Top 5 Tips for Organizing Toys

Organizing and storing toys is a battle that any parent is familiar with. Thankfully we have Stefanie Jones on hand to help us fight the good fight! Stefanie has a passion for quick organizing on a budget, and with a name like 'The Realistic Organizer' we already love her! Head on over to her Instagram (@therealisticorganizer), Facebook, blog and website to learn more about affordable organizing!

Toys are chaotic. They’re loud, oddly shaped, and overwhelming. We all would like some sort of order when it comes to children’s toys, but there are just so many, and they always seem to be all over the floor! How in the world could it ever be organized?!

Here are five tips to easily organize toys, reduce toy clutter and save your parental sanity, at least a tiny bit.

1. Categorize Toys

Separating toys into categories helps keep toys organized, quickens clean up time, and makes it easier to keep track of toys (i.e. fewer missing toys). Most toys can be separated into categories such as balls, cars, dolls, and puzzles. Or toys can be categorized by activity, such as crafts, outdoor toys, music, and coloring.

Not all toys will fit into a category nicely, so a basket to hold miscellaneous toys may be necessary. And believe it or not, this still categorizes the toys and gives them a place to be stored.

2. Use Containers

Bins, boxes, baskets, you name it, anything that makes toys easy to move and contain is ideal.

Storing toys in containers does not mean you need to spend a bunch of money. For example, diaper boxes make great storage containers and can hold a large amount of toys. They can easily be decorated with wrapping paper or fabric to make them visually appealing as well.

3. Labels

Labeling where toys should go helps teach kids where to put toys away, and can help them learn to read. It may start with “reading” the images on the label, but it can grow into reading the words.

My favorite way to label children’s toy storage is with a picture of the toys, as well as text.

Here is a quick How-To for creating these easy labels:-

All you need is a printer and some self-seal travel tags (cost $3-$5).

• Separate your child’s toys into categories
• Use Google images to search for pictures of toys in that category. I like to find images of toys the child owns. Rather than just any random car image, I’ll find an image of a specific car toy that is played with frequently.
• Add the image(s) and category title to a Word (or similar) document. 
• Print. Cut. Place. Complete!

5. Toys in Every Room

This doesn’t really sound “organized” but I promise it helps. Think of the rooms you go in most often and designate a space for toys to go in each room. It can be a random drawer, in a basket, or tucked in a cabinet. This prevents toys from traveling from room to room and not having a space to be easily put away.

Every now and then you can switch up the location. For example toys that are typically stored and played with upstairs can be brought downstairs. This is classic child trickery. The same toy they’ve been playing with in the basement for weeks now becomes a brand new gift when moved to the main floor.

Also, do not underestimate the power of books. Books are easy to store, don’t take up too much space, and easy to clean up. Keeping a small stack of books in each room can possibly give you two minutes of precious quiet time.

Categorizing, containing and labeling toys does not mean your home will automatically be organized with no toy clutter. But it certainly does help! Eventually all of the toys will come out and scatter everywhere, but having a system for putting toys away makes clean up faster and easier.

Thanks for visiting!

What a great set of tips for toy organizing- thanks Stefanie! We particularly love the realistic approach to having toys in each room- it totally makes sense! Don't forget to follow Stefanie on Instagram for more great affordable organizing ideas.

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Creative QT designs quality + innovative toys that declutter homes and inspire creative play. Founded by parents of five, Adam and Dana Sue Hinkle, Creative QT’s vision is to empower parents and encourage a culture of families that Make Time Together. All products are designed to enrich families’ lives through active, creative play and play based learning. Creative QT products are laboratory tested for compliance with CPSC requirements and are free of lead, cadmium and phthalates so you can play with confidence. So, go ahead … today is the day: be your kid’s hero.

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