Are you are struggling to maintain order in your child’s bedroom? You are not alone as many families struggle with these challenges.
The following tips will help establish a starting point for creating a more organized living space, such as putting decorative labels on storage bins and simplifying your child’s room.
PUT A SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR SCHOOL WORK & TOYS
Systems allow you to have set locations for everyday items, and for easy access. (Your child will find great comfort in knowing where everything belongs. Consider storing books so that your child can see the front cover of the books. Systems can also reduce stress for your child.
SORT, STORE, AND SIMPLIFY SPACE
Children’s rooms are usually small and generally have a lack of built-in storage. Often times, these rooms are a host to out-of-season and outgrown clothing, and toys that are rarely used. Remove and donate toys and clothes that are rarely used.
If there are a few special toys that you and your child do not want to part with, you can designate a box in the garage with toys that you can rotate back into the room. Your child may soon discover that the toys really are not that important after all.
CREATE A SIMPLE BIN SYSTEM FOR TOYS & SCHOOL SUPPLIES
This is my favorite tip for bedroom organization. Separate items into groups or categories (for instance, books, Lego, etc.) Use clear plastic storage bins so your child can see the contents inside, and for easy labeling. Use plastic shoe box containers for smaller toys, and larger lidded bins for blocks. The Dollar Store also carries white plastic shoe boxes.
LABEL STORAGE BINS
Help your child learn where each item belongs by labeling storage bins. You can also add photographs of each type of toy contained within the container and attach label to the container. To help your child stay organized, use visual aids and keep it simple.
Use a computer printer to make graphic labels for young children. Pictures remind the child where these items belong. Place labels on drawers, shelf edges, and on plastic shoe boxes and other storage containers.
DISPLAY YOUR CHILD’S TOYS & CLOTHING
It is easier for all children, especially autistic children, to stay organized and function daily if they can see their belongings. Hang as many of their clothes as possible or fold them and place them on shelves, preferably in cubbies so that they can see their clothing.
Place pants in one cubby, sweaters in another and so on. If you want to use a dresser, try to keep like items together in one drawer and put a label on each drawer with picture of the contents inside.
INTRODUCE A VISUAL SCHEDULE
Make a checklist of tasks and laminate it. A visual schedule can help your child transition from activity to activity with less prompting. Studies have shown that schedules can alleviate stress because children know what to expect. Review each item on the schedule with your child and then remind your child to check the schedule before every transition. Over time, he or she will be able to complete the tasks with increasing independence.
Looking for a custom made visual schedule for your child? You can purchase a customized schedule for your child on Etsy right here at the Organized Buddy Shop! This schedule can easily be changed to suit your child’s needs. For example, when school session ends and summer begins, activities can be switched in and out. Help your child stay on task all year round with our custom made schedule designed specifically for your child!
After your system is in place, you can turn clean up time into a fun 10-minute game. Set a timer to help motivate and get your child involved in the process of putting things back in their designated areas. See how many items can be put back into their location in 10 minutes. (This will help your child learn where their home is for their clothing and toys.
Looking for custom made labels to organize the items in your home? Organized Buddy creates custom laminated labels designed specifically for you and your needs.
If you find that you need additional help for bedroom organization for kids with autism, check out www.autism-society.org. Additional help for kids with autism may be found at the Mayo Clinic’s signs of autism information.
Check out our favorite tips on how to have an organized summer with the kids!