{"id":28458,"date":"2024-02-12T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/?p=28458"},"modified":"2024-02-12T14:24:56","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T20:24:56","slug":"why-too-much-clutter-is-hurting-your-homeschool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/why-too-much-clutter-is-hurting-your-homeschool\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeschool Clutter: Why It’s a Problem and How to Fix It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether clutter drives you batty or you’re the one who always knows where everything is amid the chaos, too much homeschool clutter may be a problem. Read on to discover why too much clutter may be hurting your homeschool and what you can do about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everywhere we look – on Pinterest, blogs, Instagram, you name it – people are decluttering. I’ve seen umpteen clutter-purging room-by-room lists and photos of donation bin bags piled high, boasting another victory in the challenge of getting rid of the obscene amount of things we don’t really need.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Marie Kondo has undoubtedly made heaps of money with her tactics on purging your home down to the very bare essentials. (Though I have read that she’s done some <\/strong>backpedaling now that she has kids<\/strong><\/a>, so there’s that.)  But what does this mean for us homeschoolers and our homeschool clutter? Aren’t we supposed<\/em> to have an excess of books and paper and glue sticks? Isn’t an overflowing art cabinet or a three-foot-high stack of Ticonderoga pencils a homeschooling mom’s badge of honor?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m usually one to lean more toward the minimalist side of the spectrum rather than being a clutter bug. No matter which end of the spectrum you prefer, the fact is that homeschoolers tend to have a lot of stuff, but too much clutter could be hurting your homeschool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problems with Homeschool Clutter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether it’s a curriculum we thought we’d use (or even the stuff we do use!) or piles of paper, stacks of books, and mounds of art supplies, too much homeschool clutter can present problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clutter Wastes Time<\/h2>\n\n\n
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In the last week, how much time have you or your kids spent searching for the missing math book, digging through drawers looking for the pencil sharpener, or shifting stacks of paper to unearth this week’s read-aloud?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probably lots. And, I’m guilty, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With four kids who are always home and doing all the things<\/em>, I don’t think there will ever be a time in the next 15 years that my house isn’t somewhat cluttered or messy. But excessive homeschool clutter steals our time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When things start to get really chaotic around here, I find myself moving a lot of piles and “losing” a lot more stuff. When paper clutter is at a minimum, and the kids’ rooms are not overflowing with unnecessary stuff, <\/em>we spend a lot less time searching for things!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes I suspect that not being able to find the supplies is akin to a toddler “needing” just one more drink of water at bedtime. Unfortunately, the tactic is more effective than it should be when homeschool clutter makes it hard to find those homeschool books. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clutter Causes Overspending<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Raise your hand if you’ve bought two of the same resources because you forgot you already owned the first copy somewhere in those bookshelves and closets overflowing with curriculum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yep, me too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring is a great time to start planning for next year and save money by hitting those used book sales and homeschool conventions. Unfortunately, we’re overspending rather than saving money if we’re unknowingly buying duplicates of what we already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or maybe you’ve had to purchase replacement supplies for those that have gone missing somewhere in all those piles of papers. Tell me I’m not the only one who finds the missing math CD the week after the replacement copy arrives in the mail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t know about you, but with the current economy, it’s in my family’s best financial interests to control the homeschool clutter so we can find and use the resources we already own.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Clutter Breeds Clutter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At my house, things get messy and cluttered when we get too busy to keep up with daily spot cleaning. When this happens, I’ve noticed how quickly the piles seem to grow! This phenomenon shows that clutter breeds clutter. The more you have, the faster it seems to multiply!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I really notice this most in the kitchen. If we don’t get the dishwasher unloaded in the morning, things start to pile up in the sink. Before I know it, the sink is full, the dirty dishes wind up on the counters, and suddenly, the whole kitchen is a disaster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same thing happens in our homeschooling areas, too, though. Plus, my kids seem to feed off my level of cleanliness. When I slack, they slack. (Thankfully, the opposite is true – they pick up steam when I do, too.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Tackle Homeschool Clutter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, staying on top of clutter is easy with a couple of simple steps. And, no, Step #1 isn’t “throw away 90% of your stuff.” So, relax, mama. You can keep your stash of unused crayons and reams of paper you picked up for next to nothing during last season’s back-to-school sales. Just quit buying more already! (Says the office supply junky.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create Space for Your Supplies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You know that saying, “Have a place for everything and put everything in its place”? This really is the first key to clutter control. It’s hard to put stuff away if there’s nowhere to put it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t worry. That doesn’t mean you have to have a dedicated school room or a spacious home to successfully corral the homeschool clutter. Look for simple solutions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n