For people that are comparatively small, children do tend to take up a lot of space, don’t they? It’s partly their energy, which allows them to be in one place at one moment and all the way across the house the next. It’s partly their voices, which carry a long way considering their age. And it’s partly also the fact that they tend to leave a trail behind them – toys, clothes and other bits and pieces wherever they go.
Now, do not let it be said that children are not a blessing; they’re fun, affectionate and a constant source of wonder and pride. But they are also hard work. It’s not something to resent. When your kid grows up to be a quick-thinking, polite adult, all that work is more than worth it. Then again, there are only so many hours in the day. To stop the work from piling up, it’s worth thinking about what you can do.
1. Make Storage Easy And Fun –
Children accumulate a lot of possessions, as they grow constantly over the early years of their lives. Sometimes they will outgrow these possessions and you’ll need to discard them, but in reality they do pile up. Sometimes literally.
To make sure that this doesn’t become an unholy mess all day, every day, storage is necessary. Try and make it fun – a laundry basket with a basketball hoop is one option. A toy hamper shaped like an animal or a car can work too. That way your kid will tidy up without even knowing they’re doing housework.
2. Maximise The Space You Have –
One reason that children can become messy is because space is at a premium. Any square meter of unguarded floor can become cluttered with things that are dropped. If you have children sharing a room, and have one bed per child, that crunches the space. Looking into Cuckooland’s cots and cot beds does allow the opportunity to fit more bed into less floor space. It may seem like that’s just more to get messed up, but it allows room for manoeuvre and makes the space less hazardous.
3. When All Else Fails, There’s Bribery –
It works a little better with older kids, who have swiftly learned the benefits of bargaining. Knowing what you have to offer can allow you to get something in return, something we all learn fairly early. A three-year-old may not see the link between tidying their room and ice cream. However, an eight-year-old who is keen to go on a camping trip (or an older kid who wants a lift in to town), will see the benefits.
It’s not really in a kid’s nature to want to be tidy – at a young age our minds are still not entirely as ordered as they will be one day. And it is no big harm to let kids be kids. With that said, getting them to see the advantages of keeping their space tidy might take some work. As long as you keep that in mind and give them a chance, kids will surprise and reward you.
Love, Charlotte x
*This is a collaborative post