As a child, I dreaded the task of cleaning and organizing. My mother wasn't consistent either, she would come into my room at random and if the room wasn't pleasing to her eye she would start pulling clothes from the drawers and throwing them on the floor and then leave me to clean them up, she might of showed me once how to fold them but then leave me in the room to clean up and warned me; I'd better not come out until that room is spic n' span.
Once a year, preferably before school starts, make a day of cleaning and organizing your child's room, with your child involved. Start as early as preschool, teach them what is okay to get rid of; old socks, undies, pj's, even their favorite toys, or re purpose them into artwork. As an adult, make an authoritative decision on what stays and goes, and tell the child why you are donating their things and why too much, or too many of one thing is a bad thing. They might not understand it but they will appreciate that you're making an effort to communicate, and making them part of the project is huge in responsibility and a process of growing up. Do this with them, and do this for yourself, because you are setting an example.
Block off two or four hours to complete this project, use a timer; if it takes longer than four hours, your child has too big of a room and or too many things and you've failed as a parent. That's okay, we all learn from our mistakes; just remember, what you give them in concrete fun ends up in the cluttered bedroom.Take breaks and spend time with your children. Make lunch, watch a movie, go get some exercise. Most kids can't focus as long as adults, it's okay, work on small spots in the room like under the bed or just the dresser. The more you accomplish together, the faster the day will go by. Don't freak out about color coordination or size and proportion, or hospital corners, these skills they'll pick up on their own if they want to, remember it's their room not yours.
A child's room should only occupy the following, a bed, a dresser, a lamp, a full length mirror, a small desk, chair and a bookshelf. Entertainment: radio, alarm clock, laptop if necessary, no TV is required, it just causes distraction. Keep the bookshelf stocked with books, magazines, and art supplies or resource manuals. A calendar is a great way to show them their responsibilities.
On a weekly basis, you should show your children how and repeat every week, one day a week, for a more consistent cleaning routine. Case point: is that they know how to do it; making the bed, picking up after themselves; whether it be school, or clothes, or toys, vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning the bathroom, so when guests come over, they know how to be presentable. Teaching them at an early age such as 3, will instill great behavior later in life; plus you won't be stressed while having your children run wild through the house.
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