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Kick Out the Clutter
How to Tame the Messiest
of Bedrooms
of Bedrooms
By Karen E. Baxter
"When Meg gets something new, I insist that she go through her drawers to get rid of clothes that she doesn't want or that no longer fit," says Donna Shortt, describing another clutter-busting approach.
Unused toys and too-small clothes can be donated to Goodwill, a homeless shelter or even to family and friends who have younger kids. If there are items that aren't used anymore, but the child isn't ready to part with, either put them aside in a box or move them to a high shelf where they will be visible but out of the way.
On deciding what should stay and what should go, Dr. Carl Hunt, director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, reminds parents that a child's bedroom, in addition to serving daytime needs, should also be a restful place to sleep. "The most important goal in making the bedroom maximally restful is to remove distracting items," he says. "Children need some deceleration or quiet time so that they are indeed ready for sleep when the designated time arrives. Having access to a TV in the bedroom, for example, is counterproductive in this regard. Other technologies inconsistent with quiet time include electronic games, computers and cell phones."
Once you and your child have decided what items will remain in the room, you can begin planning how to store the remaining clothes and toys, as well as thins like papers, sports equipment and craft supplies, which can also add to the mountains of clutter.