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A Solution to the Dysfunction

If you have younger children with active imaginations and a playroom that is their own special place to explore and dream up wild adventures, you also have the mess and clean up that comes after wards. And while the playroom is meant to be a place where creativity can run free, it is also a place where the clutter can become overwhelming. Today our Mommy Expert, Stacey Crew, give you some great advice on how to “fun” into dysfunction…

Therapy for Your Child’s Playroom

by Stacey Crew

How many of us have a dysfunctional playroom? Raise your hand. For many of us, this is the messiest, most disorganized room in the house. Little ones take things out, don’t put them back where they belong, or worse, there’s no defined place to put the toys and little Lego® pieces that ultimately wind up underfoot and have you screaming for your Mommy when you accidentally step on them!

As a mommy organizing expert, I sometimes feel a bit like a therapist. I’m not one, but much of what I do is coach and lead women in the direction that is right for them. Creating the GOPACK® Method has certainly helped me in my efforts to teach people to simplify and organize, which is what I’ll introduce today as a solution to the dysfunction.

Step One: Zone Space
The first step in creating the ultimate functional playroom for your child is to zone the space. It’s as simple as how a kindergarten room is organized. Designate certain areas for specific types of play. For example, an Art Zone would contain perhaps an easel, chairs/table to fit your child, a small bookshelf or container that would fit the supplies. Place the art zone near a window for added light while your little one is creating a masterpiece. Another zone would be a reading nook where all books are stored for easy access. Place a couple of pillows on the floor so your child can get comfy and read.
Creating zones helps a child understand what belongs in a specific area and helps drastically when it comes to clean up. Containing small pieces in labeled containers (for younger children, attach pictures, as well as the written word) cuts the clutter and overwhelming task of deciding where to put something when you’re done.

Step Two: GOPACK®
The GOPACK® Method is a simplified, proven way to get organized and stay organized. It’s an acronym for: Group Objects, Purge, Assign, Contain and Keep it up. I’ll walk you through the process, briefly, and you can get more information on my web site, which includes tips that will save you time in each category.

Group Objects—the key here is to put like items together to gain a true perspective on how many baby dolls, toy cars, and Happy Meal toys you possess. Once you’ve put like items together, move on to the Purge.

Purge—determine what you will keep, what gets donated, what gets stored for rotation (explained below) and what gets trashed. Easy tosses include broken pieces, games without all the pieces, toys your child has aged out of, and items your child is no longer interested in playing with. This step can be challenging because it requires making decisions. Once you do, you’ll feel great! So start deciding.

Assign—now determine where you will put the items. We’re not containing just yet. This is where you put the items in the zoned areas. Move all books to the Reading Zone, paints/crayons/markers to the Art Zone, etc.

Contain—now it’s time to put items in containers. Choose containers that fit the type of toy. For example, Legos work best is small, clear, shoe-box like containers where your child can easily see what’s contained and not become overwhelmed by so many pieces at one time. For books, a bookshelf of course. Organize doll clothing separate from the dolls, which can go in a large bin with the stuffed animals.

Keep it up—Teach your child to choose a toy, play with it and put it back. It may take repeated reminders and guidance, but well worth the effort. Of course there are times when kids may want to play with ALL their toys at once. However, if you’re organized, clean up can be a breeze if everything has a home. To get assistance from your reluctant child, set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and have your kids count how many toys they pick up. This will get the playroom cleaned up and reinforce their math skills.

For more detailed information on the GOPACK Method, visit http://www.staceycrew.com.

Toy rotation works well if you have an excess of toys in your child’s playroom or bedroom. Pack up 50% and store for later retrieval. This accomplishes two goals: Eliminates clutter and gives your children a new interest in old toys when you take them out after a period of time. Be sure to put toys away when you take out the toys that have been in hiding.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

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