According to numerous studies, the first five years of a child’s life are the most crucial. It is during this time that children develop the necessary life skills that will contribute to their long-term success and happiness. Some of these include self-regulation, motivation, decision-making skills, self-confidence, gaining independence, building strong relationships, and learning compassion.
\n \nAs parents, there are so many ways we can help our children succeed and thrive, even from a young age. Children pick things up quickly, so the sooner you start teaching them any new skills, the sooner they can start putting them into motion.
\nHere are five valuable skills you can start teaching your kids today that will help foster great habits for your little ones!
\n1. Keep things simple. Create a dedicated play area for your child so items can stay contained to that particular space. This is a great way to keep toys organized, and maintaining the space will be much easier. If your child prefers to play with toys in their room, you can create a small play zone for them and use a specific bin or basket for those items to live in. Remember to keep the number of toys to a minimum or rotate them out so the bin never gets overfilled.
\n2. Don't overwhelm your child with decisions. When kids (or adults) are overwhelmed, it’s incredibly difficult to think straight and focus on the task at hand. If your child has too many options for toys to play with and they are bombarded with things everywhere, such as mismatched sets and pieces, it will be harder for them to focus on what they want to do. This may ultimately lead to them losing interest completely. A clean, organized playroom with labels (or pictures) on bins will make things run much more smoothly. If you keep a minimum number of toys out at any given time, the space will also be much clearer, and they will have more room to play and focus. Rotate toys out as needed to make them feel new again – if you have the extra space to store them outside of the playroom.
\n3. Promote independence. Children are capable of doing so much more than we give them credit for. The sooner you start encouraging good habits, the better. A general guideline to begin can be anywhere from around 18 months (or even sooner, depending on your child) of age. Working together with your child to clean up the playroom, as soon as they are able to do so, is a great first step. Make clean-up time fun by singing clean-up songs together, setting a timer and racing to see who can pick up the most toys, asking your child to clean up all the blocks, for example, or any green items they see, etc. This will help teach them responsibility, which will be a very beneficial skill for them to have once they transition to daycare, preschool, etc. Another thing we can do as parents is to lead by example – such as by keeping other areas of the home neat and tidy. Some children actually love helping their parents sweep, vacuum, or even do laundry, so you can always ask your child if they would like to help! These are all amazing life skills that can be applied throughout their childhood and well into adulthood. This is especially true when your kids live on their own or with roommates one day – and we all know that nobody likes a messy roommate
\n4. Stop purchasing so many toys. If you are always buying your kids new toys, they will always be expecting more, and will most likely keep getting bored with what they already have. Set limits on how much stuff comes into your home! When you do purchase new toys, consider buying ones that promote learning or open-ended play (blocks, fort-building sets, books, arts/crafts, play food, games that teach the alphabet/shapes/colors,etc.). Some other great options are anything STEM-related, or toys that assist with fine/gross motor skills, such as science kits, Montessori climbers, etc. Try and opt for sustainable alternatives or second-hand items whenever possible to reduce waste.
\n5. Promote creativity, and encourage imagination and movement. Teach your child to use their imagination and get creative without the use of toys! Repurposing items around your home can be an inexpensive and fun way to bond with your child. You can make homemade play-doh together, do science experiments using food coloring, use empty paper towel rolls or egg cartons to make fun crafts, or even create paper bag puppets and put on a fun play together!
\nMany children also thrive in nature – sand and water tables or mud kitchens can create endless hours of fun. You can also collect twigs, leaves, or rocks for crafts. Some children are more drawn to music and movement, so throwing on your child's favorite songs and having a dance party is not only fun, but great exercise for both of you! Trampolines are also a favorite! Your child might also enjoy doing more calming and relaxing activities, such as reading or even doing kids’ yoga. Pay attention to what your child enjoys doing most, as each child is so different, and plan activities based on their interests.
\nSome final notes:
\nIf you don't want more stuff coming into your home (think birthdays, Christmas, and other holidays), gently remind friends and family that your child has enough toys and that your family is trying to live a more minimal lifestyle. You can suggest that passes to one of your child's favorite activities, such as swimming, going to the movies, going to the zoo, etc. would be greatly appreciated instead, so you can enjoy a fun experience together!
\nKindly decline any toys that someone offers to you if you don’t have the space or need for them. Just because something is free, you don’t have to accept it. Thank the person for thinking of you, and you can even suggest a charity or organization that may benefit from the items instead.
\nOnce your child has outgrown some of their toys or clothing (that you are not planning to keep for any potential future children) work alongside them to sort the items into donation/consign/sell piles. Donate items to friends, family, or your favorite charity, or consign/sell higher ticket items. Remind your child that helping others is a kind thing to do, and that the items they donate to others will be put to good use. This is a great way to teach them about compassion and giving back!
\n\n
Lisa is a mom of two and a Trained Professional Organizer. She is the owner of Light at The End of The Clutter Professional Organizing Services in Calgary. For more information, visit her Instagram page at – Light at The End of The Clutter or her website - lightattheendoftheclutter.com.
\n\n
See our related articles:
\n
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2025 Calgary’s Child
