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The Ultimate Declutter Cheat Sheet With Astra Holmes
I got into decluttering ten years ago, when I had a client with a very hectic lifestyle. Before I could get to the interiors I needed to see the floor, so we did a decluttering project before starting. This got me interested in decluttering, and starting to research techniques to help clients gain control of their home environment. It was amazing how much of a difference it made, to both my clients’ physical space and mental health.
How have you been able to incorporate it into, not only your life but your family’s life?
All children do better in and enjoy having a clean and mainly organized environment. I started when my son was very young, with clothes and toys, getting him to try on his clothes and decide what he had outgrown, at the end of each season; getting him to be responsible for putting his own toys away – at first just into a big basket, and as he grew, into a storage system by category. Then we would do an annual or biannual cull of the toys he didn’t use anymore. There are a lot more needy kids out there, and teaching your child to part with their toys, to give to someone who might not have as much, is a good lesson. For larger children it can be more difficult to change lifetime habits. My husband is a lost cause. He always loses his keys, phone and wallet. “Have you seen my…?” is a constant conversation. So help your kids to develop this life skill now.
To declutter with your kids, you need to help them by having enough storage and designated areas for their toys, art supplies, and books. It’s no good trying to get a kid to be organized, if you don’t give them the tools to succeed. Ikea and Taobao are an endless resource of storage items, but it can be as simple as an old shoe box too. Classifying containers for young kids is a must. Montessori is a great education technique and teaches kids great life skills. One of the things I really like is that kids “work” is in designated trays, and they are required to put the tray back when they have finished their “work”. You can utilize this technique for toys too. The younger you start with these techniques the more ingrained they become. That’s just how we do it!
What are some ways in which parents can encourage their kids to declutter and live a more minimalist life?
“Toys” is far too broad a term for kids to cope with. You want to do small 5-10 minute fun tasks to get them to start flexing their decluttering muscles. Do not go full Marie Kondo with your kids. Having a few quick games can really rein in the chaos. Kids like games and competition, so making it into a game can really help them to get into the spirit of things. Here are some ideas to help you declutter with your child.
The Games
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Artwork: Kids’ artwork grows exponentially in the early years. Create a designated area to display it. Each term or year, go through the artwork with your child and decide which are their favorites. Then you can have them easily “collaged” in a frame, with the month/year and create an art gallery wall that shows their development as the years go by. Kids especially love to see their art hanging up.
Clothes: Get your child a clothes basket and create a chore list; one of the chores should be making them put their clothes in the basket as they get ready for bed each evening. You can give them a sticker for every day they manage to do it, or they get a story after they do it, or something that will incentivize your child.
One in one out: This technique works well around holidays or birthdays, to keep toy chaos under control. A week or two before the event, explain that they are going to get new toys, and as there is only so much room, they need to decide what they think they are too old for now. Then as the toys enter your house, get them to decide which toy they will part with, in place of the new toy.
Give us a week’s worth of daily challenges towards decluttering.
All of these games & techniques will help to rein in toy chaos, and general kid clutter. But they need to be consistently applied. Make a date with yourself and your child. These tips will teach your child to love and appreciate what they have, and will save you time and money in the long run. No more broken toys, no more kid clutter in the living room, less time spent clearing up, more time playing and having fun. Kids learn best through modeled behavior, so don’t expect your child to be a neat freak if the rest of your house is in disarray.
What are some of the benefits of living a more decluttered life – both short term and long term?
My belief is that outer calm leads to inner peace, and these techniques should help you find a bit of peace in a frantic life. If you need help with adult clutter, you can always contact me for a one-on-one consultation: astra888@qq.com or join my WeChat De-cluttering challenges.
Photos: DigsDigs, frugalandthriving.com.au, declutter-and-organize.com, wellnesscentreportstephens.com.au
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