How to Declutter a Childs Play Room

They say a cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind, so cleaning up the play area can help lower stress and frustration in your child. The following are tips I have collected from reorganizing after several household moves.

Storage items to use tips:

An old dresser can hold a lot while still looking attractive. I use one to hold movies, video games and frequently used toys. It's much easier for a child to go through a drawer instead of a box.

Label areas for kids, to help them know where to put things away at clean-up time. Always designate a clean-up time so kids can have a routine of putting their things away.

Designate a rule that nothing new gets taken out until the previous item is put away.

Remove items that your child has out grown, such as baby items, or things that they no longer play with. Many toys are left untouched for months at a time. If you feel bad about getting rid of "good" toys, then think about donating them.

Let your child help you decide what to donate to the "poor toy-less children", they will get a kick out of being involved. Stressing that many children don't have ANY toys while they have so many often helps your child be more than happy to help.

Designate that food should never be allowed in the play room to save on spills and lost items. Finding a juice box full of ants is no fun.

Store seasonal toys together in a closet until needed.

Include a trash can so children can have a place to throw away used paper, etc. This way they won't end up on the floor.

Designate areas for different activities. Setting up a special area to color, another for games, etc., can help to keep items from spreading around the room. Include the activity's storage box in its appropriate area.

Group similar items together such as books, video games, Barbie with accessories, blocks, etc. Think about designating stackable storage containers for large collections of items. Be sure to label the outside so children won't have to hunt for what they want. For younger children, label boxes with a picture instead of just words. A child can help with the labeling by drawing an picture or helping cut them out of magazines or old toy catalogs.

Including your child in the cleaning process will help them to not be overwhelmed. Remember you are upsetting their special space. A child's involvement will also help them appreciate how much work goes into organizing, and will help them realize that maintaining the space is much easier to do. You will also be rewarded by finding out what is special to your child and what isn't.