By Stacy McDonald
Is it just me, or does spring cleaning give everyone else goose bumps too? Who needs a trip to the Bahamas when I could be throwing out stuff! In my opinion, there’s nothing quite as invigorating as purging old, wrinkled scratch paper that’s been stuffed behind completed math books or throwing out the one-inch pencil—sharpened to its death and stashed behind the six-month old art project on top of the wardrobe.
My husband believes (sometimes, much to his dismay) that I am a neat freak. Silly, I know! But whether or not it’s true, he wanted me to share some organizational tips with our readers and hopefully encourage those who are in need of a little spring cleaning inspiration.
It does my soul good to head up to our school area with an extra large garbage bag and an empty box labeled “garage sale.” The McDonald children gasp and clear the way as they try to recall what forgotten gems lay hoarded in their school bins.
Before getting started, it helps to be well rested and have on hand a tall glass of something refreshing to drink. If possible, start your spring cleaning while it’s still cool enough outside to open your windows. Along with broken crayons, bent paper clips and old school work you don’t plan to save, it’s a good idea to remove the stale air from your room with a good cleansing spring-time breeze.
As you sort through the room, ask yourself if the item in question is useful to you. If it is, then keep it and find a way to organize it neatly. If it’s not, then ask yourself if it is something that could be useful to anyone else. If it is, then place it in a “garage sale” box. Having a garage sale is a great way to pay for future curriculum and supplies. Another option is to donate unneeded items and supplies to another homeschool family or a Christian charity. If you determine that it’s useful to absolutely no one, chuck it!
I usually warn my children at least one day in advance, so they can do their own purging first. This helps to insure that I don’t accidentally throw out a treasured half-written novel or an artistic masterpiece in the making or a rock that looked just like all the other rocks in the backyard but was very special to a certain six-year-old boy (don’t ask!).
I have found it to be of the utmost importance to be brave—very brave—before one can properly spring clean. If you’re afraid to throw anything away, you’ll end up with a room where all the “junk” is simply rearranged. My husband does not possess this type of bravery. Although my husband is a true knight and would, if necessary, fight a fire-breathing dragon to the death on my behalf, I mustn’t ask him to part with that broken watch or the goofy looking ball cap in the corner of the closet.
Since we need to keep everything within a biblical perspective, we must always “treat others as we want to be treated.” Remember to be sensitive to the nostalgic pleas of a husband and children who are attached to the strangest things. I know, I know, “Why would anyone want to save that?” My sympathies are with you.
However, as you sort through old school work, you’ll be reminded of how far Johnny has progressed in his math or how much Suzy’s handwriting has improved. You may find a note to grandma that was never sent. Remember to save a few “keepsake” items for posterity. My most recent favorite was a drawing from my son, Caleb. He drew a picture of the castle he was going to build for me to live in (with him) when he grows up. These truly are treasures to keep and a real breath of fresh air.
BOXED
Spring Cleaning Tools
- Treasure Box - Allow your children at least one day in advance to sort and organize their own things. Give each child their own box. Warn them that you will be cleaning with a garbage bag in one hand, so if they have any “treasures” they want to save, they will need to put them into their “treasure box” for you to sort through and approve later. Don’t give them a box that is too big. This might encourage some children to save EVERYTHING! A shoe box is a good size to teach children to be discerning about the things they choose to keep. Sometimes exceptions need to be made
- Garage Sale Box – Anything worth keeping, but no longer useful to you, should go in this (large) box. Ask yourself if you’ve used this item in the last year. Remember, someone else could really be using it. “One homeschooling mom’s junk is another homeschooling mom’s treasure!”
- Large Garbage Bag(s) – Don’t use a clear one. Little eyes will surely find something that most certainly should never have been thrown away—like that gum wrapper Melissa was saving for her grandchildren!
- Multi-Sized Containers – Baskets, crates, plastic cups, boxes, buckets, flower pots, cigar boxes, large match boxes—have these handy as you begin your organizational extravaganza.
Rubber Bands or “Zip” Freezer Bags – Discard torn flashcard boxes or game boxes and bind or contain them anew!
Spring Cleaning Tips - Old baskets can be found at garage sales and clearance shelves. Old picnic baskets are a great choice since they have lids and can be left out while hiding the clutter. This is a great place to stash boxed flash cards or small toddler toys for easy access any time! If desired, baskets can be spray painted to match your room.
- A wicker laundry hamper, small wastebasket or vegetable bin is useful for organizing larger, clumsy objects. This works great for blocks, play food or Legos®.
- Large plastic cups, shoe boxes, or plastic bowls are ideal for storing pencils, markers, crayons, math manipulatives, rulers, calculators, cassette tapes, erasers etc. Involve your children in decorating them. Supply them with old wallpaper squares, wrapping paper, paint, lace etc. This will give them something constructive to do while you’re organizing and will help them feel involved.
- An empty drawer from an old or broken dresser can be painted or covered with pretty wallpaper and used to store books, glue, videos and all sorts of school supplies. Show children that one way to be a good steward is to take broken items and make them useful.
- Cereal boxes can be useful tools. Cut, at an angle, the top 1/3 section off a cereal box and cover with wrapping paper (another decorating opportunity for the kids). This is a good place to store workbooks, coloring books, answer keys, thin study guides or anything else that is flimsy and hard to store.
- Use empty metal bandage containers to store thumb tacks, paper clips and other tiny items.
Originally published in Homeschooling Today® magazine.
