With my son getting older and accumulating more toys, clothing, and other “stuff”, it is time to start thinking about decluttering and organization. A kid’s bedroom can quickly become a disaster area of these two factors are not considered. It is important that you keep an organized bedroom for your child, so they can learn the importance of having things neat and tidy…and to prevent yourself from silently screaming when you step on that one toy car or block with your bare feet!

10 Tips for Decluttering/Organizing a Child’s Room

1. Clean out your child’s toys at least twice a year. We have decided to do it just before birthdays and Christmas. It is a given that new items will be coming into his room at this times, so donating older toys to charity makes way for the new without having an overflowing toybox.
2. Go through your child’s closet at the end of each season. When they are little, kids run though clothing sizes. Remove all of the clothing that he will not be able to wear the following year and donate, sell, or trade for new clothing for the current season.
3. Purchase a book shelf for your kid’s room. This is a must if your child has a ton of books like mine does. My son currently has over 100 books at just one year old, and they were starting to get piled on his toybox, changing table, and his closet. The small 3-shelf bookcase organized everything neatly, and there is even room for blankets and art supplies on the bottom shelf.
4. Utilize closet space wisely. Our son’s closet has a bar for clothing and a shelf just above it. We hang the majority of his clothing, and fold the rest for storage in the dresser. The top shelf holds his baby book, items that we plan to keep, and other items.
5. Tote boxes are your friend! We currently have two tote boxes in my son’s closet. One is for clothing and shoes that has gotten too little and we plan to get rid of, and the other is for keepsakes, such as his “coming home outfit”. Smaller totes can also be used to organize toys.
6. A toybox is a must for organizing a child’s room! Toys accumulate quickly after the child is born, so be prepared with a box that is suitable for holding the majority of his toys.
7. Get a net for stuffed animals. Many people think it’s cute to buy a stuffed toy every now and then, and these babies can add up quickly! Installing a net in the corner of the room just below the ceiling offered an organized method for displaying and storing all the furry creatures.
8. Avoid leaving things in your child’s room that do not belong there. Clutter collects quickly in areas when items are placed where they shouldn’t be. Teach your child that toys from the playroom, for example, are not to kept in his bedroom.
9. Get the kids involved. If you are the only one organizing and decluttering, plan to continue doing so. As your children get older, they need to learn the importance of putting things away and tossing out trash. Encourage them to keep their room neat to make the job easier for you.
10. Practice a regular cleaning and organization schedule. Vacuum and dust your child’s room at least once a week to avoid a collection of dust. This can be a chore for your child once he is old enough.

Organization and decluttering requires some proactive thinking on the parent’s part. In order to have a clean bedroom for your child, you need to consider all of the items in it and give each one a home. Regular maintenance of the room will promote a tidy space for your kid to play and sleep in.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.