Every so often, it’s declutter time in our household (read more about the clutterbug here and how to get rid of it here and here).
It happens on an irregular basis:
- because we are running out of storage room
- because we feel like ‘dumping stuff’
- because we feel like ‘lightening up’
- etc
Recently all of the above applied and the basement was being attacked by us with help from the kids.
First, we decided to get rid of all the empty boxes we kept just in case the appliance stopped working and we needed to bring it back in the original packaging (some boxes have been there collecting dust for 6 years at least).
The kids were all excited to play with the empty boxes, but first we had to take out the styrofoam blocks.
‘Why Mommy?’ asks my 5 year old.
‘Because they go into a separate container at the recycling center.’ I explain.
‘What’s a recyling center Mommy?’
And so the decluttering experience turned into ‘teach your kids all about recycling by turning it into a game’.
How to turn a gruesome task into creative play:
- Involve your kids
- If you don’t have any kids, get some from friends or family
- If they don’t have any kids, pretend to be kids yourself for the day
- Wear old clothes. You don’t want your new sweater to be part of the ‘to throw’ pile after this day.
- Make piles (of cardboard, styrofoam, plastic, metal, glass etc): teaches the kids not only what each material is, but it’s fun building heaps and stamp of cardboard boxes to flatten them.
- Make a ‘to give’ pile: many items we consider throw away material are gladly re-used by other people. Think about who could be happy with what you want to give away. If you don’t have any dust collecting family member, the recycling center usually has a second hand department.
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Get rid of obstacles: decluttering remains a gruesome, time-consuming task which we gladly give up with the slightest excuse…
- rent a trailer: that way the inside of your car doesn’t get dirty and you don’t have to drive to the center 5 times to get rid of stuff (which can set a halt to the best of decluttering ventures)
- ask some people to help: the more the better and funnier (and faster)
- set up a system: have labeled boxes in your basement for the most usual stuff (plastic, paper, glass etc). That way everything is basically ready to be thrown out when you decide to declutter. - Put some music on. Any upbeat music will do. Singing along is not mandatory but encouraged.
- Play. Get into the empty boxes with your kids. Imagine what you could make out of those metal bars.
Finally we had a full trailer full of STUFF. Off we went to the recycling center where, contrary to a recent experience, very helpful staff showed us which items went where.
The boys loved climbing up the ladders to throw things from a certain height into the containers, the metal or wooden clunks making them shriek with pleasure.
‘Mommy, I looove recycling!’ shouts my 5 year old from around the cardboard container, which had just been put to work and was pressing the cardboard boxes.
It made the whole experience fun and do-able. So much so that we continued a few days later with the garage and filled another trailer.
I think we need to calm our enthusiam or we will end up with an empty house…