Day 21 of #Write28Days Challenge
Toys are the mainstay of our children’s childhood. But toys are also the reason why our house looks cluttered. Having a basic toy organisation system makes all the difference
Limiting the Play Area
I have mentioned before in Setting Up 3 Basic Rules for a Clean Home that one way I keep sane is to set boundaries for the children’s play area.
This means I do not let them play all over the house. I limit it to the living room only. They can pour out all their toys and even mix them all up if they choose to. But they can only do so in the living room. This limits the mess they can make in the house.
But besides limiting where they can make their messes, you need a to have a toy organisation system if you want to stay on top of the toys.
Setting Up a Toy Organisation System
The easiest organisation system is to organise like with like. For example, all dollhouse accessories are kept together. Provide designated baskets or containers or even boxes for lego pieces.
Keeping things corralled in baskets or containers is the easiest solution. This way everyone knows not only where the toys are kept but everyone will also find it easy to pack the toys away at the end of playtime.
For non-readers, you can print out picture labels. I have a photo of how I did it in my post on Decluttering the Playroom.
I also had a designated shelf meant for toys. All the baskets containing toys go into these shelves. Toyogo plastic boxes are ideal for such organising projects. They are see-through and have covers, keeping out dust and creepy crawlies.
Outgrowing their Toys
My youngest child is 10. Make-believe toys have lost their lure and have outlasted their usefulness. The children much prefer board or card games rather than toys. It makes me happy because board and card games take up way less space.
At the moment all our toys fit into the Ikea Trofast shelving unit. We still have our Lego blocks though. But I believe these will be gone in a year or two when the youngest outgrows them.
Benefits of Having a Basic Toy Organisation System
Simplify your toy organisation system. Organise like with like. Label the baskets or containers you corral the toys into. This benefits not just you but the children. You are empowering them with independence.
With this simple organisation system, the children can help themselves to the toys they want and they know where the toys go after they are done with playing.
Such independence will pave the way for learning other life skills.
Tomorrow we will talk about a system for deep cleaning. See you!
Related Links
Decluttering the Playroom
Setting Up 3 Basic Rules for a Clean Home
4 Comments on Setting Up a Toy Organisation System
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I’ve also heard of putting a time limit and rotating toys. Put all but one basket up in a closet for two weeks at a time, and then rotate that basket with another so you only have one basket of toys out at a time, and the kids feel like they’re getting new toys. I personally don’t have any more room in my closet to do that, though.
Yeah. I have tried to do that but it never lasts too long at my home.
I love clear containers for almost everything. I’m going to check into your links. I no longer have kids at home but I do have grandkids who come visit and so I have toys I keep out for them.
Clear containers are the best but they can look ugly. 😀 I like the Ikea Trofast shelving unit. Looks nice and easy to pull out for the children.