Summer Organization: Including Kids in Decluttering and Home Maintenance
Summer is here, and with the kids off from school, it's the perfect time to get your home in order. My kids know that during the summer months, my expectations for them increase so that we can keep the house running smoothly and also to maintain my sanity! Organizing and decluttering can be an educational experience for children of all ages and teaches them valuable life skills and responsibility. I also always include reading/writing time and math fact practice in their chores to avoid the summer slump. I guess that’s the former teacher in me, ha!
Here's how you can assign age-appropriate chores to your children and involve them in bigger tasks to maintain a well-organized home throughout the summer.
Chores for Younger Kids (Ages 3-6)
At this age, children are actually eager to help and love feeling included. Simple tasks that they can easily handle include:
Toy Organization: Teach them to put their toys back in designated bins or shelves after playtime. Pictures on the bins can be helpful to let them know which toys go in which bins.
Sorting Laundry: Let them sort clothes by color or type. It's a fun way to learn colors and categories.
Feeding Pets: Supervised pet feeding helps instill a sense of responsibility.
Watering Plants: Kids can use small watering cans to take care of indoor or outdoor plants.
Chores for School-Age Kids (Ages 7-10)
School-age children can take on more responsibility and handle slightly more complex tasks. Encourage them with chores like:
Making Their Beds: Every morning, they should start the day by making their beds neatly.
Setting the Table: They can help set the table before meals and clear it afterward.
Sweeping and Vacuuming: Teach them how to use a broom or vacuum cleaner to tidy up common areas.
Helping with Groceries: Kids can assist in carrying grocery bags and putting items away.
Unloading the dishwasher: They can help put silverware and plates away.
Chores for Preteens and Teens (Ages 11-16)
Older kids and teens can manage more substantial tasks that require a bit more effort and responsibility. Assign them chores such as:
Mowing the Lawn: They can take charge of lawn maintenance, learning to operate the mower safely.
Laundry: Teach them how to do their laundry from start to finish, including folding and putting clothes away.
Kitchen Duty: Involve them in meal prep, cooking simple dishes, and cleaning up the kitchen afterward.
Organizing the Garage or Basement: This can be a summer-long project where they help sort, clean, and organize these storage spaces.
Weekly Bigger Tasks
To keep things interesting and tackle larger organizational projects, assign weekly bigger tasks that the whole family can work on together. Some ideas include:
Decluttering Closets: Pick one closet each week to declutter. Sort items to donate, keep, or discard.
Organizing the Pantry: Take inventory, dispose of expired items, and reorganize shelves.
Cleaning Windows: Assign a day to wash windows inside and out. Kids can handle lower windows, while adults can manage the higher ones.
Tips for Successful Chore Assignments
Create a Chore Chart: Visual aids like chore charts can help kids understand their responsibilities and track their progress. We use the chore chart on our Skylight Calendar which works well, but even a simple piece of paper gets the job done. I’ve including a downloadable Chore Chart you can use here.
Offer Incentives: Rewards like extra screen time, a small allowance, or a fun outing can motivate kids to complete their chores.
Be Consistent: Regular routines help establish good habits. Ensure that chores are done at the same time each day or week.
Encourage Teamwork: Working together on bigger tasks fosters a sense of teamwork and accomplishment.
By engaging your kids in these tasks, you're not only keeping your home organized but also teaching them the importance of responsibility and teamwork. With a little creativity and planning, summer can be a productive and fun time for the whole family.
I'd love to hear how you and your kids are staying organized this summer! Share your own chore ideas, success stories, or any questions you have in the comments below. How have the chore charts helped your family? Let’s create a community of organized and happy homes together!
I'm Kari, a professional organizer based in the beautiful land of cheese – Madison, Wisconsin, and beyond. I've made it my mission to turn your cluttered chaos into organized bliss because, believe me, I've been there too. No matter where you are starting out, I can help you declutter, organize and give you systems to keep it that way.
Click here to book a complimentary consultation to talk about how you can feel less stress and more peace in your home!
