Keeping your room tidy

So your bedrooms a mess, you can't find the things you need in a hurry, in fact you may not be able to find them at all.

It is harder to concentrate on work or reading if the space around you is cluttered or messy and an untidy room keeps Mum on your case and isn't much fun to look at. So your new year resolution is to keep your space tidy and it is good practice for what you will need to do when you have a place of your own.

Here are some ideas to help you keep it all together.

Decide what is essential, preferable, and unnecessary for your room. This will help you decide what you want out, and what you can afford to stash away most of the time.

Find storage space. Drawers, wardrobes, space under the bed. Whatever works, put your extra stuff there. Have a system for storing clothes, both clean and dirty.

Activity centres. This will help you to remember where each item should be kept. There can be a reading area, an art area, an area for school work, a game area, and so on.

Colour coding. Use labels on drawers or shelves in bright colors, then place a coloured sticker to match on the bottom of your things. You can look on the bottom of the item to see which shelf, drawer or cabinet it belongs in.

Clear zipper-close sandwich bags can be great for storing small items like stray game pieces, marbles, dominoes, and other tiny items that can easily be misplaced. Because the bags are clear, it is easy for you to see what is inside.

Pick up your stuff. Start with large items first, then move on to papers, etc.

Keep the room clean by vacuuming and dusting, or whatever else you need to do to keep it presentable. If your stuff starts piling up again, just take a few minutes to put everything away.

Decide on one day a week that you will pick-up, dust, vacuum, and re-organize your items. Or each night before bed, examine your room to make sure everything is in it's correct place.

Try to make a deal with your parents. See if you can get a reward for each month your room stays clean, neat AND organized... even if it is a small treat, it's still worth it!