Tidy up room
![tidy up room tidy up room](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/cb/c3/ed/cbc3ed32512a969ff6973f3931f7c063--deep-cleaning-checklist.jpg)
Designate spaces in her room for each group of toys to go. I was fair but strict because while she was the one making the decisions, it was my job to set the boundaries that aligned with the end goal of a tidy and functional space.ĥ. For stuffed animals, I considered the ones that would be most difficult for her to part with and formed my ‘reasonable number’ from there. Some items had sentimental value and I set those aside to put in her keepsake box. It became very clear which ones actually meant the most to her. I allowed her to keep 3 dolls because that seemed reasonable.
![tidy up room tidy up room](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aBkANP0fL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Also, eliminate groups that are incomplete, making them difficult or less enjoyable to play with (example: a Paw Patrol set that is missing Chase, etc.). Look through each group that is left and determine what is a reasonable number of things to have in that group. We even had a discussion about how sad it was that some wonderful toys were getting dusty when there were other children in our community that would love to have them.Ĥ. Eliminate groups of toys that she is no longer interested in or were no longer age appropriate. Getting up at that point would only distract us and we were on a mission!ģ. We didn’t leave to go put them there at that moment, we just made a pile for them to be moved later. We also made a pile of toys we knew actually belonged in the playroom or somewhere else in the house. Sort all the toys into groups (baby dolls and accessories, Barbies and accessories, little toys from kid’s meals, etc.). She discovered toys she hadn’t seen in months and was so excited to play with them!Ģ. I was shocked at how many toys she had and all the places she had found to store them. Remove all toys from every crevice of the room and put them on the floor in the middle of the room. She enjoyed being in her room even though it was a little out of control.įinally, we created a plan and jumped in:ġ.She had lots of great storage in the room that she could use to stuff things in when I asked her to “clean her room.” ?.
![tidy up room tidy up room](https://s-i.huffpost.com/gen/2705160/images/o-TIDY-facebook.jpg)
Next, we talked about things that were working in the room: She did actually try daily, but my standards were too high which decreased her chance of success. Or, a lot of toys were not even played with because she forgot she had them. She was constantly asking me to help her find toys because she couldn’t find them.Stuff was constantly piling up on the floor limiting the amount of space to play.My daughter and I started by identifying some of the things that were not working: I realized that I needed to create a system that was age appropriate and include her in making decisions about where things go and why. Of course, I knew where everything was supposed to go because I organized it…but she didn’t. The truth is, she WAS old enough to maintain a tidy bedroom, however, she needed to be taught how. When this didn’t happen, I would get upset with her. I also figured she was old enough to return her belongings to their designated areas. Similar to my son’s room, I designed and organized it to be functional but also cute for a four-year-old, who I then thought was old enough to maintain my systems. Her room is one of the first that people see when entering our home and how untidy it is has caused me stress and frustration. On the other side of the spectrum is my daughter’s room. I actually enjoyed cleaning it because it was quick and easy. Also, I am the one that maintains and picks up that room, which is frankly because of the system I had set up (designating a specific spot for everything). There is not much in there, but what is in there has a purpose. But why is that? The answer is simple: although we don’t have a ton of clutter in our home as a whole, it is the room with the least amount. When in there I feel peaceful and calm, and I love how relaxed I feel when I sit in there and rock him. Not that my son was my favorite, but his room. One day I realized that my two-year-old son’s room was my favorite. I had a random thought one day which led me to a project that has improved my life in such a big way, I just had to share.