![\"GettyImages-625714458\"](\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/3295812\/GettyImages-625714458.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Isn\u2019t it amazing how different two siblings can be? They’ve been raised in the same house, by the same two parents, with the same rules & expectations, yet they are oh-so very different in so many ways, particularly when it comes to being tidy and organized.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now, I\u2019m naturally a rather tidy and organized person. Okay, that might<\/em> be putting it mildly. I\u2019ve been called meticulous, super organized, and ridiculously tidy on a few occasions by those close to me. It\u2019s fine by me, I take it as a compliment. So obviously, keeping a clean, organized home is important to me \u2013 which means teaching our two boys to be tidy and organized is important to me as well. I don\u2019t expect them to be neat freaks by any means, but we have taught them that all their belongings have a home, and to put them there when they’re not using them. Now, this is where we go back to my very first line\u2026.<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t it amazing how different two siblings can be?<\/em><\/p>\n Here are just a few examples of what I mean\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Books<\/strong> \u2013 Each of them has a spot in their room for their books. They both read before bed each night, so when they are done with their books, they have a place for them.<\/p>\n 9-year-old:<\/u> His books are neatly organized on his desk in the order he wants to read them. The one he is currently reading is set aside neatly with a bookmark.<\/p>\n 7-year-old:<\/u> His books are placed wherever there is open space on his floor.<\/p>\n Hampers <\/strong>\u2013 They each have a hamper for dirty clothes in their closets. When they get undressed each morning and night, they are supposed to place their dirty clothes here.<\/p>\n 9-year-old:<\/u> Clothes go in hamper.<\/p>\n 7-year-old:<\/u> Clothes go on the floor, on the chair, on the bed, in the bathroom, in the living room. Basically, wherever he decides to take them off.<\/p>\n Shoes & Boots<\/strong> \u2013 They each have their own mat in our entryway for their shoes and boots when they aren\u2019t being worn.<\/p>\n 9-year-old:<\/u> Shoes and boots are placed neatly on mat.<\/p>\n 7-year-old:<\/u> Shoes are thrown wherever they land. Boots? Same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, while one child just seems to be naturally tidy and organized like his mama, we\u2019ll continue to work on the youngest one. I\u2019d like to say it\u2019s an age thing and that our 7-year-old will be just like his brother in a couple years, but our 9-year-old has always been neat and tidy. Our 7-year-old\u2026not so much. So, I think it\u2019s more of a personality thing than an age thing. Our youngest just simply doesn\u2019t care as much.<\/p>\n That being said, I do firmly believe that teaching kids organization and tidiness from a young age is important. It not only helps to keep the household running smooth, but it\u2019s important that they understand responsibility and how to take proper care of their belongings. It\u2019s also an important skill to have as they get older. I mean, they won\u2019t be living with us forever, right? Right?!?!?!<\/em><\/p>\n So, give your children chores. Give them responsibility. Fight the urge to simply do it yourself because it\u2019s easier (I still struggle with this!). Even when you\u2019ve asked them 283 times to put their dirty socks in their hamper, NOT on the couch!!!! You know, hypothetically speaking\u2026 <\/p>\n Feel free to share your tidiness triumphs and struggles below!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Isn\u2019t it amazing how different two siblings can be? They’ve been raised in the same house, by the same two parents, with the same rules & expectations, yet they are oh-so very different in so many ways, particularly when it comes to being tidy and organized.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-669","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-parenting"},"yoast_head":"\n