06/06/2026
This may be an unpopular opinion for overstimulated parents, but we should never declutter without our children's consent. 😬 Let us explain...
Feelings of betrayal attached to items can lead to hoarding behaviors in childhood or adulthood. Although it's important to teach children the principles of a decluttering practice, we should always be careful to temper that with their emotional maturity and comfort levels.
Here are three ways to do that:
1. Positive reinforcement when they do let go 💓
2. Trial purge period for when their too young/non-verbal 📦
3. Asking them what they want to keep instead of what they want to donate/let go ✅
(Also, we fully recognize that we say this without the real life experience of being parents so please take this advice with a healthy helping of 🧂. Our goal is always to help. If you have additional advice or perspective please share!)
