Toys, Toys Everywhere! Toys, Toys Without a Care!

If you have children, at some point or another, you have probably considered adding on an additional room just to accommodate all the toys. I have three children under the age of five and we have a lot of toys. What some of you probably don't know about me is that all three of my children share a bedroom! Yes, you heard me correctly, I have three children (including all their toys) in one bedroom. Needless to say, I have become the queen on de-cluttering and organizing the chaos which is toys!

Here are 10 tips to de-clutter and organize your kids bedroom.

Know what to ask for

My children accumulated the mass majority of their toys  via birthday parties and Christmas. Everyone wants to buy their child the "must-have" toy, but there are lots of non-toy gifts out there that get children just as excited without having to bring clothes. Check your area for local kids museums, zoos, aquariums, or eateries that your children would love. After you find some places you think your children would enjoy ask for gift cards or passes. You child will still get a "fun" gift, but you won't be cluttered with more toys.

Learn to say no

Chances are you have caved at some point or another and bought a toy you knew your child would play with for 5 seconds and toss to the side. Know when to say no. I know it is easier said than done, but instead of purchasing toys for good behaviors try giving a small allowance. This will teach the child to save up their money for something they "really" want.

Take inventory

Know what toys you have. This will keep you from duplicating toys. If you daughter already has 3 Barbies does she really need another one? Probably not.

Books

If you are looking to reward your child and want to be able to give your child something tangible try a book. Books are incredibly easy to organize and require very little space. Plus this will open up more opportunities for you to read with your child.

Color Coding

If you have small children try color coded bins for organization. For little hands it may be hard to "organize" items, instead just have them toss all the toys into a bin. You can color code the bins if you would like certain types of toys to stay together. For example, dolls go in the red bin, books go in the blue bin, ect.

Helping Hands

Have your children start as early as possible helping put away their items and even making their bed. This will keep them from making such a big mess if they know they are the ones to clean it up! Also it will give them a sense of accomplishment when they complete a task.

Designate an area

Designate where toys are allowed and where they are not. If you do not want toys brought in the kitchen make it very clear from the start that toys do not belong there.

Rotate

If you are fortunate enough to have a storage area put half your toys away in storage and leave half in the designated area in the house. Each month you can "rotate" in new toys. This will keep the child from getting bored with toys and it will keep less clutter out of the bedroom. The best part of rotating toys is that the child will feel like they just got something new. Most likely they have forgotten about the toy until you bring it out again.

Keep it Age appropriate

Much like clothes, your child can outgrow toys as well. You don't want to keep the "baby" toys lying around when you have an active and imaginative toddler running around. So don't be afraid to get rid of old toys!

Donate

When it is time to get rid of some of those toys consider donating. Your local Goodwill or women's shelter are usually looking for toys. This is also a great opportunity to discuss community service with your children. If you want to take this a step further, if your child gets an overabundance of toys from a birthday party or Christmas have them choose a few to donate.

Keeping your home organized and free of toy clutter does not have to be difficult. Just follow these 10 easy steps and you will well be on your way to a happier home (and child!).


If you culprit is toy cars and tracks, Hot Wheels has a great a new system called WallTracks to keep all those cars and tracks off the floor! You will definitely want to check it out!







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.