No matter how great of a housekeeper you may be, there is likely one area that is a bit more of a challenge than the rest of your home: the kid’s rooms. Most kids aren’t going to share your passion for keeping things neat and orderly. Regardless of how carefully you attend to details such as furniture placement and wall décorations, they may not appreciate it enough to keep it as tidy as you’d like.

There are ways to help you children – of any age – get and stay organized. Here are some tips to help you and your little ones get started.

• Clothes

You know how your closet is full of items that you haven’t worn in years? Your children’s or teenager’s closet is likely suffering from the same dilemma. Spend an hour going through all of his or her clothes. Make three piles: 1. Clothes that are keepers. Make sure they fit and that he or she actually wears them. Make a one year rule: if they haven’t worn it in about a year, out it goes. (It wouldn’t hurt to apply this same rule to YOUR closet.) 2. Clothes that can be given to charity or handed down. If the item is still in decent shape then let someone else get some use out of it. Giving clothes to charity is also a great way to open the door for discussions about the less fortunate. 3. Clothes that need to be tossed. Some of the clothes are just too worn, stain or ripped to give away. Throw them away or find a place where they can be recycled.

• Toys

Establish a rule with your younger children about the number of toys they are allowed to keep at any one time. One mother put a large toy box in her child’s room. The rule was that all of the child’s toys MUST fit in the box. If the child gets a new toy, and there is no room in the box, the child must then choose something to be given away to make room. This rule not only helped keep down the clutter, but it also was a useful tool in teaching her child that some kid’s don’t have much and that giving to others is it’s own reward.

• Closet Space

If you must don protective gear before opening your child’s closet, then it is time for action. Not only is there a potential fire hazard behind that door, but there is also a lot of wasted storage space. Your child won’t be happy, but you’ve got to clean that closet out. Everything comes out and goes in a keep, give, or throw it away pile. Once it’s cleaned out, consider adding a closet organization system that will provide storage and give all of your child’s items their own place. When everything has a place, it’s easier to stay organized.

• Wall Space

Take advantage of wall space by adding built in bookcases or shelves. This will allow for a somewhat organized display of your child’s prized possessions and will help get items, such as books, up off the floor. You can add decorative items such as metal wall grilles or round mirrors to give the room a finished look.

Who knows, once they see how easy it is, they just might start to share your love of a sparkling clean room. Ok, maybe not….