeping.

A side note: if overnight wash loads are part of your routine, be sure to transfer over the damp clothes first thing in the morning, as they shouldn’t sit wet for more than 8 to 12 hours. Beyond that point, your best bet to prevent mildew and odor is to re-run the wash cycle and get a fresh start.

How to be more organized in laundry

Here are some small steps you can take to make the laundry process more organized and efficient:

Pre-sort. Instead of a basket in each family member’s room, create a central laundry collection space with designated containers for each color. The floor of my already-cramped master bedroom closet is home to five (yes, five) different laundry baskets. Thanks to plenty of training and complaining, my kids now put their dirty clothes in the appropriate bin — lights, darks, greys, blues, and reds. Having this central repository allows me to visually assess which color load should be prioritized. (Who am I kidding? They’re all overflowing, all the time.)
Stock up. Your laundry room should have a full supply of all the products you need, including detergent, dryer sheets, and stain remover. If you have a baby, consider purchasing a milder hypoallergenic soap designed for infants. Everything should be within convenient reach for you, but not accessible to children.
Label everything. Take the guesswork out of sorting clean clothes with personalized name labels. They are a cute, colorful and laundry-safe way to ensure that the right things go to the right person. For socks, underwear and other tag-less items, a custom clothing stamp is a handy solution.

Involve the kids. Give each child an age-appropriate laundry-related task, whether it’s matching socks, folding towels, or carrying baskets to bedrooms. Make it clear that laundry is not solely your job. Everyone can (and should) be part of the laundry adventure!

How to handle sports laundry

If you have active adults and kids in your household, you may be faced with some “extra-fragrant” laundry that needs immediate attention. Raise your game (and combat the stink) with these strategies:

Hang it up. Active apparel (such as team uniforms, workout shirts and tights) is often made from technical moisture-wicking fabrics that must hang to dry. I’d be lost without my portable drying rack — it holds a dozen items and folds up accordion-style when not in use.
Ask around. While you’re on the sidelines or in the crowd, strike up a conversation with fellow sports parents about their go-to laundry products. You will likely spark an animated discussion and get some great stain-fighting recommendations. (For example, my kids play baseball, and my husband swears by the combination of Shout stain remover and an old toothbrush to scrub it in.)
Put a number on it. Specialized sports labels with your player’s name and jersey number will prevent inconvenient mix-ups with teammates’ gear. This is also helpful if you have multiple children in the same organization with identical designs or colour schemes.
Clean and disinfect. Some sports equipment, including certain pieces of hockey gear, is machine washable. Always check the wash and care instructions before proceeding.

Other laundry hacks

Here’s a final grab bag of laundry tips, to avoid costly blunders:

Check all pockets before loading up the washer. We’ve all overlooked the single rogue tissue that turns into a million tiny white bits that cling to everything. (I also once found a Hot Wheels car clanging around in my dryer.)
Zip all zippers to prevent their metal tabs from being flung around inside the machine. They may break off against the inner wall or cause damage to other clothes.
For garments with drawstrings (think hoodies, pyjama pants, and shorts), tie them up loosely before washing. This prevents tangling and the dreaded “disappearing act” where the string slides out of place and into an unretrievable location in the hood or waistband.
Turn screen-printed graphic tees inside out to protect the design. Also reverse any costumes or sports baselayer pieces that have Velcro tabs.
Use a mesh bag for delicates. I’m a “sports bra and full coverage underwear” kind of gal, but if you have underwire bras or other delicates in your laundry, a zippered mesh bag is a great investment. Some laundry ninjas recommend using a larger version for socks, to bypass the annoying “lost sock” phenomenon.
If you’re washing a child’s beloved stuffed animal and don’t have a mesh bag, placing it in a solid white pillowcase (knotted at the top) will do the trick.
No one wants a fire hazard, so keep the dryer’s lint screen clear. Make a habit of emptying it each time, before you add a new load.
If your washing machine has a self-cleaning cycle, run it about once a month. You can also purchase a specialized washer cleaning product (my appliance repair guy recommends Affresh). For a deeper clean, check out these DIY cleaning instructions for both front-loading and top-loading machines.

It’s clear that laundry is here to stay. As my mom pointed out when I was a teenager, those piles of soiled clothes aren’t going to wash themselves. In this age of “smart appliances,” that’s the invention I’m really waiting for: an automated full-service laundry robot. So, until the Laundr-o-Tron 3000 arrives on the market, I guess I’ll keep folding — and envying the nudists.

