Mudroom Madness

Is your mudroom, hallway, foyer or entry way making you mad?

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Do you constantly trip over everything on the floor?

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Is there no space to put anything?

Or has your clutter been like this so long that you just pass by and not really see what your guests see?

You may just spend minutes coming or going but this brief time can definitely set the tone for the start or end of your working day.

Nothing says welcome like entering into a space where you feel comfortable and can easily store your coat, shoes and outerwear items. Think about your home's entry and incorporate these ideas to help keep it in top shape and keep you sane:

1. Give each family member a space: limit the amount each person can keep there (number of shoes, bags, etc.). Locker-like cubbies, milk crates or laundry baskets are great and can work well depending on the space. Allow only items that are used frequently and for that season in this area. Have adjustable shelves and hooks to grow with your child. Think about what is reachable for your child when deciding where to hang hooks and put baskets. Square cubbies are great for kids' extra-curricular supplies and equipment; even shallow cubbies are helpful for stashing things away.

2. Have a place to sit to put on shoes. A bench with storage under the seat is a great multi-purpose item. A chest or toy box can make a great bench/storage option, too. Or tuck bins under a bench or chairs. This is a great place to keep sports equipment. Be diligent about keeping this seat clutter-free so you will always have a spot to quickly sit to lace up your shoes.

3.Provide enough hooks. Make sure that there is at least one hook per family member (an easy alternative to nagging kids to hang up coats). Strong hooks are also great to get book bags off the floor. Use big hooks for heavy coats and small ones for umbrellas and hats. Don't forget the family dog! Have a hook for his leash. Hooks can also be placed on the back of doors. Hooks are a great way to tap into unused storage space- the walls and doors. Make sure the kids' hooks are at their level and the adults can use the upper space.

4. Create a specific area for your pets. In one spot store leashes, waste bags, outside toys, treats, a cloth to wipe paws and winter paw protector or booties. Think about opting for bag holders that attach to the leash, collapsible water bowls and treat or ball bags that clip on your belt to save your pockets from an overflow of plastic bags and 'cookie' crumbs. Have reflective bands for you and your dog for nighttime outings-especially important in fall and winter as the days become shorter. You may also wish to consider a place to stash indoor toys on your way out.

5.Think up, way up. Build a custom cabinet up to the ceiling to maximize storage of out of season items higher up. If you are working with the closet you have, use labeled bins and boxes for seldom used or out of season items and store higher up. Consider adding an extra shelf above the existing ones. Could you double rod the closet - adults coats on the top - children's below. If you do not have a front closet, you must be particularly selective about what you keep in your entrance. Think seasonal - what do I really need right now? Keep things for this time of year and store the rest elsewhere in your house.

6. Watch out for wet items. Allow each family member to have only one pair of shoes out at a time on a boot rack. Once a pair is dry it should be put away. Wet mittens and hats can be hung by clothes pins on a line that runs vertically or horizontally--thread line through pins' spring, spacing them along the line, or use a pretty piece of 1 inch ribbon that they will easily clip to. Hang this mini clothesline close to a heat vent or heater. Again, once dry, these items should be stashed away.

7. Make a message centre. A bulletin board nearby, will help keep your family on schedule. Pin forms, invitations, practice schedules, and a calendar. This will help you remember to grab these items on the way out.

8. Check yourself out - add a mirror. Not only does it help make the space appear larger, it is convenient for you to give yourself a once-over before rushing out the door. It will help you catch turned up collars, food in teeth and hat-head. Get a mirror that has a small ledge for lipstick and a comb.

9. Give some careful thought to every item in the mudroom. Use waterproof paint and tile floors to deal with the moisture that will be coming in. Allow lots of natural light in and install ceiling light for nighttime entrances. If there is something there that doesn't serve a purpose, remove it. Space is at a premium in the mudroom, so make sure you have a rationale for all your choices.

It may be a little space, but a little time and thought can rid you of the aggravation and madness of your mudroom.

Mudroom Madness

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Special Price!!! Disney Cars Book and Toy Organizer

Nov 08, 2011 16:16:18

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Disney Cars Book and Toy Organizer Feature

• Features 4 large fabric bins along with two large areas for books and magazine storage
• Perfect for storing and displaying magazines and books and the bottom tier features additional storage for toys, art supplies, smaller books and more.
• Brilliant colors through our heat seal process
• A high quality licensed item from Delta Children's Products. Some assembly required
• Makes a great gift!

