Our girls' room is always getting so messy. And mostly it's the clothes. I'm sure half of my laundry is clean clothes they just left on the floor after trying on five different outfits for their third wardrobe change of the day.

I didn't want to do all the work of overseeing all their clothes. And I liked letting them have control. But I can't handle the mess any more. Any suggestions of how to make things more orderly? I'm willing to go as far as keeping all their clothes out of reach and only letting them pick them out under my supervision. Not how I want to spend my time, but probably better than spending all my time arguing with them about cleaning their room.

There are four little girls sharing that room and I know it is a big job for them to keep it clean. I really want to make it easier on all of us.

What have you done that works?
Thanks!!!

Not sure I have any advice except to say I can totally relate.

Up until now, I have shoved everything into one closet and it is totally jammed and driving me crazy.

And now that I'm thinking of school and organizing, I've decided to separate their clothes and put my two daughters' clothes in one big closet so their sister can have her closet.

Have you thought of getting an armoire? So you could have the top part for certain kids and the bottom drawers for the other kids?

What about big plastic containers stored under the bed?

Do you have any room for another dresser?

I don't know how you stop them from putting on a bunch of outfits each day. That would drive me nuts, too.

It's definitely a never ending chore; putting stuff where it lives. It drives me crazy.

Do you have all of their stuff in one closet, or do they each have their own? If there is space, maybe in the bathroom, here is what I would do (infact this is what I do for school)

Buy one of these for each girl..... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Seed-Sprout-7-Shelf-Closet-Organizer-Green/10651969

On Sunday afternoon/night, pick out the clothes for the week. This is what they get to choose from. THAT IS IT!!!! No changes mid week. Supervise the choices, make sure there is appropriate clothing for what ever is going on that week. Then when it is time for them to get dressed, have them pick from their cubby. If you don't have enough space to buy one for all of them, then just buy one, and have each girl have a cubby. Put 2 outfits in each one, that way everyday they get to have a choice. Make sense?

Good luck!!! My girls (there are only 2 of them in the room) would trash the place if I didn't keep on them about it.

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

I can sympathize. Our girls don't change their outfits very often, but they like to play dress up OVER their clothes, then at the end of the day they ditch it on the floor.

I know what I need to do to fix it, but I'm too lazy, LOL. I'm going to be building them twin beds sometime this fall with storage underneath. I haven't put a hamper in their room up 'til now (they would have filled it with toys anyway) but I know that step is coming soon.

I know what you mean about wanting them to have more control and choices, and I've been doing the same. I'm relinquishing control to them more and more each day. I'd hate to take away something as basic as having access to clothes, if you KWIM. I separated their clothes into four sections: one for each girl (they have their own shirts, but I've never kept them separate before) and a fourth for clothes that have no specific "owner." It's helped quite a bit and I just started doing that within the last week or two.

I've also filled a huge tote with toys they no longer use or pick up, and they haven't missed anything yet. I hate getting rid of stuff that is hardly used, but at this point, my sanity is more important!!!

We're going for the "less is more" approach to their room while they're sharing it. They seem happier and enjoy playing in their room the more stuff I remove from it.

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

Our rule is "if you leave it on the floor, that's a sign to Mommy that you don't want/need it anymore and it is going to Goodwill". It took a few painful enforcements, but they do put their stuff away reasonably neatly now. The stuff that has assigned places, that is.

Do your kids help with the laundry? I'm NOT going to say mine do a perfect job, but they know the basics of folding & putting away, putting on a hanger, etc. Maybe some instruction in that area would help?

One final thought - if they can't handle the responsibility of choosing clothing without making a huge mess, they have too much responsibility. I would dial back to supervising the clothing choices, and no changing after Mommy leaves the room!

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06