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Tips for Perfect Playroom Organization

Mabel's Labels — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 08:42:02 +0000

It’s the time of year when you find yourself with double the toys in the toy room. The kids are thrilled, but you’re probably hating the mess. Don’t start the new year with clutter. With so many storage options these days, you can easily find a good solution for your space, one that looks nice and also functions well for your kids! So, for 2024, you can say goodbye to messy floors and hello to a well-organized play area with our toy storage solutions and tips for keeping organized all year long!

Playroom Organization Tips:

Take Stock of what toys they have

Get the kids to take a few items they’re willing to donate. Throw out any broken toys or lost pieces. Including the kids in this process is critical; they need to feel they’re in charge of their own toys, and this makes them take greater responsibility for their things.

Sort by Category

The first step towards effective toy storage is to sort the toys by category. This makes it easier to find what you need and helps your child learn organizational skills.

Invest in Storage Bins

Storage bins are a great way to keep toys organized. They come in different sizes and colors and can be used to store toys of all shapes and sizes. Label the bins with pictures or words to help your child identify where each toy belongs. Clear bins are ideal for this too.

Put a lid on it!
Often we don’t use the lids of our bins because kids don’t put the lid back on. But if you’re short on space, lids are a great way to be able to stack your bins, giving the kids more room to play. You can make a compromise, the kids need to put the toys in the bins, then parents can be responsible for putting the lids on and stacking when it’s time to tidy up.

Pro tip: while wire bins make a great esthetic and make the toys easy to see, the smaller toys fall through the bins, and they’ll become a hassle and discourage the kids to tidying.

Label, label, label!

Mabel’s Labels household labels are the easiest way to label the bins; they’re cute and fully customizable!

Use Wall Space

If you’re short on floor space, use the walls for storage! Hang shelves or baskets to store toys, books, and stuffed animals. This saves space and gives your child more floor space to play freely. But make sure to hang the shelving at a level your kids can easily reach, or it may be unsafe, and if they’re too high, they’ll likely never use them anyway.

Rotate Toys

Kids can quickly get bored with their toys, so rotating them regularly is a good idea. Keep some toys out of sight and bring them out later to keep your child interested. This also helps reduce clutter as fewer toys are out at once. So, pack away some of the older toys in the playroom and give them a chance to play with their new Christmas toys – when they start to get bored of those, switch up with some of the older toys.

Make it Fun

Toy storage doesn’t have to be boring. Get your child involved in the process. Use colorful bins or baskets – you can get inexpensive hammocks that are great for storing all those stuffies the kids won’t part with! Including the kids in the process makes cleaning up fun and encourages your child to take ownership of their toys.

Effective playroom organization can help reduce clutter and keep your home tidy, and that’s a great way to start the new year and feel less overwhelmed. Now, let’s move onto the pantry!

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Spark Joy: The Problem With KonMari and a More Realistic Organization Plan for Moms in 2019

Jennifer White — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

2019 came in with a bang and with it brought…. organization porn?!

Thanks to the popular Netflix series, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, the masses are attempting to take control of their lives by folding their laundry in thirds and stacking everything upright. I’m not surprised at the popularity of this craze. There’s something quite enjoyable about watching other people organize their homes (and knowing that some people live in a much higher level of disorder is strangely satisfying). By the end of each episode, you’re drawn into the mesmerizing KonMari ways and soon you’re tempted to sort through your entire home, drawer-by-drawer, and decide what sparks joy. Is Marie Kondo realistic home organization for parents?

This is where it gets messy, so to speak. Often what sparks joy for me, and I’m sure for many moms, is looking around my home and seeing all the signs of happy kids; toys on the floor, muddy boots in the entryway, mess from a fun craft. But am I creating an excuse to have a messy home? There have been times when I have felt embarrassed at the state of the house, and that’s when I know it’s gone too far. It can so quickly go from being ‘chilled’ to feeling ashamed and overwhelmed, and suddenly you’re spiraling into angry-mom mode, feeling frustrated, underappreciated and resentful. And all while the mess continues to grow.

The problem with the (deceptively) simple KonMari method is that it needs to be 100% perfect, and nothing less. If my clothes aren’t folded in thirds, am I a failure? Of course not, it is one perfectionist’s way of maintaining order and, ultimately, it’s really a system of organization rather than a tiding method. The KonMari method is also only a first (really enormous) step. It will help you organize, but we still need to have a clean house, the method is only as good as it’s user. Your socks are folded into thirds; but if you still feel cheerios crunching under your feet can you still find that inner calm?

