Toys, Toys, Toys!

Toys are some of the most challenging items to organize and keep organized! Children's rooms and playrooms are often high on the list of areas to tackle when I am hired to organize. Here are some ideas of how to keep those toys from taking over the house.

1. Designate an area as a playroom. This is an important step in containing the clutter that toys can create. If a whole room is not available for this purpose, try designating half a room or a closet. Even if this area is not organized, at least the door can be shut to hide the mess. Choosing an area helps kids begin to learn about order in the house. Just as it would seem odd to see the blender stored in the dining room, kids will begin to understand that toys don't belong there either.


2. Purchase some storage units. To keep toys organized, purchase some good storage units. I recommend the racks that have different size plastic bins to house a variety of different toys. I would stay away from purchasing regular bins with lids as they are hard to access especially when stacked: creating a barrier. Some toy racks have bins with lids that are optional and have handles for toting the contents. Also good for organizing are shelving units with canvas totes. Here are some great links to websites that offer such units for purchase: http://www.ababy.com/data/toy-organizers-1.html, http://www.containerstore.com/browse/index.jhtml?CATID=77644, and http://www.spacesavers.com/popularity-kids-closet-laundry-100.html .There is also a great organizer available for Legos (Oh, the dreaded Legos!) at http://www.box4blox.com/.


3. Get the kids involved! Kids are good imitators. At almost every house I have organized in, I have seen the children (some as young as 2) imitate my behavior. Designate certain bins for certain toys by placing a laminated photo of it on the front. This helps create a visual aid and works for children who aren't able to read yet. Try creating a routine in the schedule where everybody helps pick up the toys. A good time would be at night before bed. Make it fun by setting the timer and rewarding the kids with a small prize or treat.


4. Clean out toys regularly. There is no negotiating on this one! Make it a point to go through the toys every month or so to weed out those that are broken and out grown. Donate out grown toys to a friend or a local charity. Involve the kids in the process. One of my clients told her children to fill a garbage bag full of toys to donate. The one who had the heaviest bag was given a prize. Another idea that works well is rotating the toys. Put some toys in storage in the basement. After a few months, put these toys out and pull some others to put in storage. The kids will feel like they are getting new toys to play with!

Remember that getting organized is a process that takes time. By making small changes and creating manageable routines, clutter can be kept from cornering you!

Happy Organizing!