Disney Cars Book and Toy Organizer Overview

Make cleaning and organizing fun with Disney's Cars Book and Toy Organizer. Four large fabric bins and two book racks offer plenty of storage space for all your child's books and toys. Kids will love the bright colors and Cars movie theme. Disney's Cars Book and Toy Organizer makes a great addition to any child's room.

Disney Cars Book and Toy Organizer features your child's favorite Cars characters.
* Each bin is 9"L x 9"W x 5"H * Some assembly required * measures in Inches (L x W x H): 20.0 x 10.75 x 25.75

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The Teen-Girl Zone - Tools to Organize Teenage Girls' Rooms

So, you have bravely decided to roam where more faint-hearted mothers dare not: The Teen-Girl Zone, a.k.a. your daughter's room! You want to help your teenage girls get organized, but you're not sure where to start. Well, as a professional organizer and mother of four teenage girls, I have a few tools to help you get your teenage girls get organized.

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Let me encourage you by reminding you that learning any skill takes repetition, reward and coaching. I also have a small word of warning-if you have a rocky relationship with your teenage girl, this could become a bit of a power struggle. You don't want to come between her clutter and emotions. May I suggest that you do a little research and determine what "organizational type" your daughter is. Organizing for Your Brain Type, by Lana Nakone is a valuable resource that will help you decide whether your teenage girl is a people person, innovator, maintainer or prioritizer. Knowing how she needs to organize may reduce your struggles in the Teen-Girl Zone! What is the most fun schedule to get organized? Get in the Zone!

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In the Zone

When you help a teenage girl organize her space, start with a few questions:

1. What do you love about your room?
2. What do you dislike about your room?
3. What things are in the right place that you definitely don't want to move?
4. What do you do in your room? (Sleep, dress, read, homework, etc.)
5. Do you like the color and general arrangement of your room?

Knowing the answers to these questions helps get you in the zone and guides the organizational process, helping you see how you can avoid struggle. These questions also give you an opportunity to uncover possible areas for incentive. Would your daughter enjoy new bedding or painting her room? Perhaps you can offer those as rewards to her when she has organized her room and maintained it for one month.

Prepared with the right information, you will have success in the zone.

Zoning

To a local government, zoning means determining how an area is to be used or developed-that's the kind of zoning you are going to help your teenage girl with. You know what zoning means to the average teenager! It's your job to help your teenage girl use these organizing tools to transform teenage zoning to space-use zoning.

Zone One-The Sleep Zone

It may seem obvious, but your daughter will be sleeping in the sleep zone, which includes the area immediately around your daughter's bed. You should ask her what she needs to get a good night's sleep. Make a list of those items and make sure that those items are in her sleep zone.

Some items to consider in the sleep zone are: the bed, pillows, blankets, an alarm clock, and nightstand. Depending on your daughter's habits, she may need a good lamp on her nightstand for reading; reading material; tissues; a water glass; paper and pencil; and chap stick. If there is no room for a nightstand, consider providing your daughter with a basket that can hold the things she needs that can be stowed under the bed or on a nearby shelf. A floor lamp or a lamp that can be clamped to her headboard may be good alternatives for lighting.

Here's a tip that can instantly make your daughter's room look orderly: have her make her bed every day. If this is a habit she has never developed, you could offer to buy her new bedding if she consistently makes it every day for a set period of them - one month is usually long enough to establish a new habit.

The last area to work on in the sleep zone is the space under the bed. Pull every thing out that may be lurking there. Sort through what needs to be kept in the sleep zone, what needs to be stored elsewhere, and what can be thrown away. My girls store bulky items like sleeping bags, overnight bags, and folding chairs under the bed.

Zone Two-The Clothes Zone

The Clothes Zone will probably take the most time of any zone in your teen girl's room to organize. Make sure you have time to complete this project in one session; it could take up to three hours to organize, depending on how many clothes your teen has. You will need storage boxes or bags and cleaning supplies.

I have created a process to help you get your teenage girl's clothes organized. Here are my seven steps to Clothes Zone Heaven!

Step One: Take all of her clothes out of her closet and dresser drawers and create categorized piles.

