Marie Kondo Will Release a Children's Book So Your Kids Can Tidy Up Too

Parents, prepare to inspire your kids to tidy up, thanks to this major announcement from Marie Kondo, the Japanese organizational expert and mother of two girls. "We're planning to publish a children's book in the United States. It hasn't come out in Japan yet. The United States will be the first place," Marie told POPSUGAR in an interview following the KonMari Consultant Seminar in New York City. Her first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, has sold eight million copies in the world. Though it has helped numerous adults, it left parents with one big question: "How can I teach and encourage my children to do the same?"

The subject has been tackled by bloggers and publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and now, Marie will communicate her expertise in a way that will resonate with children. Having read her latest publication, a comic book titled The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up, I have no doubt the children's book will contain adorable illustrations, clear and concise language, and a message that "sparks joy" to children and parents alike. As for the timeline, Marie admitted, "We really don't know yet. We've really just started the project."

Parents can begin the KonMari Method with their children as early as 3 years old, sorting things by category and starting with clothes. Marie says at that age, children can already distinguish which of their possessions truly spark joy. Younger children can start folding towels and work up to folding clothing the KonMari way by the time they are between 8 and 10 years old. This said, Marie urges parents to follow these guidelines before expecting their children to tidy: parents must tidy first (to completion), children must voluntarily want to tidy, and parents must respect the joy-sparking items their child chooses as long as they fit within the designated space assigned for them. And remember that perfection isn't the name of the game — joy is!