IN THIS STRESSFUL age, no one needs the annoyances that make household tasks more difficult than they have to be. Paperwork stacked on the hall table, washing taking up valuable space in the kitchen, kids’ toys tripping you up at every turn, it can all make your home a less peaceful place.
We’re here to help solve those household conundrums.
This week: where’s the best place to store kids’ toys?
I am not naturally gifted at toy storage, but in an effort to keep from tripping over Duplo blocks and slipping on a pile of princess dresses, I have honed the skill in the last few years.
With a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son, toys pick-up isn’t exactly a collective effort yet, which means toy storage has to be simple, accessible and, for my own purposes, as inoffensive to the eye as possible.
If you’re drowning in toys and looking for inspiration on how to get organised, here are three storage tactics I’ve used to make life easier (and my home tidier).
1. Store toys at kid height
It’s important for kids’ toys to be accessible to them – it encourages them to take their own initiative in choosing something to play with, and it helps considerably when it’s clean-up time. It also gives children an opportunity to learn about sorting toys for clean-up when they’re developmentally ready, which is an important learning point for them to master.
Look for low shelves, particularly ones with the space to fit lightweight storage bins. We use a set of these fabric boxes, which are effective and inexpensive, making play easy and clean-up fast.
2. Divide drawers into smaller zones
For small toys for younger kids, I swear by zipper pouches. There’s nothing worse than bins full of tiny plastic junk — both for the parent and child. Corral the jumbled mess into makeup bags or other zipper bags you aren’t using, with different bags for different categories.
For older children with a proclivity for Lego or Polly Pocket that come with a million tiny pieces, an inexpensive drawer organiser like this can help keep those pieces contained while also allowing your child a better view at his or her options. Or, if you’re trying to help older kids keep their tiny parts away from little siblings, a container with a lid and smaller boxes inside provides a safe option
3. Use front-facing book storage
Keeping books out in the open and accessible to children gives them reading options throughout the day, and book storage where your child can see the face of the book, rather than just the spine, will definitely entice them to pick one up.
You can use a little book storage rack in any room in the house, but we prefer these very affordable spice racks to help get books out in the open. Again, just remember to install the racks at kid level so little ones can easily grab a book — and eventually learn to put them back when they’re finished!
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