Somewhere between birthday and holiday gifts, random shopping trips, and even visiting the cousins, your kids have picked up a lot of toys. These toys seemingly overflow out of cabinets and bins, leaving a mess across the floor, table, and counters.
This mess is a prime source of stress for parents and kids. It can also be overwhelming for kids and make them less interested in their toys. Organization is key in a playroom, but it’s easier said than done. Let’s look at how to keep a playroom organized and maintain your sanity.
Start with a Full Declutter
Before worrying about organizing anything, it’s time to pare down. After all, why would you store items that your kids lost interest in months or years ago? Pull all of the toys and games out in the center of the room. Work with your kids to determine which items they want to keep and which ones they don’t want anymore.
For toys and games that are in good condition, consider hosting a garage sale or donating them rather than tossing them out. Once you’ve eliminated the items that your kids don’t need or want, you’ll be able to more quickly and effectively organize the playroom.
Group Similar Items Together
Rather than stuff the remaining toys and games back in cabinets and on shelves, spend a few minutes organizing them. Group all of the board games together, and follow this up with separate groups for books, action figures, blocks, and so forth. Then, assess the number of items and the storage space needed for each group you’ve created.
Use Clear Storage Bins and Labels
You now have a better idea about what your playroom’s new organizational system should look like. Determine if you can use any of the previous storage bins for your new groups. If you’ve somehow managed to get by this long without storage bins, it’s definitely time to invest in these affordable items.
A smart option is to use clear storage bins that your kids can easily see through. This allows them to find the specific toys they want and eliminates unnecessary frustration. You can also add labels to the boxes for even easier identification and access.
Create Easy-to-Reach Zones
The last thing you want is for your kids to try to climb up on shelves and pulling a heavy bin filled with books or toys down on top of themselves. Eliminate safety hazards and allow your kids to play on their terms by creating easy-to-reach zones.
Depending on your kids’ ages and physical abilities, don’t stack more than two or three bins. If you’re dealing with a lot of bins, consider storing some of them in a closet or out-of-the-way area. Periodically, you can rotate the bins around so your kids always have a fresh selection of toys to choose from.
Make Cleanup Part of the Routine
With the help of your kids, it could take several hours to declutter and organize the playroom. After all that effort, you want the results to stick around for a while. Of course, the first thing your kids will do is dump a few bins out across the floor.
You want your kids to play with their things and have fun, but you don’t want to deal with the mess afterward. How can you get kids to clean up after themselves?
- Turn cleanup time into a game. One idea is a race to see who can put away 10 items the fastest.
- Sing a song. There are a few cleaning songs for kids that you can find online. Some of them are pretty catchy, and you might find yourself humming them while you clean the rest of the house.
- Put toys in timeout. Get in the habit of picking up toys that were left out after cleanup time in a timeout. These toys will be off-limits for a day or two. Kids won’t want their toys taken away, so they’ll learn quickly to take cleanup time seriously.
If you feel overwhelmed by toys and clutter, it’s time to take action. By decluttering and organizing your space, you and your kids will feel more relaxed, happy, and inspired. At TidyHere, we have a talented team of housecleaners who are ready to visit your home soon. Call TidyHere today for all of your Boston home cleaning services.
