I recently read a quote somewhere (maybe at ZenHabits?) about letting kids have some freedom of expression in how they live, including a messy space if they want it, so this year I’ve decided to let them live in their own space with these caveats:

1. No food in bedrooms.
2. I only do laundry that is in hampers (I will *not* pick things up off the floor or go searching for dirty clothes). So, if you want it for school, get it in a hamper or wash it yourself.
3. The floor must be *completely* clear once every two weeks for the cleaning lady so she can vacuum, dust and make beds. I don’t care where it goes, but the stuff has to be hidden. :~)

I went through and cleared all the floors by putting everything in clear bins and stacking them up in the closet and around the edge of the rooms. I offered to help them sort any time they want, but I warned them that my style is to toss A LOT a la Peter Walsh, so no one has taken me up on this offer yet.

I don’t know yet how this social experiment is going to work. It’s been almost two weeks and I have to just close the doors to their rooms to avoid looking at the mess. I didn’t come to a simplified life until my late 20′s and minimalism until my late 30′s, so it may take a while until they drink the kool aid with me.

~Noelle

However, as for the ‘massive purging’, I found it very helpful NOT to do a small section at a time; when you take out E-V-E-R-Y toy your kid has and put them all together on a table / on the floor, you’ll finally see what a bunch of crap you’ve collected over the years.

When you’d do a drawer / shelf at a time, you are much more inclined to think: “Ohh, it’s not so bad, there’s only a few of…..” whereas when you put everything together, you’ll REALLY be shocked and more motivated to purge.

Greetings from the netherlands!