Kid's Rooms need help

ClutterFree · 05-19-2009, 05:52 PM

Despite my best efforts my kids' rooms are horrible. Each has a toy box to clean up their basic toys but then there are the video games and cords hanging down, their closets are unmentionable. I was hoping someone here is a bit more creative than I am and could help me to get some organization going in their rooms. I get started on it but then get overwhelmed and think I'll do it another day. I've put it off plenty long enough and the time has come to get it done. Any tips greatly appreciated.

cero · 05-19-2009, 08:52 PM

Aren't they all? Really now, between my spouse and kids I am not sure sometimes wish is worse. I am lucky though since for me I oddly (OCD) love to organize things. Do you have the issue of dealing with limited space or are they just really messy?

Tango · 05-20-2009, 12:16 AM

Both of my children are now teenagers, needless to say their rooms are not the neatest.
I have just gone through my 12 year old son's room, it took me a couple of days, and 5 rubbish bags later it is done!!

He helped in the end, as he knows I will throw out some of his treasures if he doesn't.
My 16 year old daughter's room is just as bad, though she does try to keep it tidy, but with study and work it gets a bit hard for her.
They do learn eventually, especially when they leave it to long, and I get vicious and throw some of the treasures out. It only took my son two of these episodes, before he got the hint, and helps out now, if only to save his treasure.
My husband is a neat freak, and does complain sometimes when he looks at their rooms, but we have decided the easiest solution is to just close the doors.
Lazy, I know! But I work full time, and I am not spending my time off, tidying up after them all of the time.

andrew · 05-21-2009, 01:40 AM

How old are your kids? Have them help out when you start cleaning and organizing their rooms, otherwise they might get into the bad habit of relying on Mom (or Dad) to clean up after them. If your kids are young, try turning cleanup into a game that they can get into. Try motivating them by offering a prize at the end, like a treat or allowance bonus, etc. Use your imagination! Make this a daily or weekly routine to get them into the habit.

ClutterFree · 05-21-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cero

Aren't they all? Really now, between my spouse and kids I am not sure sometimes wish is worse. I am lucky though since for me I oddly (OCD) love to organize things. Do you have the issue of dealing with limited space or are they just really messy?

Yes! I think our issue is basically lack of organization and entirely too many items. I've had them pick out the things they no longer want and we still have too many things to try to organize. On a typical day the kids are wonderful about cleaning up after themselves so I think if I can figure out some type of system (ex.. Ok kids craft items go here, smaller toys here, larger toys here) that things would be much better.

Now if only I can do it! One thing I know I need to figure out is a better way to store our arts and crafts supplies. Right now I have them in canisters but it seems the canisters are taking up much more space than it should really take...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Both of my children are now teenagers, needless to say their rooms are not the neatest.
I have just gone through my 12 year old son's room, it took me a couple of days, and 5 rubbish bags later it is done!!

He helped in the end, as he knows I will throw out some of his treasures if he doesn't.
My 16 year old daughter's room is just as bad, though she does try to keep it tidy, but with study and work it gets a bit hard for her.
They do learn eventually, especially when they leave it to long, and I get vicious and throw some of the treasures out. It only took my son two of these episodes, before he got the hint, and helps out now, if only to save his treasure.
My husband is a neat freak, and does complain sometimes when he looks at their rooms, but we have decided the easiest solution is to just close the doors.
Lazy, I know! But I work full time, and I am not spending my time off, tidying up after them all of the time.

I can only imagine! I am not even close to being ready for teenagers! My hubby is the same way. He frustrates me so bad sometimes because he will come behind me and move things around! He is always onto me about something even if the house is spotless, he will find a job for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew

How old are your kids? Have them help out when you start cleaning and organizing their rooms, otherwise they might get into the bad habit of relying on Mom (or Dad) to clean up after them. If your kids are young, try turning cleanup into a game that they can get into. Try motivating them by offering a prize at the end, like a treat or allowance bonus, etc. Use your imagination! Make this a daily or weekly routine to get them into the habit.

Hi Andrew! Thanks for the tips. My children are ages 8, 4, 3, and 2. They are usually pretty good about cleaning up. I think what I am needing more than anything now is advice on how to store things in a better way, or maybe a neater way so that you don't see canisters and bags of things sitting everywhere.

stav · 05-23-2009, 08:52 PM

perhaps some shelving to stack games up on.. how about these great colourful containers for storage? They are colourful, sturdy and stack up so using up less floor space..

ClutterFree · 05-24-2009, 12:12 AM

Hi Stav! Thanks for the reply, actually I have something similar to those that we are using now but the majority of things we have are odd shaped and take more space than it should to store them in the containers. I think we need something larger, maybe just baskets I bought a few yesterday to "test drive". Will see if that jump starts the brain. Thanks for the suggestion!

katharina · 05-24-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClutterFree

advice on how to store things in a better way, or maybe a neater way so that you don't see canisters and bags of things sitting everywhere.

I've had some under-the-bed storage containers for some of my daughter's things and that seems to work well.

stav · 05-24-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClutterFree

Hi Stav! Thanks for the reply, actually I have something similar to those that we are using now but the majority of things we have are odd shaped and take more space than it should to store them in the containers. I think we need something larger, maybe just baskets I bought a few yesterday to "test drive". Will see if that jump starts the brain. Thanks for the suggestion!

Baskets would work well too... but might be harder to cover them, and therefore stack them.. those containers above come in really large sizes in the home store type place near me.. as big as chests of drawers even... you could get them in a couple of really big ones and then stack up smaller ones above them...

ClutterFree · 06-03-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katharina

I've had some under-the-bed storage containers for some of my daughter's things and that seems to work well.

Okay now that is an idea! I haven't considered using those before. Under the bed would be out of site and take up much less space. I think right now we have a few of those space savers with blankets in them under there. I can always move them into storage or some place else and free up that space. I'm going to see where I can go with this. Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I love people who are willing to help with ideas! I am thinking this forum just may be what I have been looking for to help me get the motivation I need to get some thing taken care of. Thanks again everyone!