Books look much neater if lined up in size order or colour coded. A mish mash of books just stuffed in a bookshelf any old how does not make for a tidy looking room. Likewise with videos, or CDs. Store them with all red, green, yellow coloured spines together. Not only does it look neater, but it also makes titles easier to find too.

Should rooms get to such a state that drastic measures are needed, try a ‘2 minute pick up’ where you get kids to pick up as much rubbish and put it back neatly as they can do in 2 minutes. This is an effective strategy, especially with younger kids, because it is so much fun! Let them off after 2 minutes if they have at least tried. You can do rest as a favour.

If any of your children have a particularly small bedroom raise bed on stilts. This way you will have all that extra room underneath. It doesn’t need a DIY genius to rig some leg. If you can afford money, one of those high beds with cupboards / sofas / writing desk contraptions underneath might just be a solution to a too cluttered bedroom.

Small toys such as Barbies, Duplo bricks, etc can be stored in drawstring bags hung from hooks on wall. These are very simple to make. Just an oblong piece of material, folded in half and sewn up seam and across bottom with a hem round top through which a string can be threaded. The bag can be pulled tight shut with string.

Finally, try to encourage good habits by letting your children help you with your own chores and always reward for a job well done. If your kids have at least tried to keep things tidy, you should let them know how you have noticed this with a reward and encouragement to do it again next time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mum of two, Gail Miller, is a UK artist and writer. View her vibrant, contemporary artwork at her website, Gails Art Gallery http://home.freeuk.net/gails-gallery ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

******** Blend for Boundaries ******** This blend will help you feel more grounded, centered and assertive when a need arises to establish new boundaries with your teen.

-6 drops Rosemary -5 drops Cypress -6 drops Cedarwood -4 drops Sandalwood

Massage solar plexus and lower back. Pour one-third of blend into your warm bath water and soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout day.

******** Blend for Emotional Security and Acceptance ******** This blend soothes your emotions and enhances a profound sense of emotional security and comfort while accepting natural steps of your teen's growth.

-3 drops Rose -5 drops Sandalwood -5 drops Orange -4 drops Pine

Massage solar plexus and abdomen. Pour one-third of blend into your warm bath water and soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout day.

******** Blend to Open Communication ******** This blend supports and opens communication with others while releasing any anger, resentment, guilt or frustration held within body and mind.

-4 drops Lavender -5 drops Sage -4 drops German Chamomile

Massage throat, neck, and shoulders. Pour one-third of blend into your warm bath water and soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour a few drops into palm of your hands and inhale deeply as needed throughout day.

In Good Health, Francoise Rapp http://www.aromalchemy.com

(c) Francoise Rapp, 2002. Discover life-transforming power of aromatherapy! Internationally renowned aromatherapist and alchemist, Francoise Rapp, shares her expertise through aromatherapy classes designed for working adults and in her free weekly ezine, The Arom'Alchemy Newsletter. All this and more can be found at http://www.aromalchemy.com.