1. Limit the amount of toys to all areas of the house. In the play room/area keep most of the toys in baskets/bins/boxes and on shelves. This area is a toys allowed zone and you know that this is where the majority of toy clutter will live. In the bedroom allow books and approx 10 toys/games. This will give your child something to do while in their room and will limit how much you need space for. In the living room allow 5 toys per child, this again will limit the toy clutter and will make for tidy up to go quickly. I also suggest you keep small pieced toys in the toy area and not in the common areas, less to clean up and less likely to have pieces all over the house.
2. Now is a good time to go through your children's toys and see what they do and don't play with. Donate toys they no longer use and are in good shape and throw out the rest. Local shelters and daycare centres will take in gently used, non-plush toys. When it comes to books local libraries and early year centres will take gently used books. If your child is old enough ask them to go through their toys with you and instill in them that it is appropriate to donate toys to those who are less fortunate and that having only a certain amount of toys is a reasonable thing. When one new toy comes in at least one goes out.
3. If your children are still young get them into the habit of: you play with one or two toys at a time and if you want to play with something new you put what you were playing with away, then you get the next toy. This will help with keeping the toys tidy but also teach your children to focus on one thing at a time and to keep things organized.
4. Use the same style solutions to organize your childs toys; bins, baskets, shelving unit and so forth. Keep like toys with like and have solutions labelled where needed. There are many inexpensive solutions out there, look in; Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Walmart, IKEA and so forth.
I hope this has helped parents to tackle the toys issue. Keep in mind to declutter. downsize and purge toys on a regular basis. Most of the time young children will not even realize the toys they no longer play with are gone but include your older children in the process. Make clean up time a fun one and to teach your children that if they create a mess they are resposible to clean it up but you are willing to help them if they are meeting you half way.
Please share your helpful tips on toy management!
