Marilyn Bohn | Creative Organizer

A few simple tactics will keep kids’ items from being a mess, says Peter Walsh. His advice:

Get down to their level. Adults make toy storage too high. Kneel; if you can’t reach a shelf, neither can your kids.

Organize like a kindergarten. Keep kids’ crayons and markers in cans; sequins and crafts in baggies. I say as a professional home and office organizer there are so many great organizing tools in the stores have fun shopping for colorful, durable, practical storage containers. It makes organizing fun.

Make toy charity a family rule. Before adding a new toy to your child’s collection, ask her to pick an older one to donate to a child who has less. I say have a donation box or bag in your house or garage at all times. When you find something you aren’t using and haven’t used for a long time, donate it and get your children in the habit of doing this. Another rule is a toy in a toy out.

Create zones Mark areas for crafts and dressing with colored rugs; clean-up is easier when things have their own space.

These ideas are from Woman’s World 6/5/07 and from me too. Do you have a great idea that works to end kids’ clutter?