Kids can accumulate so many toys that it can be overwhelming, especially during birthdays and holidays. To help avoid this problem, here are some easy tips to help you keep your kid’s room organized, even after birthdays and holidays.

The key to keeping any room organized is having ample storage. In this post, I’ll discuss a few different options to help keep the toys off the floor.

Some bedrooms don’t have closets, so you may want to buy shelves and bins. Shelves are great for storing things that you don’t want them to play with, like diapers, clothes and other baby or kid accessories. You can find all kinds of different colored bins to add to the decor of your child’s room that provide fun places to store toys.

Clear bins are great because they allow your child to see which toys are in which bins. Hopefully this will prevent all the toys from being scattered all over the floor in the search for one specific toy. Putting labels on them will help you out when you need to do a quick clean up.

Some kids can get quite a collection of stuffed animals going, but it can be hard to find a place to put them. When I was a kid, my mother sewed some string to the head of each animal and hung them up on my walls with push pins. If your child likes to play with them regularly, you can also purchase big Rubbermaid containers with lids at a very affordable price.

Under-the-bed storage is a great alternative for very small rooms. Toys that aren’t played with as often can be stored under here. It’s also a great place to store out of season clothes. Having storage under a child’s bed can also eliminate the opportunity for them to store garbage or important school documents where you’ll never find them.

You can also purchase plastic bins with several containers stacked vertically. Look for the kind with wheels and handles. This will make it easier to move it around when you’re cleaning. This will also help your child to learn organizational skills by keeping items separated in each bin. Legos in one bin, puzzles and games in another, and so on.

Another great storage option are cube ottomans. They come in a variety of colors and the lid flips over to become a tray. Not only does this provide another method of storage, but seating options as well. You can also find round ottomans to add some fun style to a room without compromising space.

Take your kids shopping with you and ask them to pick out some fun bins, baskets and other storage accessories. Getting them involved in organizing their own room will hopefully help them to keep it clean which will make your job a lot easier.

Another tip to keep the toys at bay is to get rid of older toys every time some new ones come in. There are plenty of organizations that accept donated toys, and this could give your child a very positive feeling that they’ve done something for someone else. Any toys that are broken should be thrown away.

One thing that can be hard to deal with is getting rid of toys that have sentimental value. What you have to remember is that every toy creates memories, but they will always be with you in your mind, not in the actual toy. You may want to keep a box stored away for really special toys that were gifts or that have a special story, but don’t let it become more than one box.

By keeping every toy and article of clothing your child has ever received, you’re passing on these tendencies to your child. It’s much easier to avoid developing the pack-rat habit than it is to break it. In the end you’ll be glad you did, and you’ll have a much cleaner and more organized kids room to show for it!

It’s been called the toughest job on earth. A short little moniker that comes with a mound of responsibility.

MOM

Sometimes we get so caught up in this wonderful role that we forget we have to make time for ourselves. Even when we don’t have the time (ESPECIALLY when we don’t have the time!)

So come to terms with the fact that you will always be busy and that your life is hectic then you’ll have no choice but to make the time.  Maybe it won’t be a whole day (although that’s great if you can manage it) but even if it’s 30 minutes or an hour here and there.

Take a little time to have a nice bath and read your favorite book or magazine.  Go for a walk or to the gym or even treat yourself to a little pampering at the spa.  Or even just sit back with a hot cup of coffee, some of your favorite treat and think. The possibilities are endless!

By taking a little time for yourself you will recharge your batteries and come back to your family refreshed. You will not be the only one to benefit.  Your partner and kids will benefit as well because you’ll feel better and just generally be more relaxed and happy.

A great tip to get that “mom time” is to schedule a few sessions on your calendar like you would any other important appointment. And when they come up, be sure you take them and do something just for you. No excuses.

The bottom line is that by making time for yourself you are not only ensuring you are happier and more satisfied with your life, but you’ll also be teaching your children the importance of taking care and valuing themselves.

And that’s a really important lesson.

Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to receive your free report, 51 Time Saving Tips for Moms.

Feeling frazzled and overworked? There are lots of tasks that you can delegate to others in order to give yourself a much deserved break. Here are 7 suggestions to make your life easier:

1. Give your children and/or spouse more chores. If you’re doing it all then it’s time that you start looking to the others in your household to help out. Children as young as three can help fold laundry and do basic tasks such as tidying up. Create a chores chart and display it somewhere where everyone in the house can see it (if you have young children use pictures instead of words). Then be sure to stick to it!

2. Send out your laundry to a service. You may be surprised at how little a laundry service costs. And it’s a great way to get through those piles of dirty clothes. Even if you only use it every once in a while, it can mean the difference between a weekend spent washing, drying and folding and one spent with the family.

3. Hire someone to clean for you. Many moms see a housecleaner as a luxury they can’t afford. But having someone come once a week or even once every other week to do some of the chores you never seem to get to can be a real stress buster. Imagine not having to change the sheets or do the vaccuuming. It may be worth paying a little to keep your sanity!

4. Take a relative or friend up on their offer to help. Chances are if you’re stressed out, the people closest to you have noticed. Don’t think you have to be super mom. If someone offers to do something for you, take them up on it! You can always return the favor later.

5. Order a meal out. There are more options than ever before for nutritous meals that can be ordered in. Or, look at your supermarket for affordable “meals to go” options. These are hot meals that you just have to pick up, put on the table and enjoy.

6. Hire a babysitter for an evening. If you ask around you’re sure to find several teenage girls in your neighbourhood who are experienced babysitters. Since they come to your house it’s easy to arrange and you don’t have to pick the kids up later on. If your children don’t go to bed well for others, put them down first and then have the sitter watch them while you’re out. Take this opportunity to try a new restaurant or see a movie (or better yet, both!)

7. Swap duties with other parents. You don’t have to be the mom that does it all. Talk to other parents you know and see if you can arrange one night a month where they watch your kids at their house. In exchange you do it for them. This is a great way to get some time alone with your spouse and the kids will have fun playing together.

Online discussion groups have long been popular with the techno geeks, but now an unlikely group is flocking to them in unbelievable numbers – MOMS.

Never before have women had access to such a powerful network. Whether it’s to share stories, get advice or just commiserate with other women who have “been there, done that”, online discuss boards are a great support system.

A few of our favorites are:

Just Mommies

Storknet

Parents.com Forums

Time management is one of the areas that ALL moms struggle with. So don’t worry, you’re not alone!

That’s why we’re always on the look out for good tips and resources to get organized and stay organized. A new site we’ve just discovered is Get Organized Now. Run by Maria Garcia, author of Finally Organized, Finally Free, it includes thousands of tips and ideas to help you organize your home, organize your office and organize your life.

Check it out today. You’ll be glad you did!