Clutter hurts our children

Here is another Flylady essay on clutter. I think this example of this child is very good. I know that most of you don't have young children like this, but if it it had this dramatic a difference on this child, how much of a difference is it for our older children and for adults even. Before we moved, I hired a cleaning lady to help us get the clutter under control. She spent almost half a day with my 19 year old son, helping him clean and organize his room and weed out several boxes of clutter. He was SO grateful to her and I think it did make him calmer and more relaxed about his room.

Dear FlyLady,

I'm writing to confirm to my FlySisters how clutter affects our mental states. My 5 y/o son was very aggressive, cranky, sassy, and demanding. I tried many discipline methods and they all failed. One day he came home from school to an empty room. I packed all his toys and threw away allt hose junky pieces tomcDonald's toys. I left him 3 matchbox cars, his Magna Doodle, legos, and crayons.

These toys I thought would help him be creative and quieter. I explained to him the basic principles of tough love, thatI only *had* to give him food and a bed. He would have to earn his toys back one at a time. Well, within 3 days I noticed a drastic difference in him. He was calmer, polite, and overall pleasant. One evening I announced that he had managed his behavior perfectly that day and he could choose any toy he wanted out of the stash, he had earned it.

He didn't want a toy, he asked for a bike ride instead. Next day, again great behavior, I offered him a toy from the stash. Again he refused, he asked me to go outside and throw the footballwith him.

My son is a FlyChild!!! He *loves* to be in his room now! He sits quietly on the floor and plays with his 3 matchbox cars ordraws with his MagnaDoodle. I do believe all the 'stuff' in his room was unsettling and overwhelming to him. Poor child couldn't find anything!! I gave him order in his room and he gave me back my sweet son *G*

I can't thank you enough!! I never thought of his 'stuff' as hindering, but alas they are!!