What to Do When Your Kids Keep Losing Stuff

It never fails. You are on your way out the door, 20 minutes late, granola bar sticking out of your mouth, as you close the door, Junior halts the flow of traffic and bellows, "Do you know where my, iPod, cell phone, wallet, sweater, book, money, glasses, homework (you get the idea) is?"

All parents know what the answer usually is-- "Why can't you keep track of your stuff?!" If you have kids, you've been there or you will be soon. It's hard not to get angry when your child loses something you sacrificed to purchase or that someone else gave to him or her as a gift. Here are some tried and true ideas that I have used for helping my child stop misplacing items. These tips may ease the squeeze on your wallet and on your kid's head!

1) Remain calm, take a few deep breaths and calmly remind him that it is his responsibility and that you will be leaving without the item in question. This probably won't turn them into Nancy Drew over night but it may start a spark to help them become more responsible.

2) Place the responsibility directly in the kid's hands. Inform her that you will not be picking up the tab if the item is not found. This teaches the child a major life lesson about working for and using money. If your older child is constantly losing pricey objects that you cannot afford to replace, let him know he will pay for any replacement. In a forum for parents at parents.berkeley.edu/advice, most of the parents agreed that placing the responsibility on the person losing the item works best.

3) Emphasize the positive by building on what your kid doesn't lose. Maybe she loses her wallet constantly but never, ever loses her cell phone or library books. Help her keep track of when and where something gets lost. Maybe it's when there is a time crunch or lots of people around. Maybe it's when she hasn't been feeling well, OR when YOU haven't been feeling well. From past experience I've seen my daughter get forgetful when I was the one who was under the weather and that is when she misplaces things. (See number 2)