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When you call 911 because there is a distinct and suspicious
odor in the neighborhood and the culprit turns out to
be two
pairs of sneakers, three pairs of underwear and a dozen
or more
hotdog remnants of unknown origin and vintage found
under your
child's bed, it's past time to get your child's room
organized!
When your child has gotten lost for hours in the mounds
of
clutter trying to find his way from the bed to the door,
it's
past time to teach your child to organize himself! But
if you
haven't reached that stage yet, there is still hope!
Here are some tips to help you teach your children
neatness
and organization:
1. Your child learns by example. If the only clear area
of
your home is the path from the sofa to the television
to
the refrigerator and back, then it's time to commit
to
organizing your home! Make the process a family project
so that your children can learn that everyone must pitch
in to keep the home tidy.
2. Establish a routine and stick with it! Teach your
child that
beds are made and toys are picked up every day. It is
easier
for a child to clean a room a little every day, rather
than
be faced with a huge mess all at once.
3. Provide plenty of storage - shelves, plastic storage
containers, hampers, etc. Create a special storage area
out of a plastic storage unit made for storing garden
tools.
Attach laundry bags in colorful colors to the hooks
meant
for rakes and shovels. Spray paint the unit in a cheerful
color to match the room. Voila! A fun storage area!
4. Reward your child's cleaning and organizing efforts
with
fun! Make a checklist of tasks with a reward when the
tasks
are completed such as permission to watch a favorite
show,
time to play a favorite computer game, a special story
time
with you or staying up an hour past bedtime. Simple
rewards
such as these will provide an incentive to keep up the
good
work! Make a game of cleaning! This works especially
well
with young children. A game of *Pick Up* to see which
of you
can pick up more clothes within a certain time limit
or a
game of *Hide the Clothes in the Hamper* will make cleaning
more fun!
5. Be specific. Telling a child to *clean that room*
can set
the stage for failure and frustration. The task may
seem
overwhelming! But telling your child to pick up the
clothes
which are on the floor allows your child to focus in
on a
specific, achievable task.
6. Limit the amount of *stuff* your child has. Once
a month, go
through your child's room together and give toys and
clothes
that have been outgrown and are no longer needed to
those
less fortunate. Not only will your child's room stay
cleaner,
but they will learn a valuable lesson in sharing and
giving.
Although you may think it inevitable, the process of
keeping
your child's bedroom clean need not be a war! If you
are
consistent with the rules, your child will learn what
is
expected and do it (eventually!). If you are inconsistent,
you have already lost the battle! Better stock up on
flashlights
and compasses in case you need to find your way to their
closet!
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