[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]It’s summertime! The school season is over, which means you don’t need to worry about packing lunch for your kids or enduring the morning rush. It’s such a relief. Right? Until you notice the piling of backpacks and leftover school supplies scattered around your house.

Fortunately, you can take some actions to get more organized during the summer. There’re numerous benefits of being more organized. First, getting organized will save you a lot of time as you’ll not spend time looking for misplaced items. Also, it’s an effective way of reducing stress.

It can be stressful when you’re unable to carry out a particular task because you can’t find what you need. The more the clutter in your home, the higher the stress levels. Another reason why every parent should ensure their homes are well organized is that they’ll end up saving some money.

When you misplace some items, you may be forced to acquire new ones. Getting organized can help you to save money that could have been used for such expenses. Disorganization results in inefficiency. A well-organized house will enable you to carry out your work more quickly. Here are kid-friendly summer organization tips for you:

Getting Rid of Unused School Supplies

Other than the beginning of warmer weather, the summer also means your kids will be at home as it marks the end of the school season. The children will bring home all their schoolwork and the supplies they’ve been using throughout the academic year.

The first step you should take is tossing all the junk items. Tossing the trash can cut the clutter in half. Which items can I throw away? The list is long. For example, you get rid of empty candy wrappers, used tissues, torn folder, broken writing materials, and unusable pens.

It’s a pretty easy task, but you may need to check whether or not some of the items are reusable. For example, before you toss mechanical pencils, you should check whether they’re broken. For pens, find out if they’ve dried up.

The best way of testing them is by using a piece of paper. You can find a stack in your child’s backpack. Pick a paper and start trying all of them out. If any of them isn’t working, get rid of it right away. If you identify ones in good condition, keep them safely by category. For instance, put reusable pens and pencils in different piles.

Once you’re done with piling up the items, it’s time to decide whether to keep or donate them. If you opt for the former, think of the summer as a way of stocking your child’s homework area. You want to make sure they have enough supplies to do their homework when the schools reopen. If you intend to buy new ones for your kids, consider donating the old supplies to the local charities.

Donating the Unused Toys

There may be a lot more toys and toy-clutter in your home during the summer. If that happens, it’s time for you to think about the problem and get it under control again. Donating toys is a way of expanding your child’s worldview. For them to understand why you’re giving away their toys, they need to understand that some kids have different lives than theirs.

Usually, kids are very caring. Therefore, if they know that some of the toys they don’t play with anymore will put a smile on another child’s face, they’re likely to be willing to share. Before you donate the toys, you should start a serious conversation with the kids. Also, involve them during the entire process of giving away toys.

Just bringing trash bags to their rooms will scare them and make them sad. Allow them to decide when and how many toys you should donate to local charities. Make them feel their choices matter. Don’t rush. Kids need enough time to decide the items they’re ready to part with. Many children may have a hard time making the decision.

Kids are more likely to be more willing to give away some toys than throw them away after a good talk. Find places to donate them. You have several options when it comes to giving away toys. Some health facilities accept slightly used toys for young patients to play with when hospitalized.

Make inquiries before you show up with a box of toys in a hospital. Some may not accept used toys to lower the risk of spreading diseases. Many pediatricians also allow people to donate toys. When you visit their offices, you’ll find donated toys.

Involve Your Kids in Spring Cleaning

When you hear the chattering of birds, and the sun starts shining, it’s springtime. One of the most common tasks during the season is spring cleaning. Let your kids help during the exercise. It offers you an opportunity to boost your children’s self-confidence by praising them for offering assistance in various tasks.

Praising them has psychological benefits as it helps boost their self-esteem and believing in their abilities. By engaging in various cleaning chores, your child also develops fine motor skills and improved memory. For example, when kids are involved in washing dishes, they learn about different shapes, sizes, and regular places for placing them.

As they become stronger, they gain the ability to put away larger items using two hands. Additionally, learning how to clean has social benefits as it helps individuals to become responsible when carrying out other tasks. According to some experts, kids learn how to develop reciprocal relationships with other people at a young age.

Some researchers have revealed that family expectations about spring cleaning have a positive psychological impact on a child’s future relationships with friends and colleagues. Studies have also shown that kids who engage in early cleaning habits tend to experience better academic performance.

Such children tend to succeed in their future careers. Your child will also grow up knowing that cleaning is part of life and is necessary. You can use several ways to motivate your kids to engage in spring cleaning exercises. For instance, you can turn on their favorite music and focus on their successes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]