How to Organise Games and Puzzles

Board games are a great way to spend time with family and friends. Jigsaw puzzles are a fun, non-competitive activity to fill in a wet afternoon or simply a good way to relax. The enjoyment of the game can be ruined, however, if pieces go missing, instructions are lost or the games can’t be located when they are needed.

Where to Store Games and Puzzles

Store games close to the area where they are played to limit the possibility of pieces being lost throughout the house. Children’s games should be stored at a level that they can access easily. Games and puzzles with small pieces should be stored out of reach of small children.

To reduce the appearance of clutter, games should be stored in a cupboard. A shelf of a linen cupboard or similar is suitable. Stacking games neatly on the shelves of a bookcase or entertainment unit is also suitable. This has the advantage of acting as a visual prompt to remember to play the games. Items that are hidden away in wardrobes or infrequently used cupboards are often forgotten.

Storing Jigsaw Puzzles

Children’s puzzles should be kept in a location that is easily accessible. An appropriate-sized plastic container is the best way to store board/tray and wooden puzzles, keeping easily dislodged pieces together and making it easy for children and parents to tidy the puzzles to pack them away.

Large puzzles with small pieces should be stored in a zip-lock bag inside the puzzle box to eliminate the risk of misplacing pieces if the box is dropped. After completing a puzzle and returning it to the box, check the surrounding area for pieces that have been accidentally dropped or overlooked.

Keep a small container, such as an empty margarine container, near where jigsaw puzzles are stored. If stray pieces are found, place them into this container to be retrieved later if a puzzle is attempted and found to have pieces missing.

Storing Board Games

Board games should be stacked neatly in an appropriate place. If there are several versions of a particular game, such as Trivial Pursuit, the game cards and pieces can be placed into one box to reduce the amount of storage space needed.

To prevent small game pieces being misplaced, place them in a zip-lock bag inside the game box. Make sure that boxes are kept in good condition, with any damage to corners repaired with tape. When packing games away, ensure that the instructions have been included inside the box. If transferring games into a new storage box for any reason, check that there are no important game instructions written on the old box before discarding it.

Keep a small container or shoebox with board games to keep any pieces that are found after games have been packed away. A container with spare dice is also useful. A small clear plastic container for young children to use for shaking dice when playing board games with adults at a table avoids the need to search for dice on the floor from overly enthusiastic rolls.

Declutter Games and Puzzles

Periodically, games and puzzles should be sorted and those that are no longer used should be discarded. If the game is no longer played because important pieces are lost or the game is no longer playable, then it should be thrown out. Games and puzzles that are still in good condition can be donated to a local charity or toy library or given to friends or family.

Taking care of board games and puzzles ensures that they will be kept in good condition and provide many hours or entertainment for years to come.

Keep Games with Small Parts Stored Carefully

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