Fast forward a bit, I closed my daycare, had my third son, and opened Art Adventures, an art studio for kids. I did that for about 20 years, and after, I was looking around for new challenges. I’ve always thought about systems and habits, and I know from experience how it smooths family life out when you have methods to rely on. So. I decided to start a business teaching young families better time management skills. I wrote all my systems down, and turned them into a best selling book called “30 Days To An Organized Home.” I thought a business teaching moms how to get more done with less stress would be a winner—it wasn’t. I learned that moms have no time to learn how to have more time. After that realization, I changed my business model. I already had this proven system of how to set up a playroom so it stays organized, the kids can find everything, and actually want to put their toys away. So, The Toy Tamer was born and it’s become something that moms want for their sanity, but in reality, it’s teaching the kids executive functioning skills so they can run their own lives as they get older.
Clutter impacts the entire family, moms feel it’s their job to keep it under control and most dads feel it’s not their problem, but the kids are the real losers in the clutter battle. A home filled with clutter produces kids who are overwhelmed and can’t make decisions. Yet, every kid wants to be in charge of their world. If we give them the playroom to be in charge of and ensure their success with the right system, we end up with kids who can think for themselves and run their own lives.
I think like a kid would think when it comes to putting toys away. I make it into a game, one they can win every time so immediate gratification is the reward, and there no greater motivator than that. Toys need to be easier to put away than to take out, bins should never have lids, bins should be half the size of the shelf, the list goes on. Right now, I’m sharing tips every day via video on my social media. Once the system is in place, it runs by itself and you never have to clean up again. As kids grow and the toys change, they’ll just need new labels to keep the system running. Toy Taming really is a one and done answer.
The best advice I ever got is direct and to the point, and I still use it today, even though my three boys are taller than me now. It’s a simple question I ask myself: Will this matter in 10 years? Since most of the time the answer is no, then why worry? Let kids be kids, let them explore, let them make messes. Have systems to make life smoother and less stressful. And if the mess takes less time to clean up then the kids spent playing, all is good.
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