How to Keep the Kids Rooms From Getting Messy

It starts with a few stray toys, or some dirty clothes on the floor. Before long, you can barely open your child's bedroom door, let alone walk through it without risking injury. Some kids naturally pick up their rooms with little need for motivation, while others struggle with the task. Yelling at your child to clean her room won't fix the problem. With organizational strategies and shortcuts, your child learns to take care of her own items so the mess doesn't overtake her room.

Things You'll Need

  • Storage containers

Instructions

    • 1

      Sort through the items in your child's room to cut back on the potential for clutter. Get rid of old toys she no longer uses and clothes that are too small, and store clothes that are out of season. Let your child help with the cleanup so she doesn't feel like you're getting rid of all of her favorite things.

    • 2

      Move some items to another area of the home if possible. For example, move her shoes to the mudroom. Put most of her toys in the playroom. Finding a new home for some of her belongings leaves less behind for her to make a mess with.

    • 3

      Add storage areas in the room, such as bookshelves or drawers, to keep the remaining items orderly. Get your child involved in organizing her belongings in the storage spaces. Help her put things she uses often in the easy-to-reach places. For example, her book collection might go on a shelf right next to her bed if she likes to read at night.

    • 4

      Write a cleaning checklist so she knows exactly what she needs to do in her room. Include tasks such as making the bed, putting clothes in the hamper, vacuuming the floor and picking up toys. Teach her to refer to the list when she cleans.

    • 5

      Schedule a nightly room-pickup session. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes before bed to straighten the room. If she cleans a little each day, she won't end up with a mess too large to conquer.

    • 6

      Make a reward chart if your child needs a little motivation to keep her room clean. Track when she cleans her room with the chart. Link the chart to rewards, such as an extra privilege.

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