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