Chances are, your kids had more than enough stuff before the holidays – and now, after the holidays, they have way more than enough. Now it’s time to put things in order. Every child needs help getting organized, but for visual kids organizing can be more important and even more challenging.

Logical, linear thought processes happen in the left side of the brain but our visual kids spend more time in the nonlinear, right side of their brain. The effort spent to get your child organized helps because, when their world is organized on the outside – it provides calm and stability, allowing them to create the internal order they desperately need.

To make it work for them, use lots of color, boxes, baskets and labels where needed. Follow these four easy steps to creating a much needed organized space for your kids…

Share, Toss, Keep –

Your creative, visual kid probably has a room full of toys, self-made treasures and endless supplies for more. But once in a while – its time to purge the foil balls, scraps of paper, old toys and dilapidated inventions. Make three piles; things to give away, things to toss, things to keep. For younger kids, this is best done without them present – but it’s extremely important you’re sensitive to what’s important to them.

Bucket, Basket, Box –

Everything needs a place to be. Organize their things by activity and place in a container that suits the contents. Building blocks do well in an oversized basket, building sets can be organized and sorted in plastic drawers and books should be sorted, stacked and easily accessible. Just remember, to a visual kid, the container can matter almost as much as the contents.

Make it Visual –

Visual kids need things to be visual – even the way things are organized. Once you do the sorting and boxing, make it fun, attractive and inviting. Be sure the containers have personality. Use color. Label things with words and pictures. Let your kids add fun personal touches… making things visual also makes it more “kid-friendly”- inviting them to take part gives them ownership in the process.

Swap things out –

Whether it is art supplies, building sets or science kits, there can be too much of a good thing, especially for visual kids. They are curious and love what’s new – manage the amount of activity around them. Keep an age appropriate amount of toys and activities available but put the extras away so you can spice things up from time to time with toys they already have.

Once you have a system in place, get them excited about using it. Let them add the finishing touches. Encourage them to tidy their space every day – so it doesn’t get out of hand.

• What are some of your favorite ways to organize? 
• Do you have a favorite tool?
• Does your child respond better to a certain container?

For an easy, visual way to get and keep their clothing organized, download my favorite tool:VISUAL LABELS.