Over the course of a year, kids can accumulate so many toys, games, dolls and stuffed animals that it can be overwhelming. Even if you rarely buy things for your own child, there are still birthdays and holidays which usually means your house is bursting at the seams with new toys.
It's hard to know where to put everything, and if you're a sentimental person, it can be hard to let go of older toys to make room for new ones. To help avoid this problem, here are some easy tips to help you keep your kid's room organized, even after birthdays and holidays.
First thing's first. You're going to need storage. Some bedrooms don't have closets, so you may want to buy shelves and bins. Shelves are great for storing things that you don't want them to play with, like diapers, clothes and other baby or kid accessories. You can find all kinds of different colored bins to add to the decor of your child's room that provide fun places to store toys.
Clear bins are great because they allow your child to see which toys are in which bins. Hopefully this will prevent all the toys from being scattered all over the floor in the search for one specific toy. Putting labels on them will help you out when you need to do a quick clean up.
Some kids can get quite a collection of stuffed animals going, but it can be hard to find a place to put them. When I was a kid, my mother sewed some string to the head of each animal and hung them up on my walls with push pins. If your child likes to play with them regularly, you can also purchase big Rubbermaid containers with lids at a very affordable price.
Under-the-bed storage is a great alternative for very small rooms. Toys that aren't played with as often can be stored under here. It's also a great place to store out of season clothes. Having storage under a child's bed can also eliminate the opportunity for them to store garbage or important school documents where you'll never find them.
You can also purchase plastic bins with several containers stacked vertically. Look for the kind with wheels and handles. This will make it easier to move it around when you're cleaning. This will also help your child to learn organizational skills by keeping items separated in each bin. Legos in one bin, puzzles and games in another, and so on.
Another great storage option are cube ottomans. They come in a variety of colors and the lid flips over to become a tray. Not only does this provide another method of storage, but seating options as well. You can also find round ottomans to add some fun style to a room without compromising space.
Take your kids shopping with you and ask them to pick out some fun bins, baskets and other storage accessories. Getting them involved in organizing their own room will hopefully help them to keep it clean which will make your job a lot easier.
Another tip to keep the toys at bay is to get rid of older toys every time some new ones come in. There are plenty of organizations that accept donated toys, and this could give your child a very positive feeling that they've done something for someone else. Any toys that are broken should be thrown away.
One thing that can be hard to deal with is getting rid of toys that have sentimental value. What you have to remember is that every toy creates memories, but they will always be with you in your mind, not in the actual toy. You may want to keep a box stored away for really special toys that were gifts or that have a special story, but don't let it become more than one box.
By keeping every toy and article of clothing your child has ever received, you're passing on these tendencies to your child. It's much easier to avoid developing the pack-rat habit than it is to break it. In the end you'll be glad you did, and you'll have a much cleaner and more organized kids room to show for it!