Toy Tactics

Does anyone else find themselves fantasizing about the day when you can finally get rid of the load of toys that seem to always be cluttering your home?

After 10 years of collecting toys it seems to be excessive... even with the continual decluttering and donation of toys that have run their course.. it just seems to keep piling up!

Where do we store all these toys?

The dreams of beautiful toy rotations and a minimalist approach is not always feasible.. especially since it's not always so easy to separate from toys your little ones so desperately love! And family members do love to spoil... am I right?

We've opted for more open spaces in our home so we don't have the storage to store endless amounts of toys to bring out for weekly rotations. Mind you this is a wonderful option if you have the capacity to do so.

With limited storage, we must be creative with how we store and organize our toys, and I have learned a few tricks over the years! Take a peak and see if any of these strategies might help you conquer any of your toy troubles!

1) Organisation is the KEY!

You could say I am a bit compulsive when it comes to organizing. I am very particular about each style of toy having its own space or container. How is your child going to know where to start if the toys

are all a jumbled mess... right? And whats going to happen when the one toy they want is way at the bottom of the toy chest? That's right.. a whole lot of toys all over the floor... To avoid this use smaller plastic bins within a toy chest to separate toys, these stack well! Collapsible laundry hampers work well to store stuffed animals, and sturdy cosmetic bags work well for those smaller bits!

2) Hide toys in plain sight!

Use baskets with lids to hide toys away, or drawers in entertainment units or side tables. My Favorite is to use storage ottomans, since they provide extra seating too! For open shelving, use baskets or crates for organizing toys while at the same time keeping them hidden from view. This also makes it so easy to grab one basket at a time for play, which is easily tidied up and tucked away again.

3) Get really creative!

Utilize every area you can for storage and organization of toys. Under the bed is an often overlooked area. Use under the bed storage bins which the kids can easily pull in and out. We had a custom wood Lego tray built for under our sons bed which they can pull out and use to build and then easily tuck away.. no more sharp Lego edges piercing my feet!

4) Set up stations of play in various areas of the home

* An independent play area *

(ideally near the kitchen) using high interest toys. This is the perfect place to have the newest toys which will allow you some time to get things done while the kids happily play on their own.

* Create a cozy book nook! *

It can be as simple as a few pillows and some stuffed animals. This area will provide the perfect escape for little's to go for some down time, when they need it!

Organization tip: Compile all your books in one spot in the house! (Aside from a few personal favorites in each bedroom) We recently moved all our books from the whole house into the entertainment unit shelving, and now its our favorite thing right before bed to all snuggle up on the couch and read a bedtime book together!

* Areas of role play *

These can changed based on your child's interests. A play kitchen is always a staple and well loved by all! You can advance this play with a DIY market stand (shoe racks work great for this!) Another favorite in our house is a Doll care station, which can easily be adapted into a Vet center. And Dress up stations can be a great outlet for creativity, use an old wardrobe chest, or a simple coat hook on the wall!

* Isolate a Drawing, colouring or homework station *

A children's desk, or a little corner of a table or counter is all you really need. Add some pencil crayons and paper and you've created a small haven for creative little minds, separate from the busy toy areas! This will help with focus.

*Designate an Area for messy Play *

Use tables that your not afraid to get dirty in an area with a hard floor. You can use this area to paint or create with play dough or you can easily add a large plastic bin with all sorts of sensory materials for messy play. (child sized cleaning tools like the Melissa and Doug broom set is a great addition to this space to encourage independent clean up!)

5) Utilize wide open spaces wherever possible!

The best play areas are the ones with lots of room to move around and play! Have all your toy storage areas tucked along the wall. This also makes it possible to do some gross motor activities when the weather does not allow for outdoor play!

6) Tackle the clean up together and regularly!

Get your little's involved with the clean up. There are lots of different strategies for clean up. What works best for us is everyone, adult and kiddo's clean up from our morning of play, right before lunch. Sing a clean up song to help them stay on task. We also use the general rule "Two hands, two toys" meaning you only need two toys at a time, and when its clean up time both hands should have something to put away! Another helpful tool for clean up is using catch all baskets. In our play room we use wagons or the grocery cart to collect all the randomly scattered toys. For our main floor each child in the family has a basket on the stairs. Once a week these baskets are taken to their rooms and emptied. Once a week we also organize the toys and put them in their appropriate homes.

7) Donate Toys Regularly!

At least every other month we take a quick inventory of our toys and the kids decide to donate at least one thing. This could be either donation to a charity service or passing down a toy to a child who might enjoy it. We especially do this after a birthday or Christmas. Our rule of thumb: One toy goes in.. one toy goes out.

8) Limit Toy's in the Bedroom

Of course your child has some prized possessions that are not so easily shared. These are the toys to be placed in their bedroom. A small shelf that is easily accessed is the perfect way to store and display these favorites. Other toys that work well in bedrooms are doll beds and cradles to tuck babies and animals to bed for the night!

9) Start giving your new toy purchases a lot of thought.

Ask yourself questions like:

* Will your child's interest in that toy fade over time?

* Does that toy have multiple uses?

* Will you be able to pass the toy down to other children in the family?

When purchasing a toy I try to avoid toys with batteries! (for my personal sanity!!) I also try to find toys suitable for a wide variety of ages as well as provide a more open ended play outlet! These little's have such an intense imagination.. give them toys that will encourage that!

The most loved toys in our home are

- DUPLO

(Lego for older kids)

- Play-mobile

(they have an amazing toddler line)

- Dolls

- Wood Blocks

- Train tracks and/or road tracks

(Road Rug works too)

- Cars and trucks

- Kitchen items (play food, empty food containers, plates, cups, utensils)

- Wood puzzles

(longer lasting than cardboard ones!)

- Animal Figures

- Magnet Tiles

Some General Rules to go by to ensure your picking long lasting toys;

Choose wood over plastic wherever possible!

The price point is quite a bit higher, but the quality will pay off in the end. Wood is friendlier to our environment and is also much easier to repair.

Quality over Quantity!

You are far better to invest in a few good quality toys that will certainly engage your little ones for years to come.

Less is More!

Honestly, I am the first one to admit my own kids have way too many toys.. but the truth is that they generally gravitate to the same toys over and over!

Keep it Simple!

Toys that are simple and not over complicated are going to encourage more independent play!!

They're are so many different ways to deal with parenting as a whole! What each of us decides to do about toys is just one thing in a long list of decisions we have to make in raising a child! I strongly believe, there is no right or wrong way to do anything! You will find what works best for you and your child and that is GREAT!

I would love to hear what works for you when it come to toys and storage!

But, if you've ever had that dream of purging all those relentlessly scattered toys one day, than hopefully something in this post will help with your toy troubles!