Home Organization Services & Homeschool Coaching
Toys are easily the most common housekeeping-related complaint of parents everywhere. They’re wonderful tools, helping our kids have fun, learn, and grow, but they can easily get out of hand. What is meant as a blessing so quickly turns into a burden.
If you’d like your play centers to be spaces to be inviting and manageable, you can use these no-fail systems to get things in order.
Something I see every time I organize a playroom is that after I’m finished, the kids are so excited to start playing with everything! Having an organized play space breathed new life into the playtimes of these children. Believe it or not, kids get overwhelmed by clutter too. The human mind craves order, and when kids are overwhelmed, playtime isn’t as much fun. Having labeled and contained options makes it much more fun to pick an activity, and much easier to clean it up afterwards.
If your kids are older than 3, I recommend that you start when they are out of the house, asleep, or won’t see you. Or, if your kids are older than 8, you may be able to walk through this process with them after explaining your goals and assuring them you will not throw out anything that’s important to them.
Begin by sorting toys into categories. If they have a designated container, collect them there. If not, put them in a pile by themselves. As you go, if you notice things that are obviously trash or are broken beyond repair, put them into the trash. Don’t worry about paring down yet though.
Here are some common categories I’ve seen for playrooms I’ve organized:
Once you’ve sorted everything and thrown out the trash, you can start asking yourself questions about the toys you’ve categorized. Do the toys fit into their containers? Do you need to get some new containers for any category of toy? What toys are currently being played with? What are they not playing with?
Be prepared for emotions. Decluttering is an emotional task. You may come across toys they’re no longer playing with that bring back fond memories, and it’s hard to let go of that stage of life. Or you might feel guilty because you or a loved one spent a lot of money on something that they just aren’t getting much out of. Stay focused on this stage of life and think of your end goal: creating a space that adds value to your children’s creativity, and makes playtime more enjoyable. If you’d like to learn how to deal with the top 10 most common decluttering obstacles, you can check out my e-book here.
Put the items you’re donating into opaque bags and take them out to the car so you can donate them asap. If there are any items you’re unsure of, you can put them into a sealed “Time Will Tell Box,” (or bag). Mark it with a future date on a sticky note or masking tape (I recommend 1-2 months). If the items in the box aren’t missed by that date, donate it without looking at the contents inside.
Once you’ve decluttered, you’ll be able to easily identify what categories need new containers. The blessing of having containers for each category is that it sets clear boundaries and makes cleanup easy. You can easily set guidelines about how many categories of toys may be out at one time, and if a container starts to overflow, you know it’s time for a decluttering job.
The containers you use should be tailored to what your organizing style is and how you want your playroom to function. I personally love clear plastic containers because my son and I can see the toys inside. Alternatively, you could pick baskets or opaque containers and add labels with words (and/or pictures).
These Shoe Box size containers are clear and perfect for storing under the bed or on shelves.
Rope Bins are a soft, beautiful option if you have the budget.
This Easy Latch bin is one of my favorites for playrooms. They’re stackable, and usually fit under beds. The Tall Version of this box is great for categories of toys that are larger, or you have more of.
Another popular option is cube storage. These have the functionality of drawers, but can be removed for easy access to toys. I recommend getting the 13” compartments over the 11”. They look fantastic with hyacinth baskets, wooden crates, fabric cube bins, or rope baskets.
Dress- Up Clothes can be hung by hooks or a small, children’s clothing rack for easy access and tidying.
Nerf Guns can be hung by a pot holder rack with s-hooks or on a mounted peg board.
Tiny Toys may be organized into zipper pouches or photo boxes.
Bulky Toys can be placed in a large floor basket.
Once you reintroduce your newly organized play spaces, your kids will be so excited and inspired to start playing in fresh, new ways!
Take some time to explain the new system. Make sure everyone understands any new rules or guidelines about how the new system works and the plan for tidying up after playtime. If you’re using labels, show them how to identify where toys go. Ask your kids if there’s anything about the system that’s confusing. You may want to help them tidy up the first couple of times to make sure everyone is on the same page.
As the months pass, if you notice that some bins are too full to close, this is an indication that another pass of decluttering is needed. If you notice that toys are getting haphazardly put away, you may either need to re-label the containers, choose another location for their storage, or remind your children of the tidying plan.
Now go play with your kids and enjoy your tidy space!
Thanks for reading this post! I hope you found it helpful. I love helping families enjoy their homes and find success in their homeschooling. I’ve found that blending traditional organization services with personal coaching helps empower my clients to live organized long after we’ve completed their projects. Here’s to achieving our goals!
Thanks for reading this post! I hope you found it helpful. I love helping families enjoy their homes and find success in their homeschooling. I’ve found that blending traditional organization services with personal coaching helps empower my clients to live organized long after we’ve completed their projects. Here’s to achieving our goals!