Overstuffed!

Help!  I'm drowning in STUFF!  

Have you ever felt like that?  If you have, maybe it's time for a small downsize.  

Kids are known for hanging on to everything they have ever owned or anything they can put their hands on. (The toddler rules are so true!) 

So, how do you encourage them to part with broken, old, or out-grown things?

 Try this:

Assign your child to choose 5 things from his or her room to part with. 

The 5 things could be clothing that's too small, a broken toy, a toy that's not played with anymore, or something they've simply out-grown in some way.  Encourage them to donate the good items to charity or maybe a younger child they know that may love something "new."

My 8 year-old tried to outsmart  me and get rid of 5 Pokemon cards.  Haha, little man!  Your mom is too smart to fall for that. :)  If your child tries this method too, remind him that those cards are apart of a set.  If he wants to, the entire set can go, but pieces of a workable set are not to be broken up.  Try again, kiddo!

Keep at it.  You may even want to do this for several days in a row and really get down to the good stuff!  Before long, you'll see their floor again.  (There hardwoods in here?  I thought he had carpet?!?)

Happy Organizing!