CHILDREN’S BEDROOMS – SLEEP ZONE OR DISASTER ZONE?

Children’s bedrooms are often some of the smallest rooms in the house, yet we expect the rooms to neatly hold their beds, clothing, books and toys. Crammed closets, stuffed drawers and overflowing toys are hard for anyone to keep organized, but it is especially difficult for a child to maintain. Here are several suggestions on how to organize the bedroom to meet your child’s needs as well as your own.

 

Involve Them

Involve them in the organizing process and decisions. An organizing concept which is particularly true for kids is “the easier you make it to put something away, the more likely it is that someone is actually going to do it”. It is important to think about why they aren’t putting things away and what they think would work better. (Getting a maid is not a reasonable solution )

Closets

Do they drop something on the floor instead of putting it away in the closet because it is difficult to open the door when their hands are full? Help them by removing the closet doors completely or installing an easy to move fabric drape instead.

Games

Perhaps the games belong in the family room, but your child often plays them in their bedroom and doesn’t take the time to walk the games back to the other room. Keep games where they are used, so it takes less effort for your child to return them.

Keep Thing at the Child’s Level

See the space through your child’s eyes. They are not on the same level as you in many ways. Physically their eye level and reach zone is lower. Make sure you keep frequently used items where they can be easily seen and retrieved by your child.

Rods or Hooks

Add a double hang rod in the closet if hanging their clothing on the top rod is a challenge for them. Maybe even add hooks if using hangers is too difficult.

Establishing Homes

Their organizing ability or desire may also not be at the same level as yours. Help them along by working together to establish “homes” for each of their items as well as labeling what “lives” where. Gently remind them that all their things have to return home when they are done. Knowing where things get returned to takes the thinking and stress out of the clean up process.

Decrease The Amount Of Things In Their Room

Decrease the amount of things in the room. This is actually an easy task to do in a children’s room. The content of their rooms turns over more often than any other room in the home. They outgrow their clothing, lose interest in toys, and frequently develop new interests. Their rooms need to be edited frequently to meet their growing needs and desires. By keeping only the possessions they are presently using, you will help make it a place they can keep organized themselves.

Clean Up Routines

Establish clean up routines. Simply setting up 1 or 2 specific things that should be done each morning or night will help keep their rooms tidy. In the morning, you may choose to have them make their beds and put their pajamas on a hook. In the evening, they can be responsible for picking up their toys. It will only take a few minutes if you have already made the process and space kid-friendly. Your child’s room can be an organized and easily maintained when you and your child work together.