While organization may come naturally to some people, more people learn it through experience. It’s never too early to start teaching your children organizational skills. They may balk now, but don’t be surprised if someday they thank you for it.

The key to organizing children is to make it easy and fun. For example, put a basket or crate in the bottom of a clothes closet that they can just toss shoes into when they take them off. If it’s easy to put things away, it’s more likely children will do it.

You might also make a game out of it. Challenge your child to see how much she can pick up and put away in three minutes. Blow a whistle at the start and end. Count the items and reward each “pickup” with points that can be redeemed for a bedtime story, quick game of their choice, or other treat.

Following are a few more simple ways to help organize your children.

Toy storage

* Store toys in bins on shelves. Look for reasonably priced units at various discount stores.

* Organize bins by toy type; e.g., blocks, animals, balls and label the bins with pictures of what goes in each.

* Store all small toys up high to prevent the chance of accidental choking in small children.

* Teach the concept of putting away toys before getting out more toys; reward young ones with lots of praise.

* Organize “traveling” toys in your car with a netted bag that hangs over the back of your seat.

Bedrooms

* Organize dressers so that each drawer holds a specific type of clothing; e.g. t-shirts, shorts, underwear and socks. Label drawers with photos or words, depending on the age of the child.

* Hang a second clothes rod from the top rod so they are able to reach hanging clothes and hang them back up again.

* Get stuffed animals off the bed and floor with a nylon hammock that hangs across one corner of the ceiling.

* Use space under the bed to store art supplies, coloring books, and collections in clear plastic bins, decorated and labeled with colored markers.

* Put hooks on the back of the bedroom door at the right height for hanging backpack, jackets and clothes that will be worn again.

* Provide a trash can.

* Raise beds up with bed lifts and add an extra-long bed skirt to create extra storage space for seasonal items and collections.

* Give them a hamper with wheels or a removable bag to make it easy for them to transport their dirty clothes to the laundry room.

Getting started

*Help them sort through their stuff to see what they’ve got and then use plastic storage boxes, crates, or shelving to store “like with like.”

*Bring older children with you to shop for organizing products; they’re more likely to use what they pick out, not what you pick out for them.

*Reward your child for uncluttering and organizing activities by giving an extra privilege or doing something together as a family.

Excerpted with permission from Donna Smallin’s free organizing tips newsletter at http://www.unclutter.com.