How to Get Kids Organized

My room was horridly messy when I was a kid and now I can't stand to have a mess anywhere in my house!

My parents would make me clean it once a month, and I think since they always kept the rest of the house super organized and clean that I ended up being just like them.

Maybe you could take her to the store and let her pick out some cute things to help organize her room so its more exciting.

Good luck!

S.,
As someone that had several rooms looking the way you describe your daughter's room. My rooms were a reflection of my mind. All scattered and disorganized. What your daughter needs is a way to calm her mind. Also, Are you letting her choice how to organize her room? The more she can get ownership of having a room that reflects her, the more likely it will be organized.
I don't know that this helps. My rooms are finally in the space that I want them to be in. It feels so wonderful to me to walk in and feel the calm and peacefulness.
With my whole heart, C.

My life was much happier when I realized that none of my children would be 100% at doing any household job until they had a house of their own! Am I underestimating my children? Maybe, but my life is better :)

Really, the "return and report" system works pretty good. Go over the basics of cleaning a room, and draw pictures, do a checklist, etc. She can have a different job for each day, plus the routine ones. Everyday she should put pj's away, dirty clothes in hamper, make bed. On Mondays she can empty garbage can, Tuesdays tidy and organize dresser & nightstand, Wednesdays dust surfaces, Thursdays wash mirrors/windos and Fridays vacuum. Break it down so she isn't having to do it all one day, or it does get very overwhelming!!!

Our job is more to make sure they know HOW to do these things than forcing them to do them all the time. Positive reinforcement helps too. When I tuck in my 11 yr old, I make sure once in a while to tell her how great it is that I can come in here and feel comfortable walking to her bed without hurting myself on things that might be on the floor. Little things like that go a long way with most kids! (however my 7 yr old just told me last night "I know what you'e doing Mom" when I did the positive reinforcment.... shucks!!! she figured me out)

Good luck, you're definately not alone!!! I just think it's something we'll struggle with until they move out... then we'll struggle that they still don't care as much as we do!!! That's life :D

Have her take a few minutes every day to make sure everything is in it's place. It's not so overwhelming that way. Make sure there is a place for everything and see how she would feel about labeling. I've heard you shouldn't do this for them and force them to keep it clean, but she may want it. I want everything labeled in my home:)
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Hi S. I wish I could help but my daughter is 10 and I suffer the same things at our house. Good luck :)

my mom is a professional organizer. when my boys got new bedroom furniture she made laminated labels to stick on every drawer, shelf, and bin because she says it takes about 30 days for a person to get used to where things are kept when there is a change. my kids know where things belong now, but i've kept the labels because sometimes we change out clothing when the seasons change, so once again they have to get used to where things are put. if they are unsure, they just toss it anywhere.

You could try cubbies for the different types of toys and put a picture of the toy on the outside of the cubby. Dolls all go in one, etc.

The trick is to teach her habits that will practically help the room clean itstelf. For example: make the bed as soon as your feet touch the floor, pick up after yourself, when you get something out put it away when you are done, don't just put something down put it away..... You can get some helpful info on www.flylady.net

I don't know that I have any amazing, original advice, but here are the things that I'm trying with my kids.

First, I label where things go in each dresser drawer. It's actually mostly for me, because I can't remember where everything goes in every single room of the house! But as mine starts reading, he knows that pajamas go on the right, underwear on the left.

Second, he has a tall oval garbage can for a dirty laundry hamper. I like it in his closet so it doesn't make the room look so cluttered. But it's easy for him to pick up his dirty clothes and dump them right there in his room.

Third, bookshelves. We moved and I haven't had bookshelves in my kids rooms for almost 2 years, and it's driving me nuts! They help keep toys, books and knicknacks organized and displayed attractively. We have a short one in one of my boys' rooms. It's not nearly enough. I want a full-sized tall one for each boy.

Fourth, is bins. I found adorable square plastic bins in two sizes at the dollar store. The colors are limited, but they fit perfectly on a bookshelf. They're great for containing groups of smaller objects, like small dinosaurs, hot wheels, flash cards, (or maybe purses, jewelry, crayons, etc) and because you can't see what's inside, they look much neater/cleaner. You should probably label those, too.

Fifth, clean clothes tubs. I bought large Sterilite dishpans at Walmart for about $2.50 each. Then I printed each family member's name large on plain paper and taped them with clear packing tape onto the front of the tub. When I fold laundry, I sort it into each person's tub. Then the person is responsible for taking their tub of clean clothes and putting everything away. I also have a tub labeled "kitchen" and "socks" because it just works better that way.

For labeling, I bought clear print-on return address labels. They actually have some at my local dollar store, so they can be really cheap, but I bought mine at Walmart for about $8. You only really have to print one row at a time if you're careful with removing the labels (so as not to munch up the rest of the sheet, so it stays smooth and will go through the printer again). I also label the shelves in my pantry and kitchen, so it's not too hard to find enough things to print. If I DO need to fill up a sheet fast, I print them as actual return address labels! You will always use those up.

I hope some of my ideas will fit into your life!