Pile 1-This season's clothes, shoes and accessories that you are wearing now. Keep only clothes that fit and that you like and use.

Pile 2-Out-of-season clothes, shoes and accessories that you are sure will fit next year and that you like and will continue to use/wear.

Pile 3-All clothes, shoes and accessories that are too small, you don't like, are stained or are beyond repair. (Bag up items to pass on to a sibling or friend. Or, you may want to take usable items to a consignment store or charity. Throw away everything that's in unusable condition!)

Step Two: Take out all games, memorabilia, toys and stuff. Decide what you will keep and what can be given away. Anything in poor repair or missing pieces should be thrown away.

Step Three: Clean the closets and drawers thoroughly while they are empty. Wipe down walls and shelves, and then vacuum the floor and cobwebs along the ceiling.

Step Four: Place this season's clothes, shoes and accessories back into the closet or dresser drawers. Hang or fold all clothes neatly. Make sure that jackets are buttoned or zipped. Group clothes by category: pants; shirts; skirts; and dresses together. Hang belts on hooks or hangers. Consider a shoe organizer, if your teen-girl has lots of shoes.

Step Five: Place off-season clothes, shoes and accessories in a clear plastic bin and store under the bed or in the attic. If your closet is big enough, you may store your office season clothes and other items in the back of your closet.

Step Six: Place all games, toys and memorabilia back in your closet on a shelf or easy to see place. If memorabilia is worth keeping, it is worth keeping well, so make sure that your teen has an appropriately sized box to store all items neatly. You will also want to take this time to help your daughter consider what items are truly worth saving and which things she might let go.

Step Seven: Now that all of your teen-girl's clothing and other belongings are neatly organized you can easily see what items she may need. Make a list and plan to purchase and replace needed items.

Now that you have completed the seven steps to Clothes Zone Heaven all your teen girl needs to do is maintain the new order. I have found that it goes well when my daughters take a few moments each week to make sure that they are keeping things stored properly. Remind your daughter to give you items that they try on and no longer fit or that become stained or otherwise un-wearable. Dealing with items as they fall out of use is easier than working through an entire closet. Also, encourage her to immediately put clothes away that she decides not to wear. It takes seconds to hang up one outfit. It can take 15 minutes or more to sort through and put away a pile of clothes!

Finally, you will want to make plans to revisit the Clothes Zone each season to repeat all seven steps.

Zone Three-The Study Zone

Zone Three is really a matter of preference. You need to consider where your daughter usually does her homework. If she most often does her homework in her room, not the kitchen table or sitting in the bonus room, then she needs a homework zone established in her room.

If she prefers sitting at desk, then have her sit down at her desk and think through all the supplies that she needs while she is working there. Ask her what she uses every day or weekly. When I am working with a client, I give items that receive regular use what I call prime real estate. Anything not related to the tasks your daughter does sitting at the desk, do not get to stay there. Keepsakes and memorabilia must be "containerized" and stored elsewhere. If your daughter prefers to work sitting on her bed or the floor, maybe all she needs is a basket of supplies that she can pull out when she is working. Next, make sure her Homework Zone is well lighted and that she has a comfortable chair.

You will also want to make sure that this zone is well supplied, include: a calendar, clear sheet protectors, notebooks, note pads, as well as pencils and pens with a carrying case.

Zoned Out

Now that you have worked through the three main zones of your daughter's room, you will almost always have items that don't fit into any of the zones. You may place these in a bin and go through them to consider whether you will keep them. Here's the test. Ask whether the item is used daily or weekly. If it is used that often, then it can stay.

With memorabilia and other items left, ask:

- Do you want to display the item-- Should the item be stored or placed in a container to keep it in good condition-- Do you want to place the item in a scrapbook or photo album-- Is there someone with whom you can share the item-

With collections ask:

- On a scale from one to ten, how much do you love this collection-- Do you need the entire collection or just a few favorites-- If the collection is important to you, are you keeping it well and where it can be enjoyed-If you both decide that a collection will be kept, assign it a shelf or container. When the space is full, attempt to purge the collection to make room for new items.

A final word of encouragement-if your daughter (or you!) struggle to let things go, try storing an item for six months. Agree that the item will be given or thrown away, if your daughter has not asked for it during that time. Remember this is a life skill! If your daughter learns to manage her possessions now, she will have less stress and be equipped to manage her own home some day.

The Teen-Girl Zone - Tools to Organize Teenage Girls' Rooms

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Special Price!!! Nine Bin Toy Organizer by Little Colorado - Natural

Nov 07, 2011 18:48:30

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Nine Bin Toy Organizer by Little Colorado - Natural Feature

• Natural finish is easy to clean
• Bins: Six quart, 4.625" H x 14.5" W x 8" D
• Assembly required
• Baltic birch plywood construction
• Dimensions: 22" H x 26" W x 14" D
• Nine see-through bins

Nine Bin Toy Organizer by Little Colorado - Natural Overview

With this Little Colorado Toy Organizer, keeping clutter under control has never been so neat and easy. This toy organizer comes with nine plastic bins and lids for storing all kinds of stuff. These six-quart capacity bins are excellent for organizing Legos, doll clothes, art supplies, rocks, seashell collections, etc. This wooden toy organizer is made from Baltic birch wood plywood and birch dowels for added strength and stability.

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Disney Fairies 3 Tier Toy Organizer with Roll Out Toybox

Special Price!!! Disney Fairies 3 Tier Toy Organizer with Roll Out Toybox

Nov 06, 2011 21:23:10

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Disney Fairies 3 Tier Toy Organizer with Roll Out Toybox Feature

• ? Features medium sized plastic storage bins, a roll out wooden toy box and shelf for display - functional and adorable!
• ? Features a delectable Disney Fairies design theme
• ? Each tier serves its own function
• ? Includes roll-out toy box, 3 fully printed bins, and additional storage shelf
• ? Meets all JPMA saftey standards. Assembly required.

Disney Fairies 3 Tier Toy Organizer with Roll Out Toybox Overview

Disney Fairies 3-Tier OrganizerWith the Disney Fairies 3 Tier Toy Organizer with rollout toy box by Delta, toy areas and bedrooms are easy to keep tidy. With the charming and engaging fairy theme, this is a cheerful addition to any décor. The bottom tier is a toy box to roll out, hinged with a child-safe lid, capable of holding lots of toys. The second tier supports three fun printed bins. A useful shelf sits atop the unit, handy for storing smaller items. With an enchanting organizer like this, it's easy to teach little ones how to clean up and organize.

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Planning For More Storage In Your Kids Bedroom Design

Planning a kid's bedroom design can be a lot of fun. It can also be a daunting task as you tackle the issue of storage and making things easy to clean. Here are a few ideas about kid's bedroom design.

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If the room is for just one child, choosing a single bed is the normal choice. If you have two kids sharing one room, bunk beds are the most practical choice. They save a lot of room since you don't have to allocate two big chunks of space for beds. Most bunk beds also separate into two beds, so you have additional options as time goes on. There are many beds that have an option of storage underneath in the form of drawers. Under bed drawers can also take the place of an upright dresser, which can help with small spaces.

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Storage is usually a huge issue in kid's bedroom design. A nice big toy box is a staple of any kid's bedroom. Look for one that is of sturdy construction and has a lid. You want to be able to hide that jumble of toys away. For those little toys that have a tendency to get lost in the bottom of the toy box, purchase small, clear, plastic boxes with lids. Label them with a picture so your child knows exactly what goes in each box. This makes clean up a breeze.

If you do not want to use a dresser to house your child's clothes, try buying some coordinating baskets with liners. You can fill them with socks, underwear, pajamas, and pants. These baskets can be placed on a shelf in the closet for easy access, and all their clothes can be contained in one place. Shoes can be delegated to a special box in the closet or you can by a cloth shoe organizer to hang on the closet door or the bedroom door.

When planning a kid's bedroom design, consult with the child that will be living in it. If they love their room, they will be more likely to keep it clean. That means less mess for Mom to deal with! Ask them what color they want their walls, then give them a choice between two different shades that are acceptable to you. Take them shopping for accessories with you, and listen to their ideas. Remember, it is their room and they have to live with the results.

A cute idea in kid's bedroom design is to spell out the child's name in wooden letters on the wall. You can find them at many stores in all different colors and styles. This is a great way to personalize their room. Kids also love mirrors. Hang a full length mirror in their room so they can see what they look like. You can paint the frame to match your décor. Putting family pictures around the room is also a big hit, especially if your child is in a lot of them. It is also a good way to reinforce names and relationships of family members.

There are many ways to plan a kid's bedroom design. Make it a fun place to be that reflects your child's taste and personality.

Planning For More Storage In Your Kids Bedroom Design

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How to Store Kids Dress Up Clothes

Your children love to play dress up. In fact, they love it so much they dress-up almost daily, and then every evening dress-ups are scattered across your floors...

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Sound familiar? You may need a dress-up storage option that is more child-friendly. Perhaps you don't even have storage for those Cinderella dresses yet! Storing dress-up clothes doesn't have to be headache. This guide will help you determine what type of storage option you need so that you can find the best dress-up clothes option for your family.

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Grab a pen and jot down your answers to these next questions. This will help you get a general idea on what you're looking for.

1. How often are the dress-ups used? If they are used on a regular basis, you will need to store them in a playroom or bedroom. You'll probably be looking for a storage option with visual appeal. If the dress ups aren't used very often, you can store them in stackable plastic tubs in a garage or closet shelf.
2. How many dress ups do you have? Do you have every one of Cinderella's dresses or just a few princess costumes?
3. Do you need to store general dress-ups or are you looking for a more organized option?

Now that we've looked at the basics, it's time to get ideas.
Under-the-bed tubs: Whether your storing Cinderella, Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty dresses, it doesn't matter. These slim storage tubs are great if you are low on space and don't have too many dress-ups. Pick up a few of these and label them for an organized storage option. This is also one of the most economical storage options. Pros: Cheap, organized, doesn't take up any extra space. Cons: Each tub can only store a few items. Note: tub options do not allow you to hang those princess dresses.

Storage Chest: Cedar chests in particular offer a great visual appeal and a fair amount of storage. If your dress-ups aren't used on a weekly basis, try a chest that will get more air like a white wicker chest. Otherwise, just make sure that the wooden chest is stored in a dry place! Pros: Visually appealing, large, protects clothes. Cons: Takes up space, doesn't allow clothes to be organized. Note: tub options do not allow you to hang those princess dresses

Dress up Armoires: These can be purchase online or at particular toy or furniture stores. Call around to see if any stores near you carry them so you can see what they look like. Typically these have hooks, drawers, and mirrors assembled on them in a child-friendly way. Pros: Organized, visually appealing, easy to use. Cons: Often expensive, difficult to find.

DIY Dress up Armoire: If you're looking for all the conveniences of a dress-up armoire without the price tag, this may be a good option for you. Purchase individual closet storage pieces and assemble them together. Try using cubbies, large cubicles, and coat racks. Purchase some coat hooks and mirrors and add them in the cubicles and rack area. Don't forget to pick up some baskets for the cubbies! Pros: Customizable, visual appeal, easy for child to use Cons: Hassle of finding and putting together the furniture

Plastic Tubs: These are simple, economical, and fairly simple for children to use. But what you save in money you pay for in visual appeal! These are a good option if your child has a large closet that these can be stored in. Pros: Cheap, customizable, organized (if you purchase a couple with smaller sized ones for accessories) Cons: May not last as long, not visually appealing. Note: tub options do not allow you to hang those princess dresses.

How to Store Kids Dress Up Clothes

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The 5 Minute Guide to Organization and Storage for Kids Rooms

Keeping kids rooms neat and tidy is a tremendous chore. Not only do kids have a tremendous talent to destroy a room in the blink of an eye, but they also keep getting more and more stuff. Holidays, birthdays, parties, family reunions, you name it, the kids always come away with something in hand. Of course, whatever they received last is the-most-important-can't-give-that-away-ever-I-love-it-so-much thing--until they get the next thing.

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In order to manage your kids stuff, you need to know which possessions have real meaning to them. These are those precious items that really are important. They differ from the other stuff in that they have lasting significance to your kids, and they would be hurt if these things were taken from them.

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On the other hand, a lot of stuff that they get is truly forgettable and disposable. I've noticed with my kids that a new gift gets a lot of attention, but within a very short period of time they get bored with it and move on. This doesn't mean that they won't come back to it some time in the future, but I've gotten to be pretty savvy on what has lasting power, and what's "yesterday's news." This is where smart storage for kids rooms comes in. If you are successful in keeping the stuff down to a reasonable amount, then you can manage your kid's rooms, and the storage of the important things.

