| So, you have bravely decided to roam where more | | | | store or charity. Throw away everything that's in |
| faint-hearted mothers dare not: The Teen-Girl Zone, | | | | unusable condition!) |
| a.k.a. your daughter's room! You want to help your | | | | Step Two: Take out all games, memorabilia, toys and |
| teenage girls get organized, but you're not sure where | | | | stuff. Decide what you will keep and what can be |
| to start. Well, as a professional organizer and mother | | | | given away. Anything in poor repair or missing pieces |
| of four teenage girls, I have a few tools to help you | | | | should be thrown away. |
| get your teenage girls get organized. | | | | Step Three: Clean the closets and drawers thoroughly |
| Let me encourage you by reminding you that learning | | | | while they are empty. Wipe down walls and shelves, |
| any skill takes repetition, reward and coaching. I also | | | | and then vacuum the floor and cobwebs along the |
| have a small word of warning-if you have a rocky | | | | ceiling. |
| relationship with your teenage girl, this could become a | | | | Step Four: Place this season's clothes, shoes and |
| bit of a power struggle. You don't want to come | | | | accessories back into the closet or dresser drawers. |
| between her clutter and emotions. May I suggest that | | | | Hang or fold all clothes neatly. Make sure that jackets |
| you do a little research and determine what | | | | are buttoned or zipped. Group clothes by category: |
| "organizational type" your daughter is. Organizing for | | | | pants; shirts; skirts; and dresses together. Hang belts on |
| Your Brain Type, by Lana Nakone is a valuable | | | | hooks or hangers. Consider a shoe organizer, if your |
| resource that will help you decide whether your | | | | teen-girl has lots of shoes. |
| teenage girl is a people person, innovator, maintainer or | | | | Step Five: Place off-season clothes, shoes and |
| prioritizer. Knowing how she needs to organize may | | | | accessories in a clear plastic bin and store under the |
| reduce your struggles in the Teen-Girl Zone! What is | | | | bed or in the attic. If your closet is big enough, you may |
| the most fun schedule to get organized? Get in the | | | | store your office season clothes and other items in the |
| Zone! | | | | back of your closet. |
| In the Zone | | | | Step Six: Place all games, toys and memorabilia back |
| When you help a teenage girl organize her space, | | | | in your closet on a shelf or easy to see place. If |
| start with a few questions: | | | | memorabilia is worth keeping, it is worth keeping well, |
| 1. What do you love about your room? | | | | so make sure that your teen has an appropriately |
| 2. What do you dislike about your room? | | | | sized box to store all items neatly. You will also want |
| 3. What things are in the right place that you definitely | | | | to take this time to help your daughter consider what |
| don't want to move? | | | | items are truly worth saving and which things she |
| 4. What do you do in your room? (Sleep, dress, read, | | | | might let go. |
| homework, etc.) | | | | Step Seven: Now that all of your teen-girl's clothing and |
| 5. Do you like the color and general arrangement of | | | | other belongings are neatly organized you can easily |
| your room? | | | | see what items she may need. Make a list and plan to |
| Knowing the answers to these questions helps get | | | | purchase and replace needed items. |
| you in the zone and guides the organizational process, | | | | Now that you have completed the seven steps to |
| helping you see how you can avoid struggle. These | | | | Clothes Zone Heaven all your teen girl needs to do is |
| questions also give you an opportunity to uncover | | | | maintain the new order. I have found that it goes well |
| possible areas for incentive. Would your daughter | | | | when my daughters take a few moments each week |
| enjoy new bedding or painting her room? Perhaps you | | | | to make sure that they are keeping things stored |
| can offer those as rewards to her when she has | | | | properly. Remind your daughter to give you items that |
| organized her room and maintained it for one month. | | | | they try on and no longer fit or that become stained or |
| Prepared with the right information, you will have | | | | otherwise un-wearable. Dealing with items as they fall |
| success in the zone. | | | | out of use is easier than working through an entire |
| Zoning | | | | closet. Also, encourage her to immediately put clothes |
| To a local government, zoning means determining how | | | | away that she decides not to wear. It takes seconds |
| an area is to be used or developed-that's the kind of | | | | to hang up one outfit. It can take 15 minutes or more to |
| zoning you are going to help your teenage girl with. | | | | sort through and put away a pile of clothes! |
| You know what zoning means to the average | | | | Finally, you will want to make plans to revisit the |
| teenager! It's your job to help your teenage girl use | | | | Clothes Zone each season to repeat all seven steps. |
| these organizing tools to transform teenage zoning to | | | | Zone Three-The Study Zone |
| space-use zoning. | | | | Zone Three is really a matter of preference. You |
| Zone One-The Sleep Zone | | | | need to consider where your daughter usually does |
| It may seem obvious, but your daughter will be sleeping | | | | her homework. If she most often does her homework |
