Organize Your Kids' Rooms in 2 Easy Steps
By Meredith Bryan
![Messy playroom Messy playroom](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201303/omag/201303-omag-tidy-toys-1-600x411.jpg)
Time required: Two hours
Walsh's playroom purge is easy—and to prove it, he visits Michelle Holt, 43, vice president of production at OWN, in Los Angeles. Michelle's daughters' "playroom" doubles as her husband Niall McKeown's office—and Niall is forever tripping on Legos and Barbies.
Walsh's playroom purge is easy—and to prove it, he visits Michelle Holt, 43, vice president of production at OWN, in Los Angeles. Michelle's daughters' "playroom" doubles as her husband Niall McKeown's office—and Niall is forever tripping on Legos and Barbies.
![Kids in a clean room Kids in a clean room](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201303/omag/201303-omag-tidy-toys-600x411.jpg)
Photo: David Tsay
Use the Rule of Five
Before arriving, Walsh asked Michelle to help the girls choose five toys they love, and five they'd be happy to give to a child less fortunate. Michelle reports that the girls want to keep their Barbies but agreed that several games (Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders) can go.
![Cleaning toys Cleaning toys](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201303/omag/201303-omag-tidy-toys-2-600x411.jpg)
Photo: David Tsay
Use Parental Prerogative
Next, Michelle can take the liberty of purging anything the kids rarely play with. "The truth is, they probably won't miss much," says Walsh. The baby dolls Michelle scoops up will be kept in the garage until they can be donated.
Get rid of it for good: L.A.'s Toy Loan Program maintains "lending libraries" of free toys for kids.
Get rid of it for good: L.A.'s Toy Loan Program maintains "lending libraries" of free toys for kids.
![Family in clean room Family in clean room](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/201303/omag/201303-omag-tidy-toys-3-600x411.jpg)
Photo: David Tsay
A Place for Everything
The toys that survive the purge are grouped into labeled bins (Barbies, Legos, etc.) to restrict volume and help the girls learn to put things away.
Next: Purge your family's shoes in less than an hour
Next: Purge your family's shoes in less than an hour
From the March 2013 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine