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Christian, Homeschooling Mom of 2, Photography Lover, Southerner, Blogger, Encourager, and Prayer Warrior. I love sweet tea, my Nikon, cooking, & traveling.
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Home Engineer: Toy Closet Organization
12:00 AM | 
Posted by
Meghan
Does your toy closet look like this?
Or like this?
or maybe somewhere in the middle?
Many of ya'll know how I can't stand things to be cluttered, messy, or out of order...even when it comes to the kids toy closets. So, I've come up with a system...and it can work for you!
1. We have taught my oldest the importance of picking up, taking care of our things, and putting things back where they belong. We started around 15 months (and we are starting with our youngest who is now 15 months) and taught him that once he is finished playing with something, he needs to pick it up. If he is ready to move on to another toy and wants to have them out together, thats fine, but he understands he has to pick it ALL up once he is finished.
We made this system work by using a chart and rewarding his behavior. Positive reinforcement works wonders for everyone, even our little ones! So, everytime he picked up his toys for a while, he got a sticker on his chart. Once that row was filled up with stickers, he got a little treat (I got things from the Dollar Spot at Target for prizes). Now, its a habit for him to pick up toys when he is finished... usually without being asked.
2. In the toy closet, I have things sorted into the organization bins (like this one from Amazon)
We have a bin for puzzles, books, remote control cars, matchbox cars, movies, blocks, the Little People, bean bags, finger puppets, and each child has his own box for special toys. These are toys that the other cannot touch unless they give permission to play with.
On these bins, we have laminated tags attached to each. Not only does this help them learn where the toys go, but also with reading. They are super easy to make! Be as creative as you'd like.
3. Make "centers" or dedicated areas for your toys. In our toy closet (it's a walk in closet), we have a section for art supplies, a laundry basket for big toys and trucks, our toy bin organizer for smaller toys, and then another laundry basket for games.
Happy Organizing!
(did this post help you at all? encourage you? let me here from you!)
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2 comments:
Thanks for sharing your post. Positive reinforcement does seem to help! My boys are good at routines and getting ready, but no so much on picking up. Guess we have something tow work on. ;)
Charissa @ Mimi's Babies
Hey Meghan,
I have a 4yo, a 15-month-old and a 30-something yo (oh wait, that's my husband!), and we STRUGGLE with keeping things picked up. (Sooooo jealous of your walk-in closets!)
One of our biggest issues is that we have more STUFF than we have places to store things. Working up to donating/tag sale-ing some of our overflow. :)
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