Organizing and storing children’s toys is a headache for every parent, especially after having young guests over, the room can become a complete mess… This article will share some extremely practical storage tips that we believe will definitely be helpful to you.
Compared to neatly picking up items one by one, children prefer to “scoop” things up. You can buy a handheld dustpan for cleaning carpets, paired with a toy shovel, which would be even better. Letting children scoop up their toys before collecting them will further stimulate their interest in tidying up.
Some parents emulate the Montessori educational approach by setting up toy storage areas at home, such as child-height display shelves. This not only makes it easy for children to access toys but also serves as a reminder for them to tidy up. You can also DIY labels in different locations or on toy boxes to facilitate better categorization.
Don’t say to your young child, “Let’s clean up the toys together,” as this can seem like a daunting task to them. Take it easy and start with small things, such as organizing picture books or collecting toy cars, and so on. Don’t set the difficulty level too high for the child.
Take Heidi, a mom who turns the mundane task of tidying up after playtime into a game: “I’ll pick out some toys and say, ‘Hey, sweetie, use your magic to bounce these things back!’ Then the child will dash over, ‘casting spells,’ and soon the teddy bear is ‘magically flying back into the cupboard’.”
This is not difficult, choose a melody you are familiar with, change the lyrics, for example，‘Come, come, let’s tidy up the toys together, one, where to put it, oh, put it on the shelf; two, where to put it, oh, put it in the box.’
This is why we always recommend shelves and cabinets to parents. Vertical storage can efficiently utilize wall space for effective categorization, making it more convenient than simply storing items in boxes and allowing for more storage capacity. However, it’s important to note that you must choose storage cabinets that are child-safe and ensure they are securely anchored to the wall.
On one hand, in order for children to play comfortably, and on the other hand, to protect your home’s flooring, it is recommended to purchase a comfortable and easy-to-maintain carpet for children to play on. Of course, if you are concerned about dust mites or other things on the carpet, you can also choose a more easily-maintained play mat, similar to a yoga mat.
To help children remember where to put things, it’s important to establish a habit-forming process. You can create a fun instructional diagram using crayons, watercolor pens, or any other art supplies that your child enjoys. Draw a playful guide that tells them where each toy should go. You can make it like a game where the child follows instructions, similar to how a little pirate follows the captain’s orders. This interactive approach can make tidying up more engaging for children and encourage them to follow the instructions with interest.
Using these methods, you can gradually guide children to develop the habit of organizing and tidying up. Praising and rewarding their efforts and cooperation can help them establish positive behavioral patterns.