Of course, it's the smart and educational thing to include your kids in weeding out useless toys and junk, this teaches them responsibility. The problem is that they tend to have a warped view on these things. Show them a dust-covered plastic thingamajig that you found behind the furnace in the basement (doesn't really matter what) and the usual reaction is "NO, I could never part with that!!! I got it from that person at that thing that time... I love it and play with it all the time!" Sound familiar? I hate to be brutal about it, but organizing your kid's room is best done when they're out of the house.

Okay, let's say you've gotten through phase 1, and you've weeded out the junk. Also, take the time to weed out good toys that your kids simply have outgrown. Don't throw them away; give them to a charitable organization.

Now it's time to organize the stuff that stays into manageable and logical categories. First of all, books and reading materials. These have to be on bookshelves or kids book display shelves. Make them as accessible as possible. The books should be on eye level. Any extra shelf space that you might have on the bookshelves at the top can be for display toys or pictures. There are so many great bookshelves and display shelves nowadays for kids rooms, you should see what's available at The Home Shelving Guide to Kids Shelves. You'll also find great suggestions for kids storage units and even kids revolving bookcases. You are sure to find things to help you get your kid's rooms organized.

Next come games and toys. Obviously not everything can be at eye level and easily accessible, so try to figure out which toys and games are most popular. Anything that is stored higher up should be visible to the kids.

I'm a big believer in baskets and storage bins. While the containers that the toys come in are more colorful and eye-catching, they waste a lot of space since they are all different shapes and sizes. By transferring toys such as Legos or Playmobil pieces to uniform storage containers, you can stack them up and really organize your shelves.

Likewise, bigger items such as stuffed animals and dress-up clothes can be readily stored in baskets. Baskets are easy to handle, easy to work with, and are an economical way to solve your storage needs.

There are really nice cube shelves that are designed specifically to hold storage boxes and baskets. This way, you have an attractive and practical piece of furniture which will hold the boxes and add color to the room at the same time.

Wall-mounted shelves are also a great way to organize stuff. While they usually aren't very big, they have the extra added bonus of adding color and character to a room. Most kid's rooms have available wall space which you can take advantage of, and kill two birds with one stone. You can decorate AND store things at the same time.

It all starts with you knowing what's available to help you get your kid's room into shape. Once you have a good idea of what you need, and also a plan for organizing the toys, books, games and other stuff, all you need to do is be tough and do it!

The 5 Minute Guide to Organization and Storage for Kids Rooms

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Practical Things Needed For a Clean House

There are some seasons of our life that can be so clean, so organized, so scheduled...and then there are seasons that AREN'T! Whatever takes us in and out of those seasons could be related to family or business projects, relational issues, added blessings (in the form of children), a new homeschooling year, etc.

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So what are some practical things that have helped me? Here they are:

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1) Do Away with Clutter- The boys room was always messy. No matter how many times I went in there to clean, the very next day, it was messy again. Considering I have four boys in one room, I thought it was normal. But when a good friend visited me (sent by God), she helped me realize they didn't need all those little things. So, I actually took the book shelf I REALLY thought they needed (or hoped they needed), but kept getting full of other things. I took out a toy organizer full of Legos and other such small toys, hoping they would still play with them (although they haven't played with them in years). I realized the room was made for resting and not for the many, many projects they chose to embark in their room, that after they got bored would leave remnants of pieces everywhere. SO a very determined mom had to do away with those things I thought they needed. I became real about the season of life we are in now.

2) Have a Place for Each Thing-This is a simple problem fixer. If everything has a place, then it will not be laying around. At one point I did not like having dirty laundry baskets in every room because I wanted everyone to take their clothes to the laundry room. This was helpful in helping me stay in touch and in top of laundry. But this year, I needed a new plan. I kept finding dirty clothes on the floor, so a small basket in each room had to be implemented...hence a place for the clothes on the floor.

3)Constant Follow Up- To maintain the looks of an organized and kept home, it is helpful to take 5 minutes, several times a day and "look" in each major area for quick clean up moments. It is so helpful to look at a room with five things laying around and say "okay, each person please pick up one or two things and put them in their place."

