If You Want Organized Kids "Straight Out of the Womb," The Home Edit's New Books Can Help

In an exclusive interview with REAL SIMPLE, the decluttering pros revealed they're publishing a line of books for babies to teens.

Joanna Teplin and Clea Shearer, founders of The Home Edit, hope to raise the next generation of organizers. In an exclusive interview with REAL SIMPLE, the decluttering pros who each have two kids, revealed that they’ve teamed up with Random House Children’s Books and Clarkson Potter to publish a line of books for babies to teens.

The first two titles, Let’s Put That Away!: My First Book of Organizing and The Home Edit for Teens: How to Edit Your Space, Express Your Style, and Get Things Done!will launch on September 3 and are available for pre-order now. A picture book is also in the works. “We think of organizing as a language, and the earlier you start, the better off you are,” said Teplin. Shearer added, “We often get asked, ‘Is it even worth organizing your space if you have kids?’ We wanted to write a book that could be a guide for kids and adults to work together to create smart systems in the household.”

Related: 5 Secrets of Super Organized Families

Taking the “Clean Up” song to the next level, the colorful board book Let’s Put That Away! explains where to store familiar items, from toys to towels. Straightforward, positive text introduces the concept of tidying up as little ones go along (“All day long, we take things out and put things away.”)

Young viewers of the pair’s Emmy-nominated Netflix show, ​​Get Organized with The Home Edit, inspired the direction of the The Home Edit for Teens, a photo-packed book divided into six chapters: Where You Learn, Where You Play, Where You Prep, Where You Dream, Where You Celebrate, and Where You Go.

“After our show on Netflix came out, we couldn’t believe the response from kids and teens,” they said. “We never expected that they would find it as rewarding as adults to be organized.” In the book, teens will find genius ideas for storing their most precious items—whether it’s a skin-care stash, Lego pieces, or cool school supplies. The packing section, in particular, knocks it out of the park for high-schoolers who are headed on college visits or trips with their traveling sports team.

Teplin, who admits that she was a messy high schooler, noted that many teens would be neater if they had better systems in place. The pair agreed, “You need to give them tools to set them up for success. You can’t say, ‘Go clean up your room,’ if there’s nowhere for teens to put their stuff.” If their room needs a total makeover, starting small is also key. They suggested, “Begin with a desk drawer or closet shelf or the stuffed animals on the bed—something that’s truly attainable–and then build on it.”

Both Teplin and Shearer were big readers growing up—and still prioritize books. “Reading is my absolute favorite thing to do,” said Shearer, who gravitates to thrillers. Meanwhile, Teplin is currently reading Greenlights, a memoir by actor Matthew McConaughey. The duo’s favorite way to organize books is by color, though “if a series is important, don’t break it up.” So besides the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Pete the Cat books, shelf all your titles from The Home Edit together.

Related: 6 Ways to Simplify Your Family's Morning Routine

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