As any parent knows, adding a child to the family can quickly and drastically alter the environment of any home. From infants to teens, kids come with a lot of “stuff.” What are you supposed to do with it all? Here are a few simple tips to help you teach your children how to get organized and stay that way…
Bins, boxes, and baskets kept on lower shelves make it easy for your child to put away toys. Label storage containers with both pictures (for young children) and printed words (for preschoolers).
Better yet, have your child draw pictures for the labels. Or, you can cut out the toys’ logos straight from the original boxes, take photos of the toys, or print the logos directly from the manufacturer websites. And, if your storage containers have handles, luggage tags are a quick and easy way to attach the finished labels.
Before birthdays, Christmas, or other special gift-giving occasions, sit down with your child to sort through toys together. Guide your child through the decision-making process of which toys to keep and which to donate in order to make room for new toys received as gifts. In fact, take your child with you to the donation center.
As you fold laundry, separate your child’s clothes into complete outfits. Store them individually in gallon-sized zip-top bags. Keep one bagged outfit in the car, just in case. And, when you travel, squeeze any extra air out of the bags to make packing the suitcase a breeze.
Provide low hooks for your child to hang up sweaters, pajamas, jackets, book bags, etc. Before bedtime, check the weather forecast with your child. Then, have your child select an appropriate outfit to wear the next day.
Keep the most recent copy of your favorite magazine or catalog in your car “just in case” you arrive at the doctor’s office 20 minutes early or find yourself eating alone at lunch time.
The easy-to-digest articles are perfect for those occasions when you have a few minutes to spare, and the bonuses are plenty… You get to read something that you actually enjoy, your unread magazines won’t pile up at home, you won’t be wasting any of your precious time, and you’ll be more likely to remain calm and relaxed (even if the doctor is running 40 minutes behind schedule)!
In celebration of Get Organized Month, professional organizers and coaches from all over the world (including yours truly) have come together to share their knowledge and expertise for this extraordinary online event: The Great Organizing Giveaway.
Whether you need help with your home, your office, or your time, you’ll find tons of fabulous freebies including ebooks, tip sheets, audio programs, webinars, and consultations. Plus, you’ll have chances to win program memberships, productivity software, and even an iPod!
Here is just a small sampling of the fantastic resources that will be available…
Making Being Green Easy: Eco Organizing Tips for the Home and Office
On a Clear Day You Can Find the Top of Your Desk
Conquering Paper Clutter Teleclass Recording
Nine Strategies for Simplifying Your Business
10 Easy Ways to Liberate Time Report
So, what do you say? Are you ready to get organized for the remainder of 2010? If so, be sure to visit AskTheExpertOrganizers.com to collect all the fabulous freebies that will help you on your quest. Then, come back here and let me know what resources were your favorites… I’d love to hear from you. Enjoy!
Is your cash flow running a little low now that the holiday season is over and the year is coming to an end? Well, here you go… Check out my friend, Kevin Bradley, as he talks about eliminating clutter and earning some extra cash using BookJingle.com.
It’s a new take on the old phrase, “grab a big slice of life.” Clare Aslaksen and Ted Field share a love of family and friends but noticed, as the years went by, that “special connection” began to lose it’s defining character. So, how do you recapture these essential components of your life? Clare and Ted believe one way is by enriching your life through entertaining.
By opening your home and your kitchen, you open your heart. Hosting can become a potion for the soul, and a great memory can be as simple as sharing a glass of wine. Throughout the themed sections of their website, Clare and Ted serve as helping hands that gently guide the nervous host toward the perfect evening.
![[ real neat ] ideas : 35 home organizing tips](http://www.realneat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/tn_real_neat_ideas.png "[ real neat ] ideas : 35 home organizing tips")
