I am looking for a thread to help us going when we are trying to declutter a room that is not child-friendly. I have two rooms that desparately need help, but there are things in them that I don't want my 2 yo dd touching (cd rack, sewing supplies, file cabinet, etc). I hate to sit her in front of the TV while I clean, but it often feels like the only way i can get anything done.

What are your tricks/hints/strategies for keeping a child out of trouble while you are cleaning?

I am very lenient as to what my children can get into (only poisons and knives, etc are off-limits) so I may not be much help. But, is there some major problem with your DD touching these things? Is anything breakable? Dangerous? What about giving her an empty cd case to explore. Lock the filing cabinet. And give her some fabric of her own to play around with. Engage her in helping your clean. Toddlers LOVE to help. Let her take paper wads to the trash can, cups to the sink (warning you will have pile in front of sink, do not step on them), etc. I always try to engage the whole family. Cleaning is a part of life. I view it as something we need to be cheerful about and help our children feel good about.

I think the only area that I don't want my kids helping me clean is my desk/scrapbook area. So I either work on it after they go to bed or during naps or I give them a special treat while I am working on it (get out the playdough or craft). I like the idea of giving them little task to do and usually I can find something for them to play with while I am working on a specific area. Could she build a tower with cd cases or maybe bring her a toy in to play while you are working on that. I also wouldn't mind using a video for entertainment while I am working on something like that.

Thanks for your suggestions, mamas. I am also pretty lenient about what my dd touches, it's just that the cd case is really tall & I worry that if I turn away for a minute & she tries to climb on it & it falls. My sewing room doesn't have a decent cabinet for pins & needles, so they are a hazard. My file cabinet doesn't lock, etc. I can keep her occupied with things pretty often, but in those few rooms I think the draw of the "dangerous" things will be too much for my little ideas, ykwim?

I will try to come up with tasks for her to keep her occupied whiel I am in tose rooms. Eventually I would like an entirely child-proofed house. Is that just a pipe dream?

I don't know of a child proof house, I guess it depends on your definition. LOL For us we don't have things that our kids can't play with for the most part. I understand about the cd rack, my second is a climber and we have to watch him like a hawk because he will climb on anything.

Maybe one solution would be to begin to teach her in small increments about things. For instance take a couple of days where you can do small tasks in the room with the cd rack. While you are watching her make sure she knows what she can do (maybe take the cd's out and play with them if that is ok with you) and what she can't (climb). I find that after awhile with the boys they lose interest once they understand that they can't do certain things.

Plus I try to remember that these years pass quickly and one day I will miss the little monkeys! LOL

and I keep things in my office (spare bedroom I use an an office) either up high, in the walk-in closet, or behind a baby gate!

I like the idea of giving your child some play dough or a sewing card or something.

I declutter when my youngest is napping (and this child doesn't sleep much).

It's a slow going process.

Sometimes I have my mom over and I declutter then! I bought a Wilton Easter Bunny Hutch (like a ginger bread house) for them to make with my mom just before Easter so I can sew in peace! I'm just so very desperate!!! LOL!

Warmly,
Debra