Loosely speaking, a black hole is a region of space that has so much concentrated mass that there is no way for a nearby object to escape its gravitational pull (as explained by Ted Bunn in the Berkeley Cosmology Group’s website). Many children’s rooms fit this definition well.

Most parents face the occasional disappearance of a toy or a clothing item in the black hole of their kids’ room. For some, the problem is worse. Countless children’s rooms are so messy, that the kids don’t play in them anymore, thus transferring mess into other areas of the house. There are parents who steer clear of their kids’ rooms as much as they can, in a desperate attempt to avoid the chaos. If you happen to be one of these parents, I have one word for you: Bins.

Bins, boxes, containers or baskets – whatever you choose to call them, they have been my salvation in keeping my girls’ room neat and organized. The containers under their beds hold small toys and dolls. A large basket on the floor holds their huge collection of stuffed animals. The rule of thumb is that they can only possess the amount of toys that fit into that basket. When the basket overflows, each of the girls has to pick three toys that she can bear to part with. Those toys are given to charity.

This system accomplishes three important goals: the girls learn about giving to others; their room remains neat and organized, and they learn at a young age the vital lesson of organizing: one must not accumulate more than one’s living space can comfortably hold.

Since I am a big fan of online shopping, I purchase most of my organizing products online. Here are some of my favorite online stores:

The Container Store 1-888-CONTAIN
My favorite store for organizing products, this retailer has 35 locations in 16 states in addition to a well-organized, user-friendly online store. Among the products suitable for organizing children’s room and closets are the Clear Storage Boxes ($5 for a sweater box, item 10008761) and the Folding Mesh Cubes ($12 for the largest cube, item 10015546) that are perfect for storing toys and fold neatly when not in use. The Colorful Woven Nylon Bins ($30 for a set of two, item 10028785) are great for storing books and games. For your child’s workspace or desk, try the 6-drawer Lookers Chest ($25, item 10029478) that neatly holds small art supplies such as crayons and stickers. I also like the striped Rectangular Crunch Basket ($20, item 10029500) for stylishly holding stuffed animals.

I have been shopping this store for years. Prices are mostly reasonable, customer service is exemplary and the products are essential to an organized, beautiful home.

Lillian Vernon 1-800-901-9291
This user-friendly website offers great organizing solutions at modest prices. The Overdoor Organizer ($20, item 018339) is a brilliant solution for storing small items such as toys, school supplies, socks or kids’ jewelry. I also like the School Days Closet Organizer ($20, item 259M00) and the hand woven Maze Storage Trunks ($30 for a set of two, item 004934) that are great for storing toys or books. The Large Multi-Color Hand Woven Baskets ($10 for a set of two, item 028835) are a very handsome solution for storing art supplies.

Pottery Barn Kids 1-800-993-4923
A brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., with an online store and retail locations throughout the United States, this store offers upscale children’s furniture and toys as well as storage solutions for kids’ rooms. The products are beautiful and functional, but prices are not always as practical. I like the Cameron Artwork Storage Boxes, priced at $22 (item 59-6153126). The Bright Canvas Floor Totes ($21-$35, item 59-7505001) are great for storing toys, towels and linens. This retailer carries several fabulous, though very expensive, wall storage systems.

Getting organized is well worth your time and effort. Being organized promotes well-being, and organized people feel calm and in control of their lives. According to The National Association of Professional Organizers, being organized also helps people to accomplish more, in part because they waste less time searching for misplaced items; and children of organized parents perform better in school than other kids with the same IQ.