CAN ‘KONDO’ YOU YOUR KIDS?

WITH MUM-OFTWO AND SOCIAL COMMENTATOR ANGELA MOLLARD

She’s the tidying guru who took the world by storm, and now Marie Kondo has set her sights on kids. The best-selling author of The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up has written a picture book about two friends who have different skills when it comes to running their lives.

Kiki & Jax: The Life-changing Magic of Friendship tells the story of Kiki, who is a collector, and Jax, a sorter, and how their different approaches to life can cause tension.

While many would pay good money for the secret to getting their kids to pick up after themselves, Marie’s book raises questions about how parents may be preventing kids from pulling their weight.

Experts say we make it logistically hard for kids by taking over, using cleaning products they can’t use and making tidying about the end

result rather than the process. Filling a cleaning caddy with products they can use and showing them how to use them will help kids feel ownership over the task.

We’d also do better if we let go of our perfectionist streak and let kids do the job to their ability, even if it’s not as good as we would do. Children learn through doing, so championing rather than critiquing efforts will give them a sense of pride.

In busy homes many parents pay a cleaner or rush through tasks while their children are out or sleeping. While it will take more time to do tasks with them, not only do they learn what’s required to run a household but they will learn to contribute and see the family as a team. Finally, we have to consider the end goal – do we want spotless homes or do we want to raise competent people who are taught tasks that will set them up for life?