Have you ever imagined a picture-perfect vision of motherhood—one where you could balance caring for your kids while keeping a tidy and organized home? As most parents quickly realize, life with kids is anything but perfect. What matters most is creating a space where your family feels comfortable, happy, and at peace, even if there’s a bit of clutter.
"Motherhood has taught me to be more forgiving of myself. The joy that comes from parenting exceeds any satisfaction that could have come from a perfectly neat home."
-Marie Kondo
With this in mind, here are some tips on I manage to keep my home organized and running smoothly while raising an elementary-aged child.
1. Narrate as You Tidy
One of the habits I’ve maintained from when my child was younger is narrating my actions as I tidy up. I explain not just what I’m doing, but also why tidying is important. I’ll say things like, "It’s so nice to have a tidy living room because it feels calm, doesn’t it?" or "We can find our favorite books faster when they’re all put away."
This helps my child understand that tidying isn’t just about making the house look nice—it’s about creating a peaceful, organized space where we can all feel relaxed. I also involve my child in the process more now that they’re older, encouraging them to put their things away after school, help with chores, and keep their space organized.
2. Make Keeping Home Tidy as Part of the Routine
I’ve learned that the best way to maintain a tidy home is by making tidying part of our everyday routine. Instead of trying to keep everything perfect all day long, we set aside a specific time each day—like after school or before dinner—to tidy up together.
Having this as a regular part of the day makes the whole process feel more natural and less like a chore. It also encourages my child to take ownership of their space, whether it’s putting their backpack away or organizing their school supplies. Now, it’s just part of what we do every day, and we don’t have to think too hard about it.
3. Give Everything a Home
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that if everything has a designated spot, it’s much easier to stay organized. This is especially true as my child gets older and their belongings become more complex—books, school papers, toys, and gadgets are all scattered around if I’m not careful.
We’ve set up clear, designated places for things like schoolwork, art supplies, books, and toys. My child is responsible for keeping their own things organized and knows where everything goes. This helps reduce clutter and keeps our house from becoming overwhelmed with random items.
Having everything in its place also makes tidying up a lot faster. Whether it’s putting away school supplies or clearing the table after dinner, everything has a home, which makes cleaning up so much easier.
4. Encourage Responsibility
Now that my child is older, I encourage them to take more responsibility for keeping their space neat. We’ve established clear expectations—like making their bed in the morning, keeping their room tidy, and putting their shoes away when they come inside. I also have them help with household chores, like setting the table or folding laundry.
This not only takes some of the load off me but also teaches them valuable skills and instills a sense of responsibility. It’s important to me that they understand the value of taking care of their belongings and contributing to the overall well-being of our home.
5. Respect Spatial Limitations
One of the challenges of raising an elementary-aged child is managing the growing number of things they acquire. School projects, books, toys, clothes—it all adds up, and suddenly, the house feels like it’s bursting at the seams.
I’ve had to accept that the space we have is limited. If I want to avoid being buried in clutter, I need to regularly reassess what we truly need and what we can part with. We go through toys, books, clothes, and school supplies every few months to donate or discard items we no longer use or need. It’s a simple way to keep the clutter under control and maintain a sense of order.
6. Take Breaks (And Let It Go)
There are days when it feels like no matter how hard we try, the house is just going to be messy. Maybe my child has a ton of schoolwork scattered across the table, or the toys from playtime have taken over the living room. On those days, I remind myself that it’s okay to let it go. Sometimes, it’s more important to spend time with my child than to stress about a messy house.
I’ve learned that it’s okay to wait until the evening, when my child is in bed, to do a quick tidy-up. Taking a break throughout the day and not feeling pressured to keep things spotless at all times has been so freeing. And when we do tidy up, it’s usually much quicker because everything already has a home.
Conclusion
If you’re a mom raising an elementary-aged child, know that you don’t have to maintain a picture-perfect home to be a good parent. The mess is a part of life, and as long as we make our space functional and joyful, that’s what really matters.
I hope these tips help you find the balance between keeping a tidy home and enjoying the chaos of life with kids. After all, it’s the perfectly imperfect moments that make our homes feel truly lived in!
Comments