Organizing the Clutter…I Mean Toys.

Before I had kids, I never thought about all of the things that they need (or want as the case may be.)  If you are not careful, the toys will overtake your house before you know it–sometimes I think they come alive at night and multiple.  Maybe that is not quite true, but with birthdays and Grandparents and things you find on sale that you just can’t pass up, sometimes the toys can get out of hand.  Here are some ways that I have found to deal with toys, which can easily lead to clutter.  Not only that, but if your kids have to many toys they get overwhelmed and don’t know what to play with (or at least mine seem too.)

1. Go through your toys often–once a week even–and get rid of things that are missing pieces or are not played with.  Some people have trouble throwing things away because it seems wasteful, but think how great donating it will be–other children can play with things buried deep within your child’s toy box.

2. They don’t need 10 puzzles when 5 works just as well and takes up less space.  I like to keep 5 or so puzzles on hand and switch them out often (after all, they begin to learn where the pieces go, making it less of a challenge.)   Look at dollar stores and thrift stores for cheap options to replenish your stack.

3. Find a way to help your kids clean up.  Whatever organizational tool you use (bins, boxes, etc) make sure your kids know how to use them.  If they can read, label them.  If they can not read, print out a picture and tape it to the box, etc.  That way when it is time to clean up, things get put back where they go instead of just wherever your child wants to throw them.

4. Use smaller bins and boxes to help keep things organized.  Just like you, your kids don’t want a bottomless pit of toys.  Instead of using a deep basket or box, choose smaller bins and baskets for toy storage.   That way, when it is time to play they can choose just what they want instead of dumping an entire basket in the search for a Polly Pocket.

5. Use your closet space to make rooms look neater.  The great thing about kids clothing is that it is short, leaving you lots of floor space for toys, etc.  Take advantage of it by using shelves and other closet organizers for toys.  Small rubber bins with lids stack nicely and hold things like blocks, army men, and trains.

Don’t forget the value of teaching your children how to be neat and organized.   At our house, we make sure toys are taken upstairs and rooms are clean before bed each night–it takes a few extra minutes, but it makes things much easier on mom.  Overall, the best advice is that less is more–you only have so much room in your house, and if every inch is stuffed with toys and kid stuff you start to feel really overwhelmed really fast.