If not arranged and stored properly, toys can take up the whole house. By equipping the children's playroom with adequate toy storage options, it will be easy to teach a child to put away playthings and keep the room looking neat and tidy. Here are some great toy organization and storage solutions that will ease the task of sorting and storing playthings of all sizes and types.
Toy Closet
A toy closet is extremely useful in storing a large number of playthings easily. Shelves can be used to hold boxes and bins that can be used to store smaller toys and Lego pieces. Label the boxes for easy identification. The toy closet needn’t be a kiddie-closet with pictures and colors. A regular closet can serve the purpose. However, it should be small in size making it easier for a child to open and close.
Toy Storage Units
A toy storage unit is a collection of containers that can be used to hold playthings of various sizes and shapes. While most toy storage units are on the expensive side, they make it easier to organize and store a larger variety and a number of playthings at one go. For parents on a budget, it will be a good idea to look at simple wall racks and line them with open bins. It will serve the same purpose and be cheaper.
Toy Storage Chest, Boxes and Bins
One of the easiest ways to organize playthings in the children's playroom or bedroom is by storing them in boxes and chests. It is possible to buy these boxes and storage chests to match a child’s bedroom color or theme. Do ensure that the storage chest has safety hinges to protect tiny fingers and hands. Open bins, which have been labeled, are also great for storing playthings and can be placed on wall shelves and racks to free up floor space.
Other Toy Storage Solutions
Organizing toy storage is easy and can be a fun activity with a bit of imagination and creativity. Children as young as 3-years-old can be motivated to organize and keep away playthings provided there are interesting storage solutions. Here are a few ideas :
- Put up a toy hammock in the playroom and use it to hold soft toys and plush animals.
- Zippered plush bags can be used to hold smaller playthings. These look cute and can be washed easily.
- Small carts can be used to hold basketballs and other toys that a child wants to take from one room to another.
- While kiddie-sized toy storage options do look cute, there is no harm in using regular boxes and bins to hold playthings. These are better value for money since a child may outgrow a Barbie-doll toy storage chest but a regular chest of drawers will find place in a teenager’s room as well.
- Under-the-bed storage options are great for kids. Boxes with castors can be rolled under the bed and pulled out for playtime.
Useful Tips for Toy Storage and Organization
While organizing and storing playthings, do keep a few things in mind:
- Storage for toys should be low enough and safe enough for a child to use.
- Label boxes with picture of the toys, which will make it easy for a child who can’t yet read to store and put away playthings.
- While micro-organizing toys can seem a good idea, it is not always practical. So, instead of organizing board games into money board games and word board games, simply store all board games together.
- Make a game out of organizing playthings. For instance, put all the dolls to bed in the playroom, the toy cars and trains can be parked in the garage or station and so on.
- Limit the number of toys each child owns. This will make it easier to store and organize. Do a periodic check to weed out toys that a child may have outgrown, broken or lost interest in. Give these to charity.
- Be practical and sensible when shopping for toys. Choose the ones that will serve a purpose, last for longer and probably, teach a child something. Avoid buying toys that are merely duplicates of the one a child already owns. After all, how many stuffed monkeys does a child really need?
Useful Resources
- ClutterFreeKids.com has a huge number of toy storage boxes and organizers.
- SpaceSavers.com offers good options for toy organizers,bins and boxes
Toy organization is important not just to keep a child’s room neat and clean but also to teach children the importance of keeping things away and show them the basics of organizing. Choose from storage chests, boxes and bins or any of the options available and create a suitable storage and organizing system. For more on organizing for children, do read How to Organize a Baby Closet, How to Organize a Kid’s Room and Kids Bathroom Décor Tips
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