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!