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Children, Teenagers and Bedrooms � Advice for Mom
What should a mom do when a child or teenager's room is messy? Should you clean the room for them, or expect them to do it themselves? Read this article to see how to teach your child to clean their bedroom without your help.


Children, Teenagers and Bedrooms � Advice for Mom

What a great topic idea!

My children often get involved in imaginative game playing and have legos and play mobile figures all over their floors. I tend to let them keep it messy until Thursday when it has to be cleaned up - as though someone were coming to clean our house.

It's always a constant struggle in my mind because I can't stand the clutter, but I've learned to let them have their own spaces in our home.

Thanks for a great article.

I think your suggestions are good, but I also think your friend is using Mom's habits as a copout. I have a messy house and room and desk, but it's not because of my mom. In fact, looking around my parents house and observing them and then watching me, you'd wonder if the hospital sent them home with the wrong baby. Even if your friend's Mom used to do the putting away for her, she still had to observe WHERE things got put away -- clothes go in the dresser or closet. Not thrown on the bed, back of the chair or floor.

It's just up to me whether I make a priority of taking the time to put things away when they belong or.... as my husband likes to say, go into "use and dump" mode.

Tina -- I followed the link in your signature to your book. I LOVE your subtitle, what a great line, ha ha!!

Thank you AnneE. I think we spent as long thinking of the title as I did writing the book!

I have to agree with Anne, you're friend is using that as cop out. It's not brain surgery to figure out how to clean, because even very young kids know that. It all goes to expectations and ultimately that's how kids learn. And then there's always closing the door so I don't have to look at it.