| How many times have you said that as a | | | | easier.Now back to my kids...For my son, |
| parent? Or...how many times have you heard | | | | having things labeled is a big help. He has a |
| that as a kid?The whole "keep-your-room- | | | | bin labeled "army men", one labeled |
| clean war" happens in just about every | | | | "dinosaurs", etc. So when I say, "please |
| household, but believe it or not, there are | | | | clean up your army men", he knows exactly |
| ways to make it not such a headache for both | | | | where they go.As for my daughter...I tried |
| kids and parents.The first thing you as a | | | | the labeling technique and what did she do? |
| parent must remember is that every kid is | | | | She took them off because she didn't like it. |
| different. Just like every adult is | | | | She said, "I know where my things go". So for |
| different. YOUR idea of clean is most likely | | | | her, dividing her room into zones (dress-up, |
| not the same as your child's.Also, all people | | | | doll house etc.) with a bin or two for each |
| (adults and kids) organize a space in their | | | | helps her keep her room clean.I tried having |
| own way.Let me give you example: My five year | | | | one drawer for all her dress-up shoes and one |
| old son's idea of an organized room is that | | | | drawer for all her dress-up accessories, but |
| everything is in it's place. He likes things | | | | it just didn't work. She wants them all in |
| lined up where he can see them and when he | | | | one bin and doesn't mind digging for her |
| cleans his room, everything goes back in the | | | | things. Digging drives me crazy, but for her, |
| same spot where it belongs.Now my 7 year old | | | | it's just fine...and maybe even fun.Last but |
| daughter, who is the creative type, doesn't | | | | not least, just walking into your kid's room |
| really care where it goes. She has the "out | | | | and saying "Clean Your Room!" is usually not |
| of sight, out of mind" mindset. So trying to | | | | the best way to go. For toddlers, elementary |
| get her to put things in the same place every | | | | age and for some teenagers it is a good idea |
| time is like pulling teeth!After realizing | | | | to be specific.For example: "Please put all |
| and accepting that both kids are completley | | | | your dress-up clothes in the box and all your |
| different I had to come up with different | | | | doll clothes in their box." That way they |
| ways to help them keep their room clean.What | | | | have a specific mission. Instead of just |
| I just said is KEY! Coming up with ways to | | | | looking at their room in a state of |
| HELP them keep their rooms clean. If they | | | | confusion, you have given them some |
| have no system in place or nowhere to keep | | | | direction.One note to parents: Keeping YOUR |
| their things, then cleaning their room will | | | | room clean also will set a GREAT example for |
| seem like an impossible task. But, if you as | | | | your kids! Hey, just making the bed makes a |
| the parent can adapt their rooms to their | | | | world of difference ;) . |
| personality type, it will make things a lot | | | | |