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Q: What approach do you use to organize toys?

A: The main reason toys are so difficult to organize is because most people have waaaay too many of them. It is a daunting, overwhelming task when there are more than 50 toys, games, books and puzzles with dozens of pieces to many of them.

It can take days to get a toy room in order, just to have the kids mess it up again. So why bother?

We bother because playing is fun, educational, and helps a child be a creative builder, artist, entertainer, teacher, doctor or whatever he or she wants to be.

So lets talk about approach. Here are the best ways to get the toys organized and keep them that way:

1. Cut your toys in half. Delete 50%.

When you and your children have less stuff to manage and put away, it is more fun to play. When children have fewer things, they can be more creative playing pretend with objects and using them for other uses. We’ve all seen how happy a child is with a cardboard box! That is because it is a blank canvas that can become anything the child dreams of. That is creativity.

If you don’t want to donate the excess, put the items into storage to play with later or rotate them from time to time.

2. Group toys together by how they are used.

Put the playdough with the clay tools. Keep the paint with the paint brushes and cups.

3. Group things together that are similar.

Create zones of similar items. Do it just like in kindergarten. Some usual zones:

• Arts and crafts (art supplies, splat mat, table)
• Pretend play (dress-up)
• Building (blocks, legos, knex)
• Reading area
• Games
• Toddler toys (these are usually bigger and bulkier)
• Sports (balls/bats)

4. Use good sturdy containers that can be re-used for other toys later. Kids grow out of toys but the containers can be used for a decade if it is sturdy. Plastic bins, baskets, shelves and other sturdy items will keep you from having to buy more containers down the road.

5. Ten Minute Tidy

The problem with toys is they’re only fun when they’re out of the boxes. So pick a time to tidy up with kids daily. This will keep parents from getting grumpy and it teaches a valuable skill to the children.

– Allison

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