Works For Me - Organizing Toys

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A while back, I was constantly struggling to keep the house from looking like a tornado had come through the gir*ls' rooms. There were always so many toys all over the place.

I tried putting pictures on the bins, so they could put everything in it's place. Well, with three kids under 5 (at the time) they just couldn't do it, especially the 1-year old.

I tried incentives to pick it all up, but I felt like a cheerleader trying to motivate comatose players.

I realized we simply had too much stuff. We gave away what we could, if the kids didn't play with it much, but were always afraid Aunt Gertrude would ask us when she came to visit, "Where is that fire engine I gave Little Pea? You know, the one that that made all the noise?" You just can't give away those gifts that the family picked out so lovingly.

What I finally came up with may get me a few referrals to social services.

I took most of their toys away.

To the basement shelves, that is. We packed everything in sets or groups, and put them in plastic containers. We kept a few standards in their rooms, like the play kitchen, dress-ups, stuffed animals, Leaps*ters, and a few special things. They each get to choose one thing to bring up to their rooms. When they are done playing with it, they put it back in the bin, and exchange it in for another toy. It's sort of like a toy library or their own little toy store.

I'm not one that says everything must always be in place. You have to live in your house. And don't worry, toys seem to reproduce like rabbits around here, and we still have to work to keep everything picked up. But it's not nearly as bad as it used to be, and this mom is a lot less frustrated!

It works for me! What do you do to organize all your kids' stuff?

Other Works-For-Me posts:

Homemeade Tomato Sauce
Save Half on Groceries
The Nightly Routine