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Get Organized: 5 Ways to Keep Toys Tidy
A few storage and sorting strategies help the kids keep their spaces cleaner
Keeping a child's play space clean can often feel pointless. You finally get it neat and clean, and 30 minutes later it's the same whirlwind of toys, books and clothes. Instead of cleaning up the constant clutter, follow these five tips to maintain the tidiness and encourage your children to —believe it or not — help clean up the mess themselves.
Browse kids' spaces | More storage for kids' rooms
Browse kids' spaces | More storage for kids' rooms
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1. Sort by activity. Before you purchase any type of organizational system for your child's room or play space, take stock of everything that's in there and start sorting. Sort toys and books into piles to keep, throw away or donate. Then organize the items you've decided to keep by activity. This should help you figure out how much storage you'll need and what kind of system will best suit your space.
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| If you have enough space, divide up the playroom according to the kids' activities — this will make organization even more streamlined. Create a reading corner with books and bean bag chairs, a table or floor space for cars and trucks and put dollhouses and play stoves in another corner. If your children are old enough, get them to help out! It's a great way to teach them about cleaning and organization. And this way they'll know where everything goes from the very beginning. |
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| 2. A place for everything. If you're using vertical storage, like shelves, organize by putting the toys and items that are used the least at the top of the shelf, and the toys that are used the most at the bottom. If you have children of different ages, make sure the younger ones have their toys at the bottom where they're easy to access. Make sure that whatever shelving system you use is secure and safe for children to use — it may need to be attached to the wall. |
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| Incorporate bins, baskets and other storage units into your shelves to keep smaller items neat. Kids acquire an incredible number of small toys, and they can get out of control pretty quickly. Make sure you measure your shelves before purchasing any bins so that you know they'll fit properly. Hooks are another great space-saving storage solution. Put up a row for your child's backpack, dress-up clothes, etc. |
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3. Label, label, label. Make cleaning up as easy as possible by clearly labeling where everything belongs. If you want the bed oom or playroom to stay neat and clean, there's really no way you can go overboard here. Label hooks, bins, shelves and drawers to encourage your children to put things where they belong.
Make sure that your children's play space is out of the way, but still in sight so you can keep an eye on them. This not only helps make for a more secure and comfortable playtime, but it also makes things easier when cleaning or searching for lost toys.
Make sure that your children's play space is out of the way, but still in sight so you can keep an eye on them. This not only helps make for a more secure and comfortable playtime, but it also makes things easier when cleaning or searching for lost toys.
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by CWB Architects
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| 4. Pay attention to comfort and style. While you want your child's play space to be clean, you don't want it to be sterile. Add color and texture, and make it a comfortable space to hang out in. Choose flooring that's comfortable but easy to clean. Stain-resistant carpeting is always a great choice, but padded play mats or rugs can work just as well on hardwood floors. Having a play mat also gives your child an assigned surface to play on. Mats can be stored under beds or rolled up, which is helpful if your child's play space is shared with another room. |
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| Get as much off the floor as possible. Kids want room to play! An open space will mean a safer place to play and fewer things to get dirty or ruined. Magnetic whiteboards and chalkboards give kids an easy-to-clean art space that's fun and eco-friendly. There's no paper waste here! Making it magnetic turns it into an instant bulletin board for displaying other art. |
by Jeanette Lunde
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5. Create a cleanup system. Encourage your kids to clean up as part of their daily routine. Once you've cleaned everything up the first time, the key is to teach your children to maintain it and keep it tidy. Make up a chore chart so they remember to put their toys where they belong every day.
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| Place a few storage bins in other rooms of the house where your child plays to make cleaning faster and less of a hassle. Having smaller bins will encourage kids to put their toys in when they're done, and take them to their playroom or bedroom later. Tell us: How have you organized your child's toys? What are your tips for keeping it neat and tidy? Share your thoughts in the comments below! More: Fantasy Kids' Rooms Kids' Bedrooms: Amp Up the Playfulness Guest Picks: Playroom Perfection Help! I'm a Minimalist and My Child is a Maximalist |
Comments
laurissa The best and only really effective way to keep kids toys tidy is to have fewer toys.
16 months ago · Like
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Traci Rolz I have a play room for my kids to be as messy and creative as they want because you don't want them to feel restricted when they are playing, at the same time they have to be neat and tidy in the rest of the house. I just close the door when they are finished, rather than cleaning up everyday, problem solved !
16 months ago · Like
MyToy King Really simple ideas to keep the kid's toys tidy and organised.
16 months ago · Like
akip I have a couple of sets of vintage suitcases around the house...awesome toy storage and they look great, even out in the open!
16 months ago · Like
Susie Van Deventer Wonderful tips! My son is older now, but we tried to avoid investing in furniture and storage pieces that he would outgrow quickly. Consider our Bontanica Tiered Planter [http://susiev.store.willowhouse.com/search.aspx?keyword=botanica] -- it can be displayed with just one, or two levels by removing baskets. Remove the included coconut fiber liner for use with toys in the playroom, or towels in the bath. Add the liner back in when you are ready to flank your entry with columns of color or add height to your garden landscape. 
16 months ago · Like
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kacetz Susie, that's such a great idea. I love being resourceful.
16 months ago · Like
jbobbs I LOVE that toy organizer with the pink and green slide-in bins! However, I cannot find it anywhere! Where did you find the one in the picture?
5 months ago · Like
gravatt Jbobbs, try Ikea. It looks very similar to the ones I have from there.
4 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Jan. 29, 2012.
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