School’s out for summer! What to do with all the free time? Perhaps your kids are up for a little KonMari session!
6 Ways To Keep Things Kid-Appropriate
1. LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Before you can ask your kids to tend to their things, show that you’re committed yourself. Kids follow our examples.
First, put your own things in order. Then, help your kids put their things in order.
2. KEEP IT SHORT
I recommend keeping it very short. While the adult KonMari session is usually 3+ hours, I recommend just 10-60 minutes at a time for kids.
Tweens and teens may be able to do 45-60 minutes, but very short bursts are best for younger kids. Do just one category or one subcategory at a time and pause for play.
3. YOU CATEGORIZE, THEY CHOOSE
Do not pile all your kid's toys in the middle of the room and ask them to choose what sparks joy! It will not end well.
Instead, you can for example pile all games together and ask which of those your child would like to keep. For younger kids break it down even more to just puzzles.
If they have energy left, then move to the next subcategory.
4. PUT THINGS BACK RIGHT AWAY
Do not wait to go through many different subcategories before you start putting things back where they belong.
After each subcategory, together with your child, put items that spark joy back where they belong and take the rest out of the room (and out of their sight!).
Only after this, continue to the next subcategory.
5. SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS LOW
Assume that your child may not want to let go of anything and then be positively surprised if they indeed agree to let go of something! Letting go is a muscle that needs building.
I recently went through our children’s books with my kids who are currently 7 and 3 years old. Together they agreed to let go of 2*(!) books 😀 But hey, it’s better than nothing!
* This is 2 books out of 108. I counted in case you were wondering!
6. TAKE IT OUT OF SIGHT IMMEDIATELY
It is always recommended that the items we have decided to thank and let go leave our homes as soon as possible.
With children, it is especially important that the items do not linger because you can bet they will then make their way back into your home.
So do yourself a favor, avoid making the same decisions over and over, and rehome/recycle/trash right away.
And now let the playing begin!
P.S. If you're looking for a way to bring the concept alive for your younger kids, consider reading Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship by Marie Kondo with them.
