How often do you walk into a room and sigh at how many toys are sprawled about the floor? Lounge room, kitchen, even the back yard… it doesn’t matter what space it is, there always seems to be extra toys than there are supposed to be, all left deserted in the exact spots you need to sit or walk or work. And when you try and get your children to pack them up – well, cue the meltdown.
(We won’t even add how toys seem to multiply. It’s like you buy one new toy and five more pop up around the house!)
If you’ve ever had these thoughts or experiences, trust us, you’re not alone. Toys, like many other things, can make a space feel cluttered much faster than intended, but it’s not the way you have to live. And no, it doesn’t have to be a battle each time you want toys packed up.
How? It’s all about organisation.
- The Benefits of Organised Play
Organised play requires a specific space for toys to go. This could be a playroom, or a corner of your living space fit with a rug and shelves, whatever works for you and your household!
Having this designated play space is the first step to organisation, keeping the toys’ storage space simple and clear. Going through the process of actually organising it, however, is the game-changer. Not only does it reduce stress and make for an easier cleanup, but it improves focus and enhances the creativity of our children when they play. This is because they can see what toys they have and can immerse themselves in independent or group play, rather than getting distracted when they cross the house trying to find a specific toy and bump into you, or remember that screens exist!
So how do we keep an organised play space? There's a few different ways, but if you’re able to do them all, your space is going to be impeccable!
- Age-Appropriate Organisation
The more you tailor a child’s play space to their development stage, the more effective organisation will be. Think about it, you wouldn’t get a seven-year old to solve 11th-grade maths, unless you wanted to frustrate everyone in your household, right? The same goes for organisation. Giving them a space that works for you may not work for them, so be conscious of what they’re receptive of. Here are some ideas based on age:
Toddlers: Focus on simple storage and visual cues, like open buckets and small bookshelves low to the ground.
Preschoolers: Introduce basic sorting and labelling, both of which you can get their help with to get them excited about their special space!
School-aged children: Encourage independence and responsibility by letting them come up with their own storage solutions, as well as clearing out the toys they no longer want.
Growing and adapting a child’s play space with them is a great way to foster a sense of capability and understanding, as well as keep toys out of busy spaces!
- Get Children Involved
Keeping an organised space, no matter who or what that space is for, is not just your responsibility. In fact, getting children involved in keeping their space organised is a great first step to contributing to the family, which develops self-worth and pride in family units. One way to get children involved is through reward systems (which are actually quite controversial in the parenting world, so read this to decide if rewards are the right method for you and your child, or click here for a fascinating Montessori insight).
Another way to get your children involved with keeping an organised space is making it a family activity. You could have a time each night before bed that everyone contributes to tidying up, with your children being in charge of their play space. Similarly, you could create an easy-to follow tidy-up routine they need to undertake when finished with their play time. This could be printed and framed, and accessible with a whiteboard marker to tick off each task on their list.
Finally, you could make it a game. The easiest (and most fun way) to get your children involved with organisation is harnessing their imaginative play or competitive nature. You could need to pack everything up for the ‘guests’ coming over, or see how many toys you can fit in your arms at a time, which then need to be dropped into their specific box or tub.
- Declutter
The easiest way to keep an organised space is by decluttering. Without excessive accumulation, there can’t really be a lack of organisation, right? (We’re just kidding, but you have to admit, a few toys out of place is a lot easier to handle than tens of them!)
Here are a couple of strategies to help you and your child declutter toys:
- Toy Rotation
Having periodic check-ins with all the toys your child owns is a great way to highlight what toys are being loved and what toys are deadweight. This maintains interest in the toys they do keep and reduces the overwhelm you might feel to keep so much organised.
A similar toy rotation idea is to donate or sell an old toy for every new toy your child gets. This keeps the toy numbers from getting too high, and makes your child be more mindful in what toys they want to keep or get.
- Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
Investing in quality toys reduces the amount of replacements you need to buy, as well as gives an amazing opportunity to teach your child the value of taking care of their toys to keep them lasting as long as possible.
Here at Toyworld and My Toy Kingdom, we have a commitment to selling quality toys, keeping you and your family from slipping into the overconsumption of unreliable products. Check out our store by clicking here and explore our expansive collection of high-quality, long-lasting toys.
While ensuring everything has a place can feel amazing, remember your house is first a home, so the odd out of place toy isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it’s a reminder of the precious little human’s filling your life.
Don’t know what to read next? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Safe and Non-Toxic Toys for Kids here!