Here is a checklist of simple tasks for organization, tidying and cleaning in 2019 that, for most of us, will be manageable. There’s still time to re-write your new year resolutions into something more attainable that you will accomplish and feel proud of.

2019 ORGANIZATION GOALS:

Marie Kondo is certainly right in that the method of simplifying and finding joy in minimalism will make your life easier. The KonMari method of organization is to break down into categories and purge what doesn’t spark joy. But what does that really mean!? Especially if purging with kids, asking them if each item sparks joy is as much fun as getting pecked to death by a chicken.

Here are some ways to purge that are realistic for busy moms, but will still guarantee success:

Purge Toys: Most of us need to purge toys, it’s an area that can quickly get out of control and clutter up the entire home. Strap on your patience and do this task with the kids.

Purge if:
-It’s broken or missing pieces
-It’s no longer age appropriate
-It’s a duplicate
-They wouldn’t even notice it’s missing (These are often Happy Meal Toys or junk they get in a birthday party loot bag. Tip: try this for minimalist birthday parties instead)

Beyond that, use your personal judgement on your purging comfort level. Keep in mind, it’s been proven that kids with less toys are more creative and more focused.

Purge Closet: Like the toys, our closets are another area that can also use some help. Here are our deal-breaker tips to purging your closet:

Purge if:
-It no longer fits
-You haven’t worn it recently (if you didn’t wear it last summer, you won’t wear it this summer)
-It has a tear or stain
-It’s uncomfortable or itchy
-It isn’t a timeless piece, and looks dated
-It’s a duplicate (nobody needs 3 pairs of grey sweatpants)

With purging overall, drop the “just in case” excuse. We have all done it, I’ll keep this just in case. Just in case really means never. So next time you find yourself saying I’ll keep this, just in case…pause then say goodbye to the item and hello to living in a more meaningful way.

So, your home is purged of the extras. Now what? Surprise! that peaceful-home feeling is really an ongoing game of keepy-uppy. Here is how you can stay on top of tidying and not reach that feeling of overwhelm again:

2019 DAILY TIDYING GOALS:

Make the Bed. It takes 30 seconds and can bring a big sense of control to a room. I’ve also heard “when you’re seeking romance, a welcoming bed beckons love into your life” or as I like to put it, “a tidy bed will make you feel dirty” so make your bed and look forward to more sexy time.

The Tuck. Tuck in your chair when you leave the table. It’s simple to do, it looks tidy and it’s plain old good manners.

Put toys away each night. Have the kids help, make it a simple process and don’t expect too much. They can manage putting items into a basket, but don’t expect them to separate the blocks from the Lego men until that’s a less daunting, age-appropriate task. Once the toys are away, it’s much easier to relax with a glass of wine and enjoy some adult time without feeling overwhelmed by the chaos around you.

Put the mail away each night. File the bills, put the junk mail in the recycling bin. Don’t let it pile up, Taking time to address the mail daily will eliminate any missed payments and will give a feeling of financial control and a tidier counter.

2019 DAILY CLEANING GOALS:

Dishes. Rule of thumb: don’t let the dishes touch the sink. Get everyone into the habit of putting the dishes directly into the dishwasher. Run it overnight and empty it each morning. If you don’t have a dishwasher, follow through should be your rule. Follow through means wash + dry + put away! It is a three-step task.

Laundry. Focus less on the folding into itty-bitty thirds and put that energy into just simply completing the three-step process, wash + dry + put away.

Sweep. Do a quick once over at the end of each day. Because the feeling of stepping on crud is like a sweet piece of hell.

Wipe. Tear a page out of Mrs. Hinches insta-stories and wipe down your kitchen and bathroom counters and mirrors each night. This will keep the house cleaner and easier to manage overall (It also keeps you accountable to the dishes away rule because you can’t wipe the counter if your dishes are cluttering it). Once you get into the habit of wiping down daily, you may start to enjoy it. You’ll sleep better knowing your counters are shiny, I don’t know why this works, but it does.

It’s proven that a clean environment can lead to a clearer mind. And while the KonMari way is an excellent pursuit at organization, it doesn’t mean you’re done. So scale back on that larger goal of a perfect garage and make a manageable goal to keep up with your day-to-day. You’ll soon find that the value in minimal energy used daily is a far better at creating a peaceful home than a daunting lifestyle-overhaul. So let’s make our 2019 goal to make that game of keepy-uppy fun to play, and to have what really sparks joy in our homes be what we already love the most: our messy kids.

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