Get Your Kids Involved in Organizing

If you’ve ever spent hours tidying up, only for your kids to undo it in five minutes flat, you’re not alone.

The truth is, a truly organized home works with your family; not against them. Another truth, children need to be taught how to tidy, organize, and maintain.

Getting your kids involved in organizing not only helps maintain your space, but it also teaches valuable life skills like responsibility, decision-making, and teamwork. The key is to keep it simple, age-appropriate, and (yes) even a little fun.

Here’s how to bring your kids into the world of home organization—without the whining and resistance.

Why It Matters

When kids help organize, they’re more likely to:

• Put things away where they belong

• Take pride in their space

• Understand how home organizing systems work

• Build lifelong habits that reduce clutter and maintain an organized space

You don’t need to turn them into tiny perfectionists. You just need to give them ownership and keep the process consistent. They will be so proud to be able to tidy and maintain and may even initiate the process once they feel how great it is to live and play in an uncluttered and tidy space.

Step 1: Start with Decluttering (Together)

Before you organize, you need to declutter. Let your kids be part of the decision-making process—especially in their own spaces.

Give them simple, empowering choices:

• “Do you still play with this?”

• “Would you give this toy to another child who needs it?”

• “Do you want to keep this book or donate it?”

Keep the sessions short (10–15 minutes is plenty), and make it a team effort. This early step builds their confidence and gives them a voice in what stays and what goes.

Decluttering first ensures you’re organizing only what you need—not excess clutter that will quickly pile up again.

Decluttering is not something they need to do on a daily basis. Once the initial decluttering is accomplished, have them help you declutter every few months or before a birthday or holiday when you know they will be receiving gifts.

Step 2: Organize with Visibility + Simplicity

Once you’ve decluttered, help your kids organize their things in a way that’s easy for them to maintain.

Use these home organizing strategies:

• Clear bins they can see into that help contain like items together (matchbox cars, figurines, dolls, blocks, etc.)

• Picture or color-coded labels for younger kids.

• Low hooks for backpacks and jackets. This allows the child to put his or her own things away without asking for assistance. This can be empowering.

• Defined zones for toys, books, and school supplies. Zones are important throughout the home. Children learn to keep toys in one general area, they learn we do homework in a particular area, and that reading is done in a quiet location.

The simpler the system, the more likely they are to follow it without needing reminders.

Step 3: Assign Age-Appropriate Tasks

Here’s how kids of different ages can participate in home organization:

Toddlers (2–4 years):

• Put toys back in bins with your help. Teach them to match the toy to the appropriate bin.

• Match socks or sort items by color (this teaches more than just organizing skills!)

• Make the bed each morning. Don't expect perfection, just allow them to learn to pull the sheets and blankets up and get in the routine of doing it daily.

Kids (5–8 years):

• Sort and fold their laundry

• Help organize their books or toys

• Create labels with drawings or stickers

Tweens & Teens (9+):

• Declutter clothes and school supplies

• Help plan organizing systems for their rooms

• Take ownership of weekly tidying sessions

You’re not just organizing your home—you’re teaching them how to do it for themselves.

Step 4: Make It Fun (Seriously)

Yes, organizing can actually be fun, especially when you add a little creativity. Try these ideas:

• Set a timer and race to finish a task such as picking up all the cars and trucks.

• Play music or turn it into a game

• Let them choose bins, labels, or shelf colors

• Before and after photos to show progress - this one is really motivating! Children often forget what the before was like and will have a sense of pride when they see what has been accomplished.

• Offer a small reward for completing a decluttering goal (like an outing or extra screen time)

When kids feel capable and included, they’re more likely to stay engaged.

Step 5: Build a Routine

Even the best organizing systems won’t last if there’s no routine. Build in regular reset times:

• A 10-minute cleanup before bedtime

• Sunday afternoon “room refresh”

• Friday backpack and paper sort-out

Consistency turns organizing into a habit—not a chore.

Final Thoughts

Getting your kids involved in home organizing doesn’t have to be a battle.

When you make it simple, age-appropriate, and even a little playful, it becomes something the whole family can do together.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s participation.

If you are seeking ways to live a more organized lifestyle, I invite you to check out my digital course, Peaceful and Productive: Living an Organized Lifestyle.