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Make home organizing FUN for the entire family! 7 strategies that get everyone on board

Home organizing doesn’t have to be just up to you.

An organized home is great, but if you’re the only one holding things together, you’re bound to get frustrated. We’re taking a new approach to home organization where the whole family is on the same page.

Vanessa Croshaw shared how to create a system that works for everyone, including the kids and your spouse. It’s a simple strategy to get everyone involved, invested, and even excited to keep the home running smoothly.

 

The Secret Ingredient: Involvement

The key to a successful home organization system is getting everyone involved. “Everybody’s got to be on board or the system will not work,” Vanessa emphasized. Create an environment where each family member feels responsible and motivated to contribute.

Get Kids On Board With Music and Games

For younger children, music and games make organizing fun! “Turn on some music, let them pick the song, or maybe set your time lapse camera on a spot,” Vanessa suggested. This helps you set a positive tone and makes the job feel less like a chore.

You can also setting a timer for short bursts of activity and offer small rewards, like a trip to the park, to keep kids motivated. “ Put a timer on it,” Vanessa advised. “‘We’re going to organize for 20 minutes,’ so that they know there’s an end in sight, and then give a small reward at the end.”

Strategies for Older Kids

Older kids might be harder to engage, but offering to share the workload makes a big difference. “You could say, ‘well, let’s tackle this drawer of your t-shirts. We’re going to pull everything out and you get to decide what stays and what goes, and then I’ll fold them and get them put back in,” Vanessa advised.

Working together helps them feel more in control and less overwhelmed. “ If you can offer to do half of the job for them, they’re a lot more excited,” Vanessa said.

The Power of Labels

Labels are an essential part of any organized home. “Labels are really powerful because everybody in the family knows where the item goes,” Vanessa explained. By labeling containers and spaces, you create a system where everything has a designated home, making it easier for everyone to keep things organized.

Labeling also helps reduce visual clutter. “ It helps your brain only see one thing, instead of a hundred things at once,” Vanessa emphasized.

She even puts labels in her fridge. “ Instead of coming home from the grocery store and just throwing everything in, everything has a spot,” Vanessa said. “Then we can quickly find what we need and we waste less food because it doesn’t get lost in the back.”

Letting Kids Own Their Space

Giving children ownership of their space can build responsibility and pride. “We gave our 15-year-old the freedom to do his room as he wanted, and he chose rope lights and sneaker boxes,” Vanessa shared. While it might not be how you would organize, it’s important to let them have a say in their own area of the house.

Positive Reinforcement

Catching kids in a win and celebrating their efforts is also important. “When I walk by my son’s room and it’s organized, I make a big fuss about it,” Vanessa noted. Positive reinforcement encourages them to keep up the good work and feel appreciated for their efforts.

Involving Your Spouse

Getting your spouse on board is just as important as the kids. Vanessa suggested starting with questions and love to communicate effectively. “ There’s no item in your home that matters more than your relationship,” she emphasized.

Understanding each other’s priorities and working together on projects can strengthen your relationship and make the process more enjoyable. “Let them choose which space to organize first,” Vanessa said. “‘Let’s tackle the garage, if that’s important to you, or the shed, or your office, because they’re much more likely to get on board for the future projects.”

Vanessa said to tackle organizing projects together. “ Set your expectations to be flexible with the outcome. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You’re just working through things, so do it together in love,” she emphasized. “Relationships over stuff every single time.”

Setting an Example

Leading by example is one of the most effective ways to help your family get organized. “ Focus more on you and not be upset with your family because they’re not fully on board. Just set the example,” Vanessa advised. “Let the kids see that you’re doing it, and you’re just gonna take a minute and celebrate it. Maybe even mention it.”

“I think our gentle reminders through our example is the best way to get everybody on board,” Vanessa said. By consistently demonstrating the behavior you want to see, you set a standard for the rest of the family to follow.


Find more organizing advice from Vanessa on Instagram, @every.needful.thing.ut, or at everyneedfulthing.com.

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