Organizing tip for Toys

You want your kids to be able to play, but also want toys organized. Here's a great organizing tip for toys.

Devote a room for toy storage and a seperate area for "exploration" as Christina Tinglof of The Organized Parent suggests.

This area for exploration does not need to be large, it can be underneath a stairwell, or in a wide hallway. A dress-up trunk, folding bookcase, craft table, and small couch for listening to music can go here. You can even put a mini stage platform for acting out plays in this area-all it needs to be is a raised platform. Add a few touches like track lighting, curtains, and scenery. Your kids will love it!

I'll tell you what else to get to make sure this area can contain the clutter.

When I was looking for children's seating, I wanted something that would blend in with my decor. My father asked my what to get for the kids birthdays. I mentioned that I would like a kids couch that was kind of adult-looking. No red bright whimsical cartoon charachters. He said okay. He came over the next week with a bright red Dora couch, bless him.

It works well, for the toy area. Do you prefer something that fits more with your decor? Perhaps some kind of wicker type children's seating?




Toy Storage
Have your kids' fingers ever been hurt by the hinges of toy boxes? Toy boxes are not a safe solution for storing toys. The doors can snap on little fingers. Better to get something with baskets, or an easy alternative is a kids hamper. They can use this Frog Hamper for hide and seek also.

Board Games
Paint a train track, hopscotch, and other board games on the floor of the exploration area. How cool! Then you won't need to save the board games and their boxes anymore.

If you don't want to do this, take the board game pieces out and store them in plastic bags. Holepunch the directions to the games in plastic sheeting to be kept in a binder.

Label the plastic bags with game pieces and put them in a tin or tub. Take the board games out of their crumbling boxes and label their spines with masking tape. Arrange them vertically on a shelf.

A Work area
Include a low table in the kids exploration area for crafts, drawing, and other creative activities. Get a Kids' Activity Center - Table Onlywith a slightly higher rim around the edge so the crayons, markers, and other small pieces don't drop to the floor everytime the table shakes.


Storage for Supplies
You can never have enough storage containers to corrall all of the supplies the kids will needs-paints, markers, crayons, legos...

Keep Soft Basket with Handles handy all throughout the exploration area. Get the ones with handles so they can be cleaned up quickly and carried to another part of the room if necessary. Get soft containers also because it is easier for the kids to grip.

Your kids are going to love their new exploration area! Add a boom box, lighting, and you're all set!
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