Tuesday Tips: Tackling the Mess (Without the Meltdown)

Yesterday we talked about how clutter isn’t just messy—it’s stressful. Research shows that messy environments raise cortisol, overload the visual cortex, and make it harder to focus.

So what does that mean for kids who are already struggling with executive functioning skills?

It means their messy room might not just be a symptom of the struggle—it’s also a cause. The clutter itself is adding stress, distracting their attention, and making the task of “cleaning up” feel nearly impossible.

And when the mountain feels too high to climb? Fight-flight-freeze.

But sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing where to start.

The good news? There are ways to reset that mountain into smaller, climbable hills. And they all start with shifting how we approach “clean.”

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Two Paths Through the Mess

There are two main ways I like to help kids reset a messy room. Both require parent support, but each teaches different skills.