Typically, we think of cleaning and organization in terms of how much order it can bring to our family lives, but as parents, having an organized closet—whether it be the linen closet, in your entry way or your child’s clothes closet (and this goes for cupboards and pantries too) can actually encourage our children to learn how to be more independent.
Consider this: if you take the time to arrange your child’s closet in an orderly way, label and mark where everything goes, and provide plenty of accessible storage—your child can learn and be expected to put things away. If it is easy and accessible, it will not be daunting or overwhelming. Making sure that things are at a level where the child can easily reach adds to an independent environment.
The same goes for your kitchen. If the dishes and utensils your child uses are within reach and easily accessible, he can put things away and get them out himself. An accessible dishwasher, a safe stool and an organized kitchen will make it easy for children to learn how to prepare themselves food and clean up for themselves. When things are messy or disorganized, it is unfair and unreasonable to assume that a child will be able to prepare food, put away clothes, or clean up. It is just too chaotic and overwhelming. Put the food items that your child can eat and have access to within easy reach as well and this will encourage him to help himself instead of always expecting someone else to prepare food for him.
If you cannot get motivated to get organized for yourself, consider it as a parenting strategy. Your child will know where things go and be able to participate in keeping things tidy and organized and he or she will learn how to be increasingly independent if the environment supports independence through organization. Clean out all the junk and stuff no one uses any more, get out your label maker and teach some independence!