A skill for life…
I wish I had a video of the way her face lit up when she walked in her room. The way the door opened slowly, me standing there hoping that she would be happy and the wide-eyed, jaw dropped, WOW that came from her mouth.
I remember the call from my sister-in-law saying she was tackling my niece’s bedroom and how overwhelmed she was to get started. Cue the Mrs. Doubtfire voice, “Help is on the way dear!”
I learned from my own experience that clutter and chaos were triggers for my anxiety and often resulted in having a short temper, outbursts and sometimes productivity paralysis. When we are constantly surrounded by cluttered spaces that lack structure, our minds become mirrors of that environment. Meaning a chaotic and cluttered physical space = a chaotic and cluttered mental space.
If this is true for adults, then we must remember that the same can be true for our children. So when the opportunity came to help in my niece’s bedroom, I obviously dropped everything I was doing to assist.
We quickly (and somewhat ruthlessly) went through every piece in her room. Every broken toy, baby doll, art supplies, craft projects, etc. We used the SPACE method, (S)ort, (P)urge, (A)ssign, (C)ontain and (E)valuate, to go through the space. Categories were created, zones were established, storage areas were created and items that were no longer needed were donated. Once we had gone through the clutter, we were able to rearrange the room for better flow and optimal play space.
The results? See the first paragraph.
What I loved the most about this project was not just my niece’s reaction, but her ability to maintain the organization and also DO IT ON HER OWN. Let me say it again, SHE MAINTAINS IT ON HER OWN! Obviously her room gets messy but now when she is feeling overwhelmed, she takes the time to tidy up. I’ve received countless FaceTime calls to show me the job she’s done with her organizing and am quickly grabbed to look at her room when I am over for a visit. She takes pride in the job she’s done and now has skills that will serve her for many more years to come.
Bedroom, before (mid-project)
Bedroom, after
Zones - Left to Right
Under bed: Baby dolls, stuffed animals in rolling under bed storage bins
Tent for reading and play
Storage Bins: Small toys, separated by bins
Baby doll clothing and accessories
Desk for school work/arts with bins for all items
Most importantly, open floor space to play!
