To discipline is to train and this is a basic and essential part of any parent’s role. Yes, it takes a village to raise a child, as the adage goes, but it still starts in the home. Training does not have to be confined to books and lessons but should extend to the practical areas of life so that the child learns to blend and function well within society. And one of the basic elements in humankind’s evolution is order. Thus, keeping order in the home does not only have practical benefits, it is also a responsibility that every adult should take seriously especially if he has a youngster within the premises.
There is the Japanese philosophy called 5S, which is essentially on keeping the workplace in order, principles that can also be applied to the home. Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize and Sustain. These are the 5 English words that are equivalent to the Japanese version of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke. Quite complicated to memorize, I know, but let us see how these can be converted into simple household tips to make it easier to bear in mind.
Sort or seiri is to remove all the unnecessary items and keep only those which are essentials. Whether it be toys or clothes, select those which have not been used for 6 months or more and discard either to charity or to trash.
Straighten or seiton is to set aside a place for everything and put everything in its place. Identify corners, shelves or boxes which your child may use to play with his toys and to keep these afterward. This is also where labeling comes into the picture. Whether it is your child’s room or your pantry, indicating tags will help you (and your child) locate items.
Shine or seiso is tidying up and keeping things neat and orderly. It also makes the habit easier to develop when the child knows where to put things back.
Standardize or seiketsu is making sure that the child (or the nanny) knows how the system behind the order. Orient these key individuals on the logic behind which items are placed where so that the household is in the effort together.
Sustain or shitsuke is making sure that the effort is maintained. Regular reminders will eventually lead to a routine and if it is on the positive side, it will be a habit that you would not want your child to break.














