Keeping the kids rooms tidy can seem like an almost impossible task – but taken in stages, it really is one problem that you can stay on top of.
Get the Room Organised
Before you can tidy or even clean the room you need to get the room organised. Bedrooms more than any other room need organising because generally they house lots of stuff.
By the way don’t be too much of a perfectionist about keeping all the bits together from toys. If they have been flung all round the room and are mixed up with other stuff just keep an old ice cream box for small abandoned toys.
Then if a small toy is suddenly urgently needed there is a good chance it will be in the small toys abandonment box. It is also a good idea to make sure you have a supply of plastic bands they can come in useful for keeping games and other stuff in tact.
So the first step is likely to involve having a big sort out, then you will need to find homes for toys and a place to hang things up.
Lets deal with the decluttering first. Arrive in the bedroom with bin bags. Put your favourite music on and decide how long you will be spending on “organising the room”. If this is a mammoth task then you need to break this down into manageable chunks, focusing on the most urgent bits first.
Whether you are going to just to sort out what is lying on the bedroom floor – or the whole bedroom the following process will work well.
Rubbish and stuff that is broken, tatty or on its last legs, goes in one bag. Do not stop and examine anything. This should be thrown straight in the dustbin.
Clothes that are too small, or not used, in a second bag. Toys books and other stuff in a third bag. This stuff can be given away or taken to the charity shop.
Finally if there is stuff that could be useful but not right now. Or you just can not bring yourself to throw it away put this in a fourth bag. And if there is anything good enough to sell, put it to one side and put it on ebay as soon as possible.
With all these different categories using differnt coloured bags or see through bags if you can get hold of them makes this task easier.
Once you have removed all the offending clutter concentrate on finding homes for stuff that is left in the bedroom.
Kids Find Tidying Up Difficult
Kids also find hanging up clothes difficult. Actually I empathise with that – I find hanging up clothes difficult. So the trick is to make it as easy and manageable for them and you as possible
To stop the dirty washing from being left on the floor give the kids their own dirty washing bag or linen basket. There are many fun ones around which even small children will are able to use. And it is such a good habit to get into.
Employ an “everything for tomorrow draw”. This can be a drawer they can use in their bedroom for tomorrows togs and anything else your kids deem as important tomorrow.
Hooks also work well with kids – even very small kids. So having their own fun hooks at child height will encourage them to hang clothes up.
Adding a low child height rail in the wardrobe will also make it easier for children not just hang things up -but get into the habit of hanging things up. Part of the problem with keeping kids rooms tidy is that they find the rails too high, so we just hang everything up for them.
Toys – well hopefully lots of stuff has been removed if you have followed the bin exercise above. But if the room is still bulging with toys and you actually want to keep them all, then here are some great ideas for storing toys.
Toy chests, shelves, ceiling hangers. All of these things plus themed coat hooks and linen baskets can be found here on the Childrens Rooms website giving you a one stop shop to get everything from without leaving the house.
So Finally the Bedroom is Looking a Little Tidier.
To keep it that way try to spend fifteen minutes a day with your child tidying up. This can be first thing in the morning, or it could be part of the bed and bath time routine. To make it more fun get in the habit of listening to music, and develop games around tidying up.
For example your kids can throw their dirty clothes into the linen basket. They can play beat the clock, or you can make up imaginary games around their favourite toys to encourage tidying up.
Doing this with your kids – whatever their age, is a good way for them to learn, it also makes it more fun for you and them, and best of all tidying up becomes a habit, and they and you do it without really noticing they are tidying their bedrooms.
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