What are three things you can do right now that will make your room seem less cluttered and feel better to be in? Do you want to take on your closet? Is there a giant pile of dirty and clean clothes in the corner? Are all your video games littering the floor? These three things will seem to make the most progress and will keep you motivated to finish the entire room. It's good to keep the amount of time you have in mind, too. If you only have half an hour, spend ten minutes on each task. If you have all day, you can get to deep cleaning. With time constraints, it's best to tackle each little bit so you feel as if you made a lot of little efforts toward progress. Clean clothes should be hanging in a closet or a wardrobe, or folded on shelves don't just throw them on your bed! There are several factors as to how to organize your clothes, and here are a few thoughts: The clothes you wear the most should be the easiest to access. This way you don't rip through all of your clothes every day trying to find that piece you want to wear. Consider organizing your clothes by color or season, too. They'll be easier to find this way and you'll know right where to go. We'll talk more about storage in a bit, but when it comes to your closet or wardrobe, try to utilize all the space. Put shelves above or below your closet rod, buy some boxes, and stack, stack, stack. You probably have a handful of items each day that you take from their proper places, and as the days tick by, this can turn into quite the mess. Take a moment to grab everything you use regularly and organize it on a space on your table or on a shelf that is easily accessible and that is now space for these specific items. Next time you need it, you'll grab it and be able to put it right back where you found it. Figure out how you want to organize your books. If you read on a regular basis, and even if you don't, you need to keep it organized. You may organize by priority, category, then finally in alphabetical order. It's good to develop a system, a blueprint in your head of your room. When you know that books, for example, go here, next time you walk into your room, instead of throwing it on the floor, you go right to the spot where it belongs. Separate and put away the makeup and other items that you only use for special occasions from your everyday items. The unused products can be kept in the bathroom or in a box in your closet. Then, throw away the crumbly, broken, or undesirable items you know you'll never use they're just cluttering your space. Often this type of item can be put out of sight. Keep them in a storage container, under the bed, or even in a linen closet. When you're done playing video games, put their cases back, roll the wires up and put all the pieces of equipment away. As for your computer, you can leave it at your desk, but organize around it. Put away your notebooks, textbooks, writing supplies, and whatever else into drawers or aligned nicely in the corner. You may want to take a second and think about what you don't actually need on your desk. What do you never use? You'll be able to be more productive at your desk if it's not cluttered. Unless you are doing a science experiment on how to attract flies, keep food and dirty dishes out of your room. They look bad, can get messy, attract bugs and sometimes small rodents, and they'll stink up your room. If you have a habit of eating in your room, make sure to keep a garbage container or trash can easily accessible. This way something doesn't end up on the floor and forgotten about for weeks, leading to disaster. Instead, you can just throw it right away. Looking to get your room nice and sparkly? If you have carpet, vacuum your floors. Wood or tile? Sweep and mop. Also wipe down your surfaces for dust and residue with a damp cloth and some all-purpose cleaner. Spray a good-smelling spray and you're good to go! Not all cleaners are safe for all surfaces. Check the label beforehand to make sure the one you're using is appropriate for the items in your room.

Summary: Step back and evaluate your space. Put away your clothes. Organize your books and small items. Organize your personal hygiene items. Organize your computer area, video games, and entertainment systems. Keep food out! If you're doing a deep clean, dust, mop, or vacuum your room.

Slowly support your teen in developing their independence as they mature. For example, let your younger teen choose how to decorate their room and style their hair. Older teens may be able to use the car, attend activities without an adult, or hold a part-time job. A controlling parent may face increased conflict with a teen who seeks independence. Ask your teen what independence they'd like and come to some compromises. Teens are often concerned with social relationships, fitting in with peers, and making social decisions such as whether to use drugs or engage in sexual activity. They will likely want to spend more time with friends than with their family. While it's important for them to be a part of the family, make sure that you respect their need to engage in friendships, be with friends, and create their social identity. Allow your teen to join clubs or groups or do other social activities (such as go to the skate park, join sports teams, or hang out with friends). Ask your teenager about their friends, and try to learn their names. Before they hang out, meet their friends in person if you can. Teens want increasing independence and this includes needs for privacy, too. It might feel like your teen is tuning you out or ignoring you, but they are likely wanting some space to be alone (or with friends). Respect their desire for privacy and consider giving them increased privacy as they get older. If your teen isn't forthright in talking to you or wants to spend less time with you, don't take it personally and instead, see it is a developmental stage. You do, however, get the final say in their activities and should look out for their safety. It's natural for teens to fall asleep later (after 11 p.m.) and sleep in the next morning. Be mindful of these sleep patterns, but also encourage them to get adequate sleep. Not getting enough sleep can affect their moods, memory, and concentration. If your teen struggles to get restful sleep, remove electronic devices from their bedrooms (cell phones, televisions, tablets, etc) so that the light does not stimulate them instead of relaxing them. A consistent bedtime can also help with getting more restful sleep. No matter how many warnings you give, teens often prefer to learn experientially. Some teens may need to fail or make mistakes in order to learn from them and be responsible. As a parent, it's difficult to watch your child fail. Let them know that you support them, love them, and you will be there for them, no matter the outcome. Be there to comfort your teen when they are disappointed, even if you want to say, "I told you so."
Summary: Allow them levels of independence. Accept their social needs. Respect their privacy. Recognize their sleep habits. Let them make their own mistakes.