This week Maja is dishing about how to create a fun and organized space for your children in their bedroom. Make their rooms a space that is all their own, and use these handy tips for creating a childhood haven:

1. Toys are Outta there!
2. Find the magic - do some magazine research and discover the special touches that will make it all theirs
3. Age appropriate - this means adding drawer latches for things that are hands-off to them
4. Keep in mind the height of your children - make things accessible that they will need and want
5. Picture their ability for keeping things organized. What will work for them? Give them duties to keep their room tidy and instill a sense of pride and contribution in them.
6. Have them make their own beds - they are capable (come back later and tighten it up if needed, but allow them to do it and feel good)
7. Get Your stuff OUT of their closet! (Kids stuff only and extra bedding for their beds.)

Make your child’s room a safe, relaxing haven for rest, reading and cuddle time.

A dream of mine would be to inspire each of you to keep the bulk of your children’s toys out of their bedroom. To a few of our readers this may sound a bit backwards, and of course I understand it may not work if you don’t have a family room or basement, however for the rest of us the idea has a lot of merit for a number of reasons:

1. The first reason is that it keeps your little ones bedroom as a good place for a time-out. If there are tempting toys in there, your child’s room doesn’t make a time-out effective, it’s just way too fun in there!
2. It designates their room a place to sleep, calm, and read (isn’t that what bedrooms are for?)
3. Can’t help but keep the bedroom tidy and uncluttered.
4. Helps to encourage your children to play together outside of their bedroom – they then have to be in the same room together, and I believe that this helps foster little relationships.
5. (This is the most important one) It helps you keep an eye on your kids so that they don’t get into trouble!

Some children need a few comfort toys in their rooms and that is definitely ok, but try to keep the toy clutter it to a minimum. It will save your sanity. Your life of keeping things organized, and your children’s space staying tidy will get a lot easier.