At this point, everyone in America has heard of “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix based on the lead’s best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Kondo’s followers swear by her methods of cleaning and organizing the home.
The popularity of her ideas has caused people to begin thinking of other ways they can implement her strategies, known as KonMari, to improve everything from their homes to their retirement plans. Parents are even researching “KonMari kids clothing” for help with tidying the clutter in their kids’ bedrooms.
So, we started to think about how else parents could use the KonMari method to simplify their lives. Here is what we’ve learned.
The Three Basic Principles of KonMari for Kids
The KonMari method was inspired by Marie Kondo. According to her website, “The KonMari Method™ is a state of mind – and a way of life – that encourages cherishing the things that spark joy in one’s life. Belongings are acknowledged for their service – and thanked before being let go, should they no longer spark joy.”
Lynn Duae for the Huffington Post explains the method this way: “The foundation of Kondo\’s approach, trademarked as the KonMari Method, is comprised of three parts: First, discard the belongings that no longer serve you. Then, designate a place for everything. Finally, limit incoming belongings to those that spark joy.” Therefore, KonMari followers should actively do the following three things in whatever area they want to tidy up:
- Discard
- Designate
- Limit
Tips for Using KonMari for Kids Schedules
By using the KonMari Method for your kids’ schedule, you can tidy up and simplify your life. Once you have cleared away what you do not need and focus on the things that spark joy, everyone in your family will feel more content. Here are some basic ideas to guide you through KonMari for kids’ schedules:
- Discard bad habits: Let’s be real. You will not have any lasting change if you do not discard bad habits that take up unnecessary time. For instance, if your kids’ screentime overload is their worst habit, use a phone usage app to help you monitor and limit screentime.
- Designate a time for everything: Carefully review your family’s schedule. When it comes to your kids’ schedules, you should have time for each activity. If you have overlaps, it means the schedule is cluttered and needs to be tidied up. Instead, every activity and part of your kids’ daily routine should have a designated block of time. If the overlaps are related to your driving times, consider using GoKid to organize carpools with other trusted families.
- Designate a place for everything: A major component of KonMari is tidying up and organizing your space. When it comes to using this method for your busy schedule, you’ll find that once things in your home have designated space, your schedule is easier to maintain. For instance, rather than rushing around trying to find sports equipment, it should be in its designated place ensuring you leave on time with what you need.
- Limit activities to those that spark joy: Before you sign your kid up for another extracurricular activity, consider whether it actually sparks joy for your child. If your child does not enjoy the activity, consider if it is really worth it. It’s easy to accidentally overschedule out of a desire to give your child a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, but sometimes free time is best. A 2010 study in the Journal of School Health found that, of the children who participated in the study, 78% wished they had more free time. Along those same lines, ask yourself if adding another kid’s activity to your schedule will spark joy for you.
Stop Overscheduling Your Kids and Yourself
We are not suggesting you force your kids to quit activities just because they do not spark joy for you or them. However, it is a good thing to consider when making decisions about when to quit and when to add something to your schedule. Since studies suggest our kids are already too busy, it is time to put the KonMari method to work on our kid’s schedules to ensure they are healthy and happy.
