Zone Defense Against Chaos

When it comes to collisions between parents and kids over keeping a tidy room, FlyLady sides with the kids.

"Parents are always nagging kids to go clean their rooms, but they don't tell them how," says FlyLady, a.k.a. Marla Cilley, online coach of clutterers, hoarders, slobs and procrastinators. "It is wrong for them to treat children like that, those poor babies. They have to help them learn how to keep their rooms neat."

Her six-year-old Web site, FlyLady.net, gets more than a million visits a day. One section is called Student Control Journal. "With these pages," she writes there, "I'm going to help you to get things done without having to be told by your mom."

She advises kids to set up a "launch pad": a place to gather absolutely everything needed for the next day, such as backpacks, permission slips, lunch money, musical instruments and shin guards. She outlines a "zone system" to stay on top of things: Set a kitchen timer for 10 minutes and tackle one specific task every weekday. When the timer goes off, stop. On weekends, you're free to trash the place again.

Monday, Zone 1: Bed. Clear bed and nightstand. Empty trash can.

Tuesday, Zone 2: Closet. Hang up and fold clean clothes; put dirty clothes in hamper. (Ambitious parents can ask their kids to wash their clothes and put them away. But this will take far more than 10 minutes, and may be rebuffed as unfair.)

Wednesday, Zone 3: Flat Surfaces. Pick up all (!) clothes and trash from floor, tabletops and shelves. Then vacuum.

Thursday, Zone 4: Desk. Throw away water bottles, gum wrappers, crumpled fan mags and other trash. Return dirty mugs and bowls to kitchen. Clear a workspace so you can focus on homework.

Friday, Zone 5: Bathroom. Whether you share a bathroom or have your own, take charge here. Clean shower, floor and mirror. Hang towels. Clear counters of hair products and skin creams.