ten tips to taming toddler toys

Got kids?   Got clutter?   It can be a challenge to combine your child’s toys with your living space.   As your child grows from infant to toddler,  their toys begin to take over living rooms!   We live in a small home,  but have organized our living room so that we are all comfortable.   It’s great to have the entire family in one spot enjoying independent activities and working with fun games together too.  Sometimes,  all of that fun can become too much for this mom!  I need to tame that clutter.

Here are my ten tips for taming toddler toys:

1. Enlist your children to help put away their toys when they finish playing with them.   The Boy has been picking up and putting away his toys for as long as I can remember.
2. Have children put away one toy before taking another out to play with.  When we are finished playing with our blocks, we always pick them up before taking out our trains and tracks.
3. Keep toys organized so that kids know where to put them when they are finished.   We have a large canvas bin for miscellaneous toys,  like keys, stuffed animals, soft sided balls, and more.
4. Place toys on a shelf that is easy for your child to reach.   Being able to see their toys helps them to put them back in the right spot each time.   The Boy will rearrange his shelf if you’ve put something back in the “wrong”  spot.
5. Once you’ve noticed your child has outgrown a toy,  place in a basket to be donated to a friend or a local organization.  If you’re involved in a play group, consider organizing a toy swap.
6. Don’t purchase everything that you see.   Part of the problem parents face with toys is one that they’ve created!  Stop buying.   When it comes time for gift giving,  ask grandparents and others to consider donating to a college fund instead of purchasing another toy.
7. If you do find yourself with several age appropriate toys,  consider rotating them.  Store the excess in large plastic bins in your attic,  garage, or basement.  Every few months,  rotate them.
8. Use a bookcase to organize your child’s library.   Mix favorite books in with the not-so-favorites to encourage them to try new books.
9. Have specific areas designated for different activities.   We have an easel and table with chairs in our living room for coloring, painting, and other type of work.   In The Boy’s room,  we have a child sized chair for him to read.   Being organized like this,  helps him to learn what type of activity he can expect to be doing and where his “supplies” should be put away.
10. Lead by example.   When mom and dad are finished with something –  like their laptops or magazines – be sure to put it in it’s rightful spot!

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.