Businesses spend millions of dollars training their employees to get organized, prioritize, be efficient and, in general, be responsible. It may not be a priority of yours to train your kids for their future business life but you can teach them skills that will pay off in many ways in their future.

Here are a few points to get you started organizing your child's space:

Summer vacation is almost over. Before you spend hours buying new school clothes, supplies and everything else on your childrens list make sure you have a place to put it. So first, and most important, sort their belongings into three areas: keep, toss (torn, broken, missing parts, worn out), and donate. If you’re short of space, store out-of-season clothes in bins in the basement or attic.

1. Teach them responsibility and care for others by having them donate old, outgrown or infrequently used clothes or toys to a local thrift store or favorite charity. The rule here is that if they haven't worn or used the item of clothing, toy or supply in the past 12 months it goes. Have them accompany you rather than do it yourself!
   
   
2. Assign areas of activity in their room: create a study area, a play area, etc. Mixing spaces creates distractions and overlapping 'things' create a mess.
   
   
3. Invest in containers. There are many different, fun, attractive, affordable, bins that you can find in local stores. This is where your kids can truly express themselves and their styles. Creating a ‘home‘ for everything gives the outward appearance of order.
   
   
4. Unclutter, unclutter, unclutter. Get a 'memory' box for any old awards, art, favorite things that have accumulated and have your kids choose their favorites, those that best represent your child and discard the rest. To most kids this is very difficult to do so help them by asking them; “do you love it, do you need it?” Be careful not to add your own attachments to your kids‘ memorabilia! Let your child display their most cherished awards, photos, etc, but no more than one or two items per year of their life (as a rule of thumb) and group it all into a display area.
   
   
5. Set aside a time of day when they are to 'straighten up'. If you begin this practice (the earlier the better) of having them put away anything on the floor, on their bed, desk or dresser, at the same time each and every day it will develop into a lifetime habit. A good time could be right before dinner (so after dinner can be spent with the family). Do the same activity each day so that it becomes automatic. You may need to help them the first few weeks but no more than that. You must not be the one who develops the habit and be the slave they've always wanted!)
   
   
6. Get help if you need help. Hire a professional! If you don't have the 'neat gene' yourself, hire someone to come in and do it with you. Avoid the professional organizer who comes in and does it all for you or without your child. Your child needs to have a personal investment in the results. The right professional will guide your children as they do the actual organizing work. Discussing the consequences, the experience of living in the mess, and what a clear (or cleaner) room might offer your children is essential.
   
   
7. Finally, start with you. If you have one room, garage or area in your house where you have clutter and have been putting off doing something about it for more than 3-4 months then it is time for you to call for help. Don't be 'do as I say, not as I (don't) do'. Organizing, uncluttering and clearing your own space, is something you deserve.

Go open some doors in your house and clear 'your space'; the whole family deserves it!