Blocks. Stuffies. Puzzles and books. Play toys take up space and their vibrant hues are far from stealth. Having a simple kid-friendly system can keep things tidy and visually calm, which can be really helpful when your family room doubles as the play space.
With the abundance of tips, how-tos, and storage solutions out there, thoughts of a system may feel over the top or daunting. The key takeaway needs to be what feels right for you and will work for your lifestyle.
That said, I’ll keep my take here short with the two things I’ve leaned into most for happier play at home:
my go-to toy collector
When solving for storage, I first try to upcycle. Empty jars. Gift boxes. Shoe boxes. Any sturdy vessel I can bring more mileage to. But, admittedly, I have a thing for baskets and bins. So many styles, Oh, the color combinations. Decorative baskets and bins are a beautiful way to contain and conceal ALLLL of the things...especially, kid stuff.
But before throwing money at the first cute bin you see, spend a little time finding one you love now and see yourself repurposing for other uses down the road. As you search, first consider the material—woven, wire, fabric, wood, or plastic. What would be most appropriate for what you plan to put in it? Does it speak to the style of your space? Is it durable? Is it repurposeable? Do you even like it?!
These Target exclusives are ones I love and have adapted to fit whatever my girls' state of play is:
Pillowfort / Coiled rope design is durable and spot-cleanable. The new striped version comes in various sizes making it ideal for holding toys big and small. We use ours to corral bulky toys, Magnatiles, wooden train tracks, baby doll clothes, and cozy blankets.
Brightroom / A smaller-sized coiled rope bin ideal for tiny hands to carry around their treasures. Our gray version holds board books, wooden trains, and waffle blocks. (Mama tip: I also use this bin in our mudroom for my girls' socks and masks. Best morning time saver!).
realign tidy expectations
Plain and simple, I had to reframe the unreal expectation that my kids would adopt, let alone understand, the benefits of an organization system early on. I know they will one day and it’s already sweet to see them organize in their own way. For now, all I can ask and appreciate is that they clear the floor to keep everyone safe.
I continue to demonstrate how putting "like toys with like toys" in a designated place makes it easier to find the next time. They also love and quickly grasp the idea of grouping books by color. We’re even trying it with LEGO bricks, but that’s an ambitious work-in-progress (and mostly, just fun for me). If you were or are a parent with littles like me, you probably experience the toy mess every day and know the evening clean-up battle all too well. But it is a fleeting phase. And while in the messiest of moments, I think I can’t wait for it to be over, I have to make a very conscious effort to not let my high sensitivity and anxiety around clutter take over. Because if I do, I’ll probably miss out on something great. All I want to feel is happy and grateful to experience these times.
let me know...does the chaos of play and organizing kid toys get to you? how do you handle it?
I'd love to hear your stories and solutions, so please share in the Comments below!
Always,
Kommentare