Most Popular Articles

• FEED ME: Get our RSS feed »
  1. Click to add our syndicated content. » Copy the URL to your RSS reader or subscribe using your browser.
• TOUCH ME: Signup for our newsletter »
• TICKLE ME: Get notified when we add new content»

• More
• • Digg
  • Fark
  • Feedmelinks
  • Furl
  • Netscape
  • Newsvine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

How to Get Your Kids Organized

When your kids' organizational system consists of cramming every toy, book and article of clothing they own into the closet, a clutter avalanche is just waiting to happen. Help your kids take control of their stuff with this step-by-step guide.

By Kristin Bailey Murphy

When your kids' organizational system consists of cramming every toy, book and article of clothing they own into the closet, a clutter avalanche is just waiting to happen. Help your kids take control of their stuff with this step-by-step guide.

Get Your Kids Involved
"Don't do it by yourself," warns Debbie Williams, who wrote Organized Kidz: E-z Solutions for Clutter-Free Living (Let's Get It Together) with the help of her nine-year-old son. Asking your kids where they want things to go will help them feel invested in the new system -- and help motivate them to stick to it later. Besides, says Williams, "if you don't involve your kids, then all you are is the maid."

Sort the Stuff
Get four boxes and label them "KEEP," "TRASH," "GIVE AWAY/SELL" and "UNDECIDED." Start with one item and ask your child which box it should go in. By inviting him to think about what he actually uses -- "you know, 'Do I really need four watches and 12 baseballs?" -- rather than just trying to find room to store it all, you're teaching him to live more simply, says Williams. Jump to full text of this article here.