Bonjour 2006

OK, so truthfully New Year celebrations barely registered at the honeybunch household, what with strep throat and being 6-months pregnant and all. But last night at precisely 7 p.m. the urge to "put away" Christmas struck and, after a feverish couple of hours spent tissue-wrapping glass baubles, playing toss/keep with the stack of Christmas cards (graphic appeal not sentimentality being the deciding factor) and sweeping up the blessedly few needles our pricey-but-worth-it Fraser Fir shed, I'm ready for a bright, shiny and clutter-free 2006.

Yes friends, it's time to Buttigieg. Kid Clutter. We all have it. The random plastic toy parts, long separated from the actual toy, a colony of stuffed animals, abused, er loved, picture books with split spines and soggy pages, Doctor's kit implements rendered useless by illicit playdough usage. Before you know it you've got a major problem.

While the search continues for the perfect (functional, good-looking and less than $300) storage system, here are my favourite, tried and tested clutter control tips:

The 10-minute Tidy
Corral the kids & the husband/wife and set the kitchen timer or, more fun, blast a The O.C. soundtrack for 10 minutes while you tackle the most offensive area of the house. You'll be surprised at how much a lightning round of cleaning can accomplish.

Don't Ask. Just Rid of It.
Trade with a neighbour, take it to Good Will or donate it to the local daycare. The point is, don't ask your toddler which toys they're willing to part with. You know what the answer will be. My 3-year old developed an unnatural attachment to the bottom-half of an empty plastic Easter Egg when she thought I was going to toss it. They'll never miss it.

You Can Never Have Enough Rubbermaid.
After a teary episode following the discovery of a painting in the recyle bin, I no longer try to filter the profusion of artwork that accompanies my daughter home from daycare. I stock up on big bins at Canadian Tire's 50% off Rubbermaid sale every few months and stash it all away -- to be dealt with another day.

Have a Garage Sale. Inside Your House.
This turned out to be genius. When it all just gets to be too much, ask junior to collect toys and clothes he's outgrown (calling it stuff "for babies" works well) and let him organize and display his For Sale wares. Parents shop and "buy" from the motley selection. The best part? You don't even have to use real money while they're young. If it sounds a bit, well, sneaky, assuage your guilt with a new, age-appropriate gift at the end of the sale.

The Matching Game
My crafty husband came up with this one. Have a competition to see who can match up the most pairs of socks the quickest.