Organizing Kids Toys Checklist
One reason why children have a hard time keeping their things organized is that most of them have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF!
Look around, how many toys does one kid need? I remember once standing in the midst of a room that looked like a bomb had gone off in it. We had visitors and their kids and ours were playing downstairs while we visited upstairs. I think the children pulled out every single Lego, car, truck and puzzle that our kids owned, you couldn't even see the floor for the mess. It was a disaster!
It was right about then that I got the idea to separate the different types of toys and store them according to activities. As some of the boys were still young enough to have afternoon naps, I decided that their bedrooms were going to be strictly for sleeping and 'quiet' activities. The only toys allowed in the bedrooms were things like: books, crayons, paperwork and coloring books, some puzzles, music boxes, stuffed animals, anything that one child could do alone that was not physically stimulating. They soon got the idea that when they spent time in their rooms, they were either be going to sleep or play quietly.
Outdoors, we fenced off the back yard and made a play area in one corner with a sand box and swings. We also went to the playground at the park quite often just for the walk and the chance to play with others.
Each child had their own library card and once every two weeks we all went to the library. You can get videos and audio tapes for children at the library. It is nicer than buying them as they can get a different one every two weeks so, you save money and they get a variety of entertainment.
We were very short of money in those days and one of the best investments we made was joining a toy co-operative. This was a group of parents and educators that paid a small yearly fee,( I think it was about $25.00) and the money was used to buy good quality, sturdy wooden, handmade toys. I think they bought them from non-profit agencies like the ones for the mentally handicapped or seniors who made beautiful puzzles, games, trucks, cars...all sorts of nice toys for young children. Once you paid your yearly membership you could go and take out a toy much like you go to the library to borrow a book except, in this case, you borrow a toy and return it in two weeks.
Latest Articles