| If your child's room looks like the military did | | | | missing lots of parts really needs to be weeded |
| nuclear bomb testing in it, you're not alone. But | | | | out. |
| don't despair, there is a way to burrow under the | | | | * Designate a box or bag for charity. Put clothes |
| mounds of clothes, toys and garbage to find the | | | | she's outgrown into it along with any functional |
| beautiful and clean room that's waiting. Storage | | | | toys she won't use again. |
| bins, buckets and other small and inexpensive | | | | * With everything cleaned out of the room, go |
| holders are great for getting things sorted out. | | | | through the "keeper" pile and sort it. If you're |
| The approach you take in cleaning up your child's | | | | dealing with a girl, sort stuffed animals, Barbie |
| room will, of course, depend on his or her age. If | | | | type toys, other toy items and so on. Also sort |
| you have a very small child, pretty much anything | | | | out clothes that still fit and so on. |
| goes. Older children should be involved in the | | | | After you have the room completely cleaned out |
| process, but if you've allowed the room to get | | | | and the items sorted, it's time to employ some |
| out of control, you need to help, too. This is | | | | storage bins, buckets and shelves. Closet floor |
| especially important if your youngster doesn't | | | | space generally is wasted in a child's room since |
| understand basic organizing principles. Teenagers | | | | clothes don't hang down very far. And even in a |
| should be guided along the way, but should do the | | | | teen's room, there generally is a lot of wasted |
| bulk of the work themselves. | | | | space. This is the ideal location for some storage |
| Now, to get started, breathe. Pick a spot in the | | | | bins or buckets. An empty wall in the main room, |
| house where items can be stored temporarily. If | | | | too, could benefit from a drawer system or |
| your child's helping, let him know where things | | | | bucket toy box. You can find these in multi-colors, |
| need to go for the time being. Jump in and start | | | | solid pinks, blues or so on for young children. Older |
| by removing everything in the room but the | | | | kids might prefer solid dark colors or something |
| furniture. | | | | more "mature." |
| Follow these steps, and the process should be | | | | Designate storage boxes and bins for specific |
| relatively painless: | | | | toys. Set drawers in their dresser for specific |
| * As you remove all the toys, clothes and so on, | | | | kinds of clothing, i.e., sock drawer, shirts and so |
| don't forget items in dresser drawers and so on. | | | | on. With that done, have the child help you put |
| If your child is helping, make sure you and she go | | | | things away if she's older, or do it yourself if she's |
| through everything. | | | | not. |
| * Set aside a spot for keeper toys, clothes and | | | | A storage bin system is a great way to get a |
| so on. Put worn out clothes, toys, that year-old | | | | child's room straightened out and organized. By |
| slice of cake that was hiding under the bed and | | | | setting specific bins and drawers for certain kinds |
| so on in the trash. If an older child is involved, let | | | | of toys and items, you'll help make it easier for |
| him make the decisions on toys that need to go, | | | | your child to keep the room clean and also find |
| but do make it clear anything that's broken or | | | | toys when he wants them. |