Children’s bedrooms pose a unique problem for parents who want to contain toys and play areas in the house. On the one hand, you don’t want junior’s belongings spread all over. But on the other, you don’t want his room so cramped with stuff that he can’t use it as a play space. Somewhere there is a compromise.
It starts by teaching your children to play one thing at a time. When one activity is finished, all the toys and supplies used for it get put away before the next activity is embarked upon. In principle that’s very simple. Practically however, it’s much harder to achieve.
While you’re teaching your child to contain his messes, there’s something you can do in his room to make the space more conducive to play. You can organize his things and find appropriate places to put them. As an added teaching experience, enlist the help of your child. Let him choose some of the storage spaces and actually put the items away himself; even if he doesn’t do it right. He can only learn if you let him try.
Wood or wire shelving makes a good place to stack cardboard storage boxes which provide ample space for his smaller things. For larger items, you might use large plastic storage boxes. They can be left out at the foot of the bed like a toy chest. As a last resort, try all that emptiness underneath the bed. It makes a great place for smaller boxes than can be slid in an out with ease.
Whatever your chosen method teaching your children the importance of neatness and organization can only benefit them when they become adults. The more organized they are, the better prepared they will be to raise their own families.