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