In today’s tangled web of information from Maria Kondo, The Minimalists, and the like, it’s tough finding simple tips on resetting your living space with kids. Here are five manageable topics to tackle as summer winds down and the school storm begins. Don’t forget to download the free PDF checklist here.
Clothing
If you’re anything like the average mom, you’re swimming in clothing—clean, dirty, outgrown, and even unworn. Before the infamous “back to school” shopping begins, take a step back and tackle what your children have and start tidying up.
- Bag up items that don’t fit and get donations out the door as soon as possible to a charity or post in your Buy Nothing group.
- Gather clothing with holes or stains and drop them at a textile recycling location. The Down to Earth markets in Rye, Ossining, New Rochelle, and Larchmont has a booth weekly.
- Designate a certain amount of space for next season’s clothing. If it doesn’t fit in the area, it’s time to let some pieces go.
Toys
The toy clutter is real and takes up lots of valuable storage space in the house and in the mind. Do your best to negotiate with little ones and teach the value of less. If they aren’t hearing it, have things hang out in an “almost gone” box for a month before donating it quietly. Mom knows best, after all.
- Start by eliminating duplicates. Two garbage trucks, no thank you.
- Anything that doesn’t get touched every week is questionable and needs a visit to the “almost gone” box.
- Toys and games with missing pieces or parts, recycle or trash.
Supplies
Notebooks, pens, lunch boxes, and bookbags are on everyone’s radar this time of year. It’s overwhelming to walk into stores, as children see so many items they ‘must’ have. Here is the plan:
- Sit with kids and make a visual list of items they need for school. If they can’t draw it, channel your inner artist and draw it for them. Bring this list to every store during shopping trips. Visually seeing the items and quantities needed helps control the urge to over-buy for them and you!
- Have the kids add a ‘wish’ item to the visual list. Set a goal they need to obtain before the start of school and, if achieved, agree that the ‘wish’ item will be purchased. This goal should be related to tidying up, donating toys, clothing, etc. It’s a win for everyone.
Food
Trips to the grocery store take up valuable time and energy. Lessening the need to go is the goal. A few pointers to get you away from the shopping cart shuffle.
- Purchase double of your non-perishable basics. Stock up on things like almond butter, jelly, ketchup, pasta, fruit pouches, and daily consumed items.
- Theme your dinner meals to make them fun! Meatloaf Monday, Taco Tuesdays, Spaghetti Sunday, and even Take-out Thursdays. You’ll know exactly what to buy and stock in the pantry of extras.
- Shop online for big and bulky dry goods like paper towels, toilet paper, and even pet food.
Schedule
Tidying up your schedule is nearly impossible with the ever-changing busy lives of children. Therefore, some simple reminders of items to get on your calendar.
- Appointments: Haircut, Doctor, Dentist, Specialist (dermatologist, physical therapy, etc.)
- Registrations: Sports leagues, extracurricular activities, before and after school care, religious study classes, etc.
- Play Dates: Schedule weekly play dates with another parent you trust. The kids can take turns playing at each other’s homes, essentially freeing you up once every other week for errands, cooking, or your favorite TV show in silence.
