KonMari in the children’s room: Tidying up the Marie Kondo way
Declutter, sort and tidy up just once, and keep it that way forever organisation – isn’t that your dream too? Organisation , structure, Organisation vs. children’s and playrooms – can the two even be combined? We say YES!
Organisation For children with KonMari
Bestselling author Marie Kondo has won everyone over with her organising and tidying method. Known as the KonMari method, it promises to help you get a better grip on the flood of material possessions. Minimalism is the key here!
This creates a lightning-fast and sustainable ‘ organisation ’ in the children’s bedroom (and, of course, in adults’ bedrooms too). And it’s all done with plenty of joy and shared fun. Can’t quite picture it yet? We met Jasmine from Joyful Living – and now we’re totally caught up in the organising craze!
Jasmine Dünker was one of the first German KonMari Consultants to learn the tidying method personally from Marie Kondo in New York.
Through Joyful Living, Jasmine works as an interior design and organisation coach, helping people to systematically and sustainably clear the clutter from their own homes . She visited us at Limmaland and explained why tidying up with children is brilliant. Just to give you a sneak peek : we’re raring to go and can’t wait for Jasmine’s next visit !
Tidying up with children is brilliant!
Jasmine Dünker, KonMari Master Consultant
That’s exactly what Jasmine said when we asked about the KonMari method in the children’s bedroom . Doesn’t sound like your little ones at first? Jasmine explained to us that many children’s bedrooms are absolutely crammed full and most children and parents no longer have a clue what’s actually in there . I suppose it’s well-intentioned when we – the grandparents, aunts and friends – keep bringing our children more and more new toys. But by doing this, we’re not doing the children any favours.
An overloaded children’s room leads to them feeling overwhelmed. And children need space to be creative. But can children actually part with their toys at all? Is it even possible to get children to have a clear-out?
Mum, we’ve got to do the KonMari method!
Jasmine has already tidied up a lot with children. And every time, she discovers anew that children are perfectly capable of letting go and can easily sort out toys they don’t like. After tidying up together, even the little ones are very happy. Once the clutter has been cleared away and the room tidied up, the children’s bedroom is once again a space for creative freedom. And Jasmine’s twins now regularly ask: “Mummy, we’ve got to do KonMari !”
KonMari in the children’s bedroom: Here’s how
it works
.
Do you want to clear the chaos from your (children’s) world too? Following the KonMari method, you start by emptying all the cupboards and piling all the toys into a heap. That way, you can see the full extent of it all straight away. Quite a lot, isn’t it? Don’t worry – now it’s time to have a clear-out! Together with your child, you can now ask yourselves the following questions :
- What do we want to keep?
- Which toys do we enjoy playing with?
- Which items haven’t been used for a long time or have never been used at all?
It’s particularly important that you leave these decisions primarily up to your child . Parents must then also accept these decisions . Even if we often regret that our little ones don’t like the lovely pram from Grandma and Grandad, or that the expensive wooden blocks are sitting unused in the corner. The KonMari principle states that we feel better when we only have things around us that bring us joy . Sounds logical, doesn’t it? The space creates room for new input. And freedom for creativity is incredibly important for personal development.
Letting go the KonMari way: with gratitude and respect
. Parting with things we once loved isn’t always that easy. According to , the KonMari method suggests that it helps to thank each item so that we can part with it respectfully. Do you think it’s a bit daft? But Jasmine knows that KonMari can actually help in the children’s bedroom ( ). After all, children in particular find it easiest to say goodbye to their toys this way ( ). And what to do with all this stuff ( )? It’s far too good to throw away!
Clearing out the children’s room: Passing things on rather than throwing them away
Sort through toys and pass them on sensibly When clearing out a child’s bedroom, toys in good condition don’t have to end up in the bin. Many toys can find a new home – and bring joy to other children for a long time to come. You can sell or give away toys in good condition :
- sell via classified adverts or give away
- sell at a car boot sale
- pass on to family, friends or neighbours
- donate to charitable organisations
This way, you’ll not only create more organisation in the children’s room, but you’ll also be acting sustainably and giving toys a second chance.
Getting rid of things promptly is part of the KonMari method in the children’s bedroom
. Whether you want to give away, sell or donate the items you’ve sorted out of the children’s bedroom – the important thing is that you get rid of them promptly . Because once the boxes have been left lying around for several weeks , they’ll eventually be unpacked again. And the same cycle starts all over again... So here’s the rule: once you’ve applied the KonMari method to the children’s room, you should quickly decide where you can get rid of the sorted-out toys quickly and sensibly.
Every item gets a home in the children’s room
. Now, as says: keep it organisation tidy! Jasmine has given us this tip: work with the children to decide on a ‘new home’ for every item. That way, everything has its place and can always be put back there. Jasmine is a mum to twins and has noticed that her two children have very different ways of keeping things tidy, which is why it’s worth working with them to establish a organisation together. We’re big fans of the TROFAST shelving unit from IKEA. The individual boxes offer ideal storage space for toys. We’ve put together a few hacks for you that’ll help you easily upgrade your TROFAST shelving unit.
Organisation in the wardrobe and on the changing table with organisers
Order stickers For tidying up that’s child’s play
The ‘ order stickers’ from Limmaland make it easier for you to organisation in the children’s room. Whether it’s LEGO bricks, Playmobil figures or toy cars – our symbols show even the youngest children, who can’t read yet, where everything belongs.
KonMari in the children’s bedroom: advice from the expert
. If you’d like to find out more about Jasmine and perhaps even meet her, why not take a look at Joyful Living? Jasmine has also written a lovely article on her blog: Children love organisation .