Parenting a toddler has plenty of joy-filled moments, and lots of chaos too! Between the gear, toys, supplies, and chasing your on-the-move little one, it can be a challenge to stay organized. But we all know that when we feel more organized, we feel more calm. Here are some top tips to help you get there.
Highlights
Staying organized can feel less overwhelming when you:
- Establish Routines
- Label, Label, Label!
- Tidy Up Toys
- Meal Plan & Prep
- Foster Flexibility
5 Practical Tips for Organizing Life with a Toddler
1 – Establish Routines
Routines are the foundation of organization. Developing a daily structure in which you do similar things at similar times can provide a sense of predictability and stability for both your child and you. Routines not only help toddlers feel more regulated, they also teach them important skills, like sequencing and developing a sense of time.
2 – Label, Label, Label!
Whether it’s daycare, preschool, parent-and-me classes, or just an afternoon at the park, labeling your toddler’s belongings is an organizational must. Items like clothes, lunchboxes and water bottles are notorious for getting lost, and labeling help them find their way back to you. At home, labeling toy bins, kitchen containers, and other household items is not only a great way to create order, it can also nurture your child’s pre-literacy skills! Check out our friends, Mabel’s Labels – a one-stop shop for a wide variety of long-lasting, waterproof labels for anything you need to keep track of.
3 – Tidy Up Toys
Despite what you see on social media, toddler toy organization doesn’t need to be elaborate. A simple set-up of bins, baskets and shelves where you can sort like toys together will do. Build tidy-up time into your daily routine, and get your little one involved! Toddlers are capable of putting toys away, and while it takes time for them to become sorting pros, this is an excellent way to practice that essential skill.
4 – Meal Plan & Prep
We all know how stressful it is when five o’clock hits and we’re trying to figure out what to have for dinner with a mid-meltdown toddler on our hip. Try designating one of their naptimes a week to planning out meals. If possible, spend some time each week prepping ingredients and/or batch cooking a couple of meals. For daycare or preschool, prepping lunches and snacks the night before is a game-changer for smoother mornings.
5 – Foster Flexibility
Trying to be rigid with organization can lead to frustration, because toddlers (and life) are unpredictable! With all of the above tips, keep flexibility in mind. Flexible structure allows you to maintain routines while adapting to the unexpected.
Being organized can feel like a challenge at first, but like any other skill it gets easier the more you do it! Try different strategies until you find what works for you and your family.
