Clear Clutter: Wrangle Toys

There is no one, fail safe way to keep toys wrangled. It depends on what toys you have, it depends on your space and it depends on how organized you really care to be. I just needed to get that out there because we all know it’s just survival, adapting and teaching when it comes to keeping kid’s things organized. These are some tips that have worked for me.

1) Get a standard storage bins or two for everything. I love large canvas bins for a larger grouping of items and smaller stackable bins for smaller sets (like doctor set, play tools or an in progress lego set.). The canvas bins are excellent for playroom storage but I also use the same style bin in my kids closet and even my office. By using the same storage bin in every space you don’t have to reinvent the wheel as your needs change but instead creating a cohesive storage method that can be fluid through the whole house. The canvas bins come with a label pocket and for the smaller bins I add an adhesive label pocket so when I open the cabinet doors we can easily see what is where! My oldest can read the labels also and be more self suffiencent in getting things out AND putting things away.

2) Group Like Items: For example, grouping all the cars/ tracks together or barbies/accessories together your kids can just pull out ONE bin at a time for playtime. Then the theory would be they could easily pick it back up and put it away. If the toys for one activity are spread out between different bins and cabinets its a harder clean up job. We all know if it’s hard…. it probably won’t get done!

3) Keep activities together. I have one shelf that is all for art supplies. One shelf that is kitchen and family play and legos and magna-tiles are on the same shelf also. It helps keep us honest about the amount of one type of toy we have and it just makes sense when looking for your favorite activities. My family loves art supplies but if it starts overflowing one shelf we know its time to pause on buying new goodies.

4) Rotate. When toys start to get boring, move that bin to a higher shelf and rotate a fresh game or book down to their level. It keeps things fresh!

5) Purge. If it doesn’t fit in the cabinets and bins….. Say Goodbye. I’m brutal about it too! Its impossible to enjoy a space that is cluttered and crowded!

6) Plugs. Create a charging station to keep the cords wrangled for the rechargeable batteries and other tech. Look at this POST for a trick on keeping cords wrangled and pretty.