Conquer the clutter and reclaim the valuable space you once ruled. Can you recall days when you could read a decorating magazine without crying? If parenthood has created a mess in your home and evening routine, get your sanity back with one of these simple tips for keeping the toys from taking over your house.
Solutions to Keep Your Kids’ Toys From Overtaking Your House
1. Minimize the clutter
It doesn’t matter how organized you are – an excess of toys will certainly be sure that your home is a mess waiting to take place. Fortunately, getting kids on board with the thought of ditching their stuff is easier than it sounds.
The secret is to allow it to be a way for them to define themselves and their interests. Encourage kids to make a pile of ”baby toys” to donate, and also have them put aside any toys that do not interest them, for example action figures from a forgotten TV show. Separating these toys will assist them in appreciating how much they’ve grown and rediscover the toys they love.
2. Select toys wisely
Since you’ll oftentimes be stuck with them for some time, it pays to be picky when it comes to buying toys. To make toys more meaningful to your child, only purchase them for holidays, special occasions and rewards – don’t shy away from asking relatives to do the very same.
Avoid toys which are poorly made (cheap), not age-appropriate, unnecessarily large, pointless or anything linked with a movie – unless it’s that one you’ve been playing on repeat on a daily basis. The best toys are versatile, encourage creativity and can be easily expanded upon, including Legos, wooden train tracks and dollhouse sets.
3. Leave some toys out of reach
If you’re constantly finding play dough and puzzle pieces in the sofa cushions, it’s time to place them on the top shelf of the closet. Designating these messy toys as ”family toys” provides you with more quality time with your child as opposed to scrubbing pen marks off the curtains.
Also, make an effort to set aside a tote of toys, games and puzzles for rainy days. This ensures you’ll always have a trick up your sleeve for sick days or any time a boring relative visits.
4. Set boundaries
If toys already are sprawled out over every available layer of your home, don’t worry! It’s easy to reclaim order in your household by setting a couple of ground rules, like ”no toys in the kitchen” or setting limits on the number of toys allowed out overnight.
While that may seem a bit draconian, kids are generally happier when they’re given clear expectations and few surprises. That’s why it’s imperative that you follow through and pick up every evening, regardless of how exhausted you feel at the time.
5. Give kids ownership
Picking up toys doesn’t need to be boring. Babies, toddlers and big kids alike could have fun organizing and picking up, as long as it’s not a negative experience. Which means you should provide sufficient time for enjoyment without making use of counting ”1, 2, 3” or shouting empty threats.
An excellent aspect of setting aside extra time for picking up is that you and your child can do fun things like scoop up blocks using a blanket or deliver toys across the house via tricycle. If you make it fun enough, your kid could eventually pick up without the need of being asked.
6. Give every toy a place
Without having a simple organizational system, picking up is usually a major headache. Don’t throw everything into one big toybox; there’s an easier way.
Purchase a series of matching plastic bins and line them up along the wall where your child will be able to put away and retrieve toys on his own. Designate one box for Legos, one for stuffed animals, one for train tracks … you get the drift.
Use stacking plastic boxes for smaller toys like matchbox cars and dolls. Get them organized further by storing puzzle pieces, doll clothes along with other annoyances in Ziploc bags.
7. Hit the books
It’s not your imagination. That pile of storybooks near the couch is actually getting taller, and if you delay much longer, it will likely become a giant heap.
Even worse, your kid uses those books to stall and push back bedtime a little later with every passing night. That’s why it’s necessary to either keep the books in your child’s room, or keep a small number of favorites in a basket for easy retrieval.
All of these tips can also be utilized when you are selling a home and getting ready for a showing. Ready to find out the current market value of your home? Nick & Cindy Davis with RE/MAX Premier Group are here to assist you. We are always a just a click here away or call 813-300-7116