Hi There!
So I recently had an incredibly successful uncluttering experience with my 7 1/2- and 6-yr old girls so I thought I'd pass it on to y'all (the least I can do given the support I'm getting here!) I think this worked for my girls' rooms (bedrooms) but it would also work in the family room - or really for ANY clutter problem that is difficult to tackle.
*Here's the key to the strategy I used:* Deciding what to remove can take forever, be emotionally draining and often a negotiation. I've set up the boxes (Trash, Recycle, Give away, Store) but sitting there deciding how often you use something or how useful it is or how much you're attached to it is a difficult process. You end up making a small selection out of much and uncluttering a minimal amount, taking hours and hours to remove only a small selection. So, removing everything, giving yourself a time delay on processing (at least a week, I suggest, maybe more) and then doing the opposite - deciding what to put IN when all is removed is A LOT easier and results in a clutterless, streamlined area!
Here's how it worked miracles for my daughters' rooms:
So, my girls' - youngest especially - were at that transition age between old "baby / toddler" stuff to older girls stuff. My youngest in particular had about 50 stuffed animals and dolls! She's a real "baby doll girl" and I think that's special but I couldn't deal with the clutter anymore - fed up!
In preparation, I went out and got a bunch of big bins. I purposely got solid-colored bins, not transparent ones and you'll see why. I did for both but will just tell you of my youngest's room. I told her we were going to unclutter but she wouldn't have to do anything to start - that made her much more enthusiastic about the idea!
I took the bins up to her room and took EVERYTHING, every stuffed animal, doll, toy in sight in the bins (not books though would also work). (Took 4 large ones!!!) I made an exception of her "cozies" that she sleeps with everynight (two small dolls and a blanket) as this was not a punishment. I did not think or agonize - it ALL went in and I just tossed it in there without hesitation. I emptied toy shelves, toy baskets, cleaned everything off the floor (ugh!), even areas that had toys but were relatively organized - EVERYTHING was empty. The room when from horribly cluttered to fantastic in about 20 minutes and it was exhilarating!
Then ... the key part ... I told her that some would come out but that it would stay that way for a week or more. She may not touch or open bins.
It turned out that they were closed up for two weeks - while her room stayed immaculate mind you. During that time, it was slowly dawning on her (and me for sure!) that she didn't even really use or even know what was actually in those bins!
We sat down on an afternoon and opened the bins together, and I would hold up an item and say, "Now, do you really play with this?" or "When's the last time you played or even saw this?" She would admit hardly ever or never and we would decide it didn't need to come out. Then, I always have "Put away or Give away" strategy when uncluttering (note KEEP is not in that choice once the "not attached" decision is made) and we'd decide that next step because it was already ruled out.
It actually happened to be before the holidays so there was a toy drive at school but could also work with Goodwill or other donation strategies. She was very motivated to help boys and girls who wouldn't have a Christmas gift, so she chose GIVE away for most items.
At the end of the process, I was stunned and thrilled. She kept about 15 - yes, 15 items from those bins. The dolls (and she gave away about 4 of them too) and a few sentimental animals. She put away some but gave away many, many - stuffed animals, dolls, even Barbies. She went to school with her toys like Santa Claus - with two huge white garbage bags of toys to give away.
I could not believe the success! First, she was basically emotionally detached from most of it - no tears or struggle or sense that I was "taking away" her toys. Secondly, the already clean environment motived us all to keep it that way instead of being overwhelmed by how to "dig out" of the situation. Third, it took maybe a few hours where the oppostite approach (deciding what leaves) would have taken much longer. And, finally, she really embraced the concept of giving away for others because she was excited as that pile grew in the process.
I ended up with THREE empty big bins (of the four I started with), 5 or 6 empty Pottery Barn baskets, and a completely uncluttered room! I haven't even decided what to do with those bins and baskets yet - I could use them elsewhere so it was a huge score!
So, I'm PASSIN' IT ON - and HIGHLY suggest the method if you can use it! Great for kids' or family rooms, but I'm going to use it for my kitchen next!
Hope it helps everyone -
Alexa
p.s. I'd post pictures but I'm not sure I have any of the "before" because it was a disaster that I certainly tried to keep hidden! :-)
