Clean out the house, host a yard sale

July 01, 2009

Parents often become frustrated by unused toys that sit in closets or books filling up shelves and it's hard to find time during the year to take care the mess.

Summer is a great time host a yard sale and parents can turn cleanup into a game.

First of all, explain a yard sale to kids, and offer a small prize for the sibling capable of raising the most money. Then get kids to show items they no longer use or play with and present them to you, one by one.

If this doesn't work, consider an old-toy treasure hunt, where kids have to dive into closets, under beds and in the basement to come up with their oldest, least used or funniest toys.

The family can all design posters and enjoy a nice walk around the neighborhood while you put up the advertisements.

On the sale day, give each child their own space to display their items. If you have a small family, consider uniting with others on the block to make it a more social competition.

Finally, suggest a lemonade stand for children who love the kitchen. It will give them the chance to prepare and sell their own refreshing lemon or limeade and collect some cash at the same time.