| in the sleep zone, which includes the area immediately | | | | in her room, not the kitchen table or sitting in the bonus |
| around your daughter's bed. You should ask her what | | | | room, then she needs a homework zone established in |
| she needs to get a good night's sleep. Make a list of | | | | her room. |
| those items and make sure that those items are in her | | | | If she prefers sitting at desk, then have her sit down at |
| sleep zone. | | | | her desk and think through all the supplies that she |
| Some items to consider in the sleep zone are: the bed, | | | | needs while she is working there. Ask her what she |
| pillows, blankets, an alarm clock, and nightstand. | | | | uses every day or weekly. When I am working with a |
| Depending on your daughter's habits, she may need a | | | | client, I give items that receive regular use what I call |
| good lamp on her nightstand for reading; reading | | | | prime real estate. Anything not related to the tasks |
| material; tissues; a water glass; paper and pencil; and | | | | your daughter does sitting at the desk, do not get to |
| chap stick. If there is no room for a nightstand, consider | | | | stay there. Keepsakes and memorabilia must be |
| providing your daughter with a basket that can hold | | | | "containerized" and stored elsewhere. If your daughter |
| the things she needs that can be stowed under the | | | | prefers to work sitting on her bed or the floor, maybe |
| bed or on a nearby shelf. A floor lamp or a lamp that | | | | all she needs is a basket of supplies that she can pull |
| can be clamped to her headboard may be good | | | | out when she is working. Next, make sure her |
| alternatives for lighting. | | | | Homework Zone is well lighted and that she has a |
| Here's a tip that can instantly make your daughter's | | | | comfortable chair. |
| room look orderly: have her make her bed every day. | | | | You will also want to make sure that this zone is well |
| If this is a habit she has never developed, you could | | | | supplied, include: a calendar, clear sheet protectors, |
| offer to buy her new bedding if she consistently | | | | notebooks, note pads, as well as pencils and pens with |
| makes it every day for a set period of them - one | | | | a carrying case. |
| month is usually long enough to establish a new habit. | | | | Zoned Out |
| The last area to work on in the sleep zone is the | | | | Now that you have worked through the three main |
| space under the bed. Pull every thing out that may be | | | | zones of your daughter's room, you will almost always |
| lurking there. Sort through what needs to be kept in the | | | | have items that don't fit into any of the zones. You |
| sleep zone, what needs to be stored elsewhere, and | | | | may place these in a bin and go through them to |
| what can be thrown away. My girls store bulky items | | | | consider whether you will keep them. Here's the test. |
| like sleeping bags, overnight bags, and folding chairs | | | | Ask whether the item is used daily or weekly. If it is |
| under the bed. | | | | used that often, then it can stay. |
| Zone Two-The Clothes Zone | | | | With memorabilia and other items left, ask: |
| The Clothes Zone will probably take the most time of | | | | - Do you want to display the item-- Should the item be |
| any zone in your teen girl's room to organize. Make | | | | stored or placed in a container to keep it in good |
| sure you have time to complete this project in one | | | | condition-- Do you want to place the item in a |
| session; it could take up to three hours to organize, | | | | scrapbook or photo album-- Is there someone with |
| depending on how many clothes your teen has. You | | | | whom you can share the item- |
| will need storage boxes or bags and cleaning supplies. | | | | With collections ask: |
| I have created a process to help you get your | | | | - On a scale from one to ten, how much do you love |
| teenage girl's clothes organized. Here are my seven | | | | this collection-- Do you need the entire collection or just |
| steps to Clothes Zone Heaven! | | | | a few favorites-- If the collection is important to you, |
| Step One: Take all of her clothes out of her closet and | | | | are you keeping it well and where it can be enjoyed-If |
| dresser drawers and create categorized piles. | | | | you both decide that a collection will be kept, assign it a |
| Pile 1-This season's clothes, shoes and accessories | | | | shelf or container. When the space is full, attempt to |
| that you are wearing now. Keep only clothes that fit | | | | purge the collection to make room for new items. |
| and that you like and use. | | | | A final word of encouragement-if your daughter (or |
| Pile 2-Out-of-season clothes, shoes and accessories | | | | you!) struggle to let things go, try storing an item for six |
| that you are sure will fit next year and that you like | | | | months. Agree that the item will be given or thrown |
| and will continue to use/wear. | | | | away, if your daughter has not asked for it during that |
| Pile 3-All clothes, shoes and accessories that are too | | | | time. Remember this is a life skill! If your daughter |
| small, you don't like, are stained or are beyond repair. | | | | learns to manage her possessions now, she will have |
| (Bag up items to pass on to a sibling or friend. Or, you | | | | less stress and be equipped to manage her own |
| may want to take usable items to a consignment | | | | home some day. |