| Do you feel like your child's toys are | | | | Does your child like to play with dress up |
| starting to take over the house? You probably | | | | clothes? Consider mounting a few hooks in her |
| are experiencing this if you have a small | | | | play area so that she can hang up her clothes |
| child, and it doesn't seem to matter how | | | | herself. A wicker basket works well to hold |
| often you tell your child to clean up. It's | | | | the smaller dress up items that she has, such |
| almost like the toys have a life of their own | | | | as shoes and jewelry. This keeps them up off |
| and are multiplying right before your eyes. | | | | of the floor but in sight and in easy reach |
| Yet in spite of this, your children are | | | | when she is ready to play. If you have a |
| probably complaining that they are bored and | | | | little boy with a baseball cap collection, |
| need new toys. It is time to become more | | | | this idea works well for him too. |
| organized. | | | | |
| | | | Now, what are you going to do with large |
| One of the reasons that your child is | | | | items like dollhouses that don't fit in |
| complaining of boredom is probably because | | | | storage bins? These can be displayed in the |
| she cannot find her toys. When toys are | | | | open on a shelf. Your little one can get them |
| scattered across the house, they are not | | | | when they are needed for play, but at least |
| where your child can find them. This might be | | | | they are off the floor and out of the way |
| surprising to you, since you are tripping | | | | when not being used. These are likely not the |
| over them constantly. You will quickly find | | | | items that you find yourself tripping over |
| that when you organize the toys, your child | | | | while you are fixing dinner, anyway. The |
| will not be bored quite as often. | | | | items that multiply around your house are |
| | | | usually the smaller ones. |
| The first rule for organizing your child's | | | | |
| toys is to use containers the child can see | | | | Have your child help you with the |
| into. This is the problem with big toy boxes. | | | | organization. This helps her to know where |
| While they might hold all of the toys in your | | | | her favorite toys are, while at the same time |
| house, your child cannot see what's inside. | | | | showing her where to put them when she is |
| The toys at the bottom might as well be lost, | | | | done playing. Once everything is organized, |
| because your child will not find them unless | | | | set some boundaries. Make sure your child |
| she gets every single toy out, which is | | | | knows how many toys she can have out at a |
| likely not what you want to see happen. | | | | time. Instruct her to put them away before |
| Instead, store her toys in small clear | | | | getting out the next one. You will quickly |
| plastic storage containers on a shelf where | | | | find that you are winning the battle with the |
| she can see what is inside. You can still use | | | | toys, and your child spends far more time |
| the toy box, but try to use it for large | | | | actually playing with what you have purchased |
| items like trucks and stuffed animals. | | | | for her than she did before. |
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