4)Emotional Health Better than Physical Health- I never thought I would say this, but I have to admit I made my life pretty hard over the last few years because I wanted to be "Green." I wouldn't buy Clorox Wipes or the Swifter Mop or paper towels or paper plates or other very convenient things. At this stage in my life, with a business and six children, all the above mentioned things are wonderful inventions of the human mind, given by God as a gift to desperate moms. THANK YOU LORD!

5)Present Parent-The reality of a clean home, no matter what the age of your children, is being emotionally there for them. When I have had work projects and have been physically here, but not emotionally here, my house was always messy. I cannot expect my older children to be parents (the way only I can be) to my younger children. Mommy is needed to lovingly pick up the messes made by the young toddlers, or the crawlers. The truth is Mom enjoys those messes and can give God thanks for them, while they last. Everyone can enjoy a happy, cleaner and more organized home with a parent not only physically, but emotionally there as well.

Practical Things Needed For a Clean House

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How to Organize Your Kid's Art &amp; Toys and Create the Playroom of Your Dreams

Do you dream of a playroom that you can walk through and the kids can easily keep neat? If you are ready to turn down the volume and keep toys & art supplies from turning into clutter, here are 9 neat ideas to get you started.

Toy Shelf Organizer

Sort Everything. Collect everything in one place. Group items "like with like" such as Dolls, Purses, Train sets, Small Toys, Toys that Require Supervision, etc. Assess how much you have before thinking about the storage solutions. As you sort, set aside a container for toys with missing items. As you sort and find the missing pieces, put them in the container too. When you have all the pieces, you can give the complete toy, game or art kit a permanent home. Set Limits. Determine how much of everything is a reasonable amount to keep. Do they really need 72 stuffed animals? Perhaps 10-20 is a reasonable limit. Remember, kids actually get overwhelmed when they have too much stuff. They take far better care of their things and enjoy them more when they have fewer of them. Conduct a Treasure Hunt. Have your child pick his or her favorites according to the limits you have set. Set aside the rest to donate. Let them know that the rest will be going to kids who don't have as much. You might even want to spend quality time with your child writing a note to the kids who might receive the toys. Assign Homes & Containers. Now that you know what you have and have a reasonable amount, store smaller items in containers by category and label each container. TIP: Put pictures on the containers so that your child knows where to put things away. Let your child help by choosing pictures and applying them. This is a fun way to involve your child in learning organizational skills. For larger items such as big trucks, assign a "parking spot" on a shelf or on the floor. Make Things Easy to Access and Easy to Put Away. Store frequently used items that children can use without supervision on lower shelves that they can access. Use containers without lids for frequently accessed items. Lids are difficult for children to use and discourage them from using the storage solution. Separate arts and crafts supplies in square or rectangular bins for easy stacking and to maximize use of storage. Be Safe. Store items requiring supervision either out of reach or locked. For example, if you have really young children, you probably want them to ask you to get down crayons, paints etc. If you use tall shelving, anchor them to the wall so they can't fall over. Store heavy items on the bottom shelves. Teach the Kids How Put Everything Away. Kids don't always know what to do when you tell them to put stuff away. Take the time to teach your kids how to organize. Explain to them that organizing their toys will make it easy to find them later and prevent them from losing toys. Once you have a system in place, practice using the system with them for several days in a row. Help them put away toys and find them by making a game out of it, such as conducting a "treasure hunt". Ask them to find things, or to put away several different items in their new locations. For example, "Where are your favorite talking toys?" "Where does this stuffed animal go when you are done playing with it?" Give lots of praise for correct answers. Be Creative. Containers don't have to be expensive. You can use plastic containers, or even empty tissue boxes. You can even turn decorating containers for art supplies into an art project. Maintain. Once you have pared toys down to a reasonable number and given each toy a home, you need to keep the amount of toys you have under control. Going forward, maintain the limits you've set by adopting a "Give to Get" policy. So, whenever your child gets a new toy, have them pick one to donate. This is a great way to teach your child the joy of giving. Set up a monthly donation pick up or drop off with your favorite charity and you'll never have to do a big purge again!

Toy Shelf Organizer

How to Organize Your Kid's Art & Toys and Create the Playroom of Your Dreams

Toy Shelf Organizer

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