Organization is key in almost everything we do. When it comes to toys, it is a must to organize them properly. Kids generally play with toys and leave them here and there. Clean up becomes so much more simple if one is organized. If toys are correctly organized, it makes it much easier to put them away. Here's a set of quick steps on how to organize your toys.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Not Too Long
Here's How:
- Discard Old/Worn Out/Unwanted Toys: This is probably the most important step in getting your toys organized. From personal experience, I know how toys just seem to collect and before you know it, you have an explosion of toys in your home. It's very important to keep going through your children's toys and sorting them out. Discard any toys which your child has outgrown. Toys that are worn out or have lost their place of importance in your child's play world should also be set aside.
- Organize Toys Into Groups: Once you've decided on which toys you want to keep, it's time to organize them into groups. These groups could be based on a number of criteria like the type of toy (eg. action figure vs craft toy), place of play (eg. outdoor vs indoor), season (eg. Easter vs Christmas) etc. If you have more than one child, sort the toys out into whom they belong to before grouping them up. Grouping makes it much easier to figure out where each toy goes.
- Figure Out A Place To Store Them: Once the toys are all grouped and sorted out, it's time to decide on where to store them when not in use. Common toy storage places are your child's playroom, if you have one, a child's bedroom or near a play area. Toys that are seasonal can be stored in a place like the attic or garage when not in use, until it's time to play with them again.
- Buy Toy Storage Aids: Having proper storage bins and drawers can go a long way in helping you to organize your toys better. There are lots of options available for toy storage. You can choose from color coded toy bins, toy boxes, toy storage hampers or even use a spare cupboard or drawer to tuck away those toys.
- Label Toy Storage Items: Prominently label your toy storage places with the type of toys that are supposed to go in there. For example, you can have a toy box that is exclusively meant for pretend play toys and accessories. Labeling also works really well when you have more than one child. Each child feels a sense of belonging and is more likely to clean up his/her toys when they see their name on the toy bins/boxes.
- Teach Your Kids To Clean Up After Play: This is one of the most important steps in toy organizing. If your kids manage to put their toys away after they finish playing, it's so much easier to oversee and maybe organize your toys a little better after they're done. If you see a room full of toys strewn all over the floor, it's more of a strain, both mentally and physically, to organize.
- Clean Up Everyday! Clean up should be done everyday or atleast on a regular basis to prevent build up of toys.
- Follow Up Periodically: Every once in a while, go through your kids toys to organize them better. It really helps if you maintain some amount of order regularly.
- Tip: Don't Buy Too Many Toys. Buying too many toys will make them lose their value in your kids' eyes as well as make it more difficult to organize.
What You Need:
- Some Free Time
- Toy Storage Boxes or Bins
- Labeling Materials
- Your Sorting Hat!
