Tripping over your child’s toys?  Up to here with the clutter? Start clearing away with these five fast tips from Handy Hannah:
1) Start charging! Professional organizers say kids won’t leave items out of place for long if you start charging them for it! Use brightly colored stickers you can slap on items that need to be put in their rightful place … that soccer bag in the living room, those toys in the hallway … Give a 24 hour rule, and if the item is NOT picked up by then, slap a sticker on it and charge your child a fee!
 2) Night Before Chores It’s surprising how many people DON’T do the obvious, but if you can teach your children to pick out their school outfits the night before and help you organize for their lunches, you’ll have less mess to contend with the next day.
 3) Give Stuff Away Do you really need all of those toys and all of those books and all of that stuff that’s piled in your closets and bins? Get your kids involved and clear through your clutter. Use boxes for those you will give away to a friend and those you’ll give to Goodwill. Less stuff means less mess!
 4) Move Kids’ Rooms Around Kids will enjoy rearranging their rooms with you if you have the time to do it, and it’s a great time to toss stuff out for giveaway and clean out under the beds and furniture. The older your children get, the more they’ll be invested in taking care of their room on their own.
 5) Remember: One Toy at a Time! Daycare centers are masterful at this one: If your child is done playing with a toy, then it’s time to put it away before starting to play with another one. Enforce this rule at your house and it will be half the battle when it comes to picking up after kids!
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