Toy Organization

Ok so as a proud Mommy of 4 preschoolers we are obviously organizationally deprived. Our biggest issue right now is the crazy amount of TOYS that are scattered all over the house! After tripping over a pile of Barbie's this morning while carrying my 12 wk old...the revelation came to me that I had to do something about it. In between feedings and breaking up fights this morning I researched "organization tips" on the internet. The first step - weed out toys we don't use. Since I have 4 children ranging from 12 wks to 5 yrs we have toys for all ages. I went through all the toys this morning with my oldest and we filled up two plastic storage containers full of stuff to donate! Tons of toys, gone! Still looks like a toy store in here but it is a start. While we were sorting we tossed broken toys (surprisingly we had quite a few). Then I started looking for storage containers. Since we are on a tight budget right now .. the plan is to use what I have and then slowly purchase other storage containers. Great tip I found online was to use empty snack containers and mayo, peanut butter, and coffee jars. Plastic, of course, with lids. Plastic spray paint is great to cover up the ugly labels. So we are working on keeping dress up jewerly and Barbie shoes in containers and out of the reach of my 19 month old son who loves eating these things!

Organization Tips for Toys:
#1. No toy bins. Toy bins are for hiding toys, not for organizing. Toy chests are dumping places not places of honor for toys that you value.
#2. Everything has a place. As with all organizing, choose storage places that facilitate "use": a basket for books in a pillow corner or near a reading chair, toys with pieces (and building blocks) in plastic bins under the bed or on a toy shelf.
#3. Label it or keep it visible. Kids are easily distracted and need visual reminders of what-where-how. Clear bins and containers are ideal.
#4. Rotate & re-position. Scale back the number of toys. This is also an effective strategy for teaching better clean-up practices. Help your child to manage a a smaller number of toys at a time and rotate toys in and out of "use" weekly or monthly.
#3 Donate or Swap. This is a great activity to involve older children in. Teach giving by allowing your child to pick toys they are no longer interested in or are too old for to donate to a child that doesn't have any toys. Our MOPS group as a swap where our children (us too) can pick things we don't need to take and swap with our friends for something "new"! Loads of fun!
#5. The toy hospital. Toys get broken; they lose a few pieces and need a time-out until the other pieces are found. Designate a space for broken, tired and outgrown toys. Cut out a cardboard box as a toy hospital, paint it and decorate with "first-aid" stickers or art.