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Shoved into overflowing toy boxes, pieces scattered around the house, so nothing can be found easily.
And at the end of the day, yanked out are left in huge heaps, any thought of toy organisation a million miles away, shoved in wherever they can be shoved.
Sound familiar?
An Easy Way to Organise Toys!
Grrrr … toy mess is up there with laundry in sending me into a mummy meltdown. Basically we just have too many toys in our house.
Less toys really would be more. And I am slowly decluttering … surrepitiously. But in the meantime I have found a way to organise toys that makes a massive difference.
- It saves space.
- Toys get played with more.
- It makes them easy for even little kids to put away.
- It won’t cost you a fortune.
What’s not to like about that??!!!
How to Organise Toys
All you need is a bunch of document zipper bags like these …
Simply take toys out of boxes and put each in a zipper bag … if there is a jigsaw picture on the box or game instructions just cut them out and add to the bag …
Then round up the collections that have wandered all over the house whether it’s playdough cutters, toy food or kits that are so much more fun when you’ve got all the bits!
And put each kit or collection in a zipper bag.
There’s absolutely no need to label ‘cos kids can easily see the toys inside.
Just don’t cram too much in any bag as the zippers can go. I found it better to split really big stuff in some obvious way across a couple of bags rather than going any bigger than A3.
Once everything suitable is bagged up … I don’t bother with big stuff like instruments and trucks … just store them in whatever toy boxes or baskets you can lay your hands on.
Ideally store them vertically so everything can be easily seen and pulled out ….
… but in some baskets I had to pile a bag on the top of others and a bunch of bags on top of non-bagged stuff and it’s still super easy to get stuff out and put stuff away.
It really saves so much space!
Who’d guess that hiding in these 3 little old baskets in the sitting room we have a massive train set, mecano, marble run, Kerplunk, a doctors kit, a hairdressers kit, a cash till, scales, an iron, toy food and other assorted imaginative toys plus 12 board games & jigsaws!!
Pretty good heh?
If you want to give it a go, buy zippers bags in a range of sizes … I have them in A3 (UK), A4 (UK) and A5 (UK) … and then you can make best use of space without cramming stuff in.
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Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists (Est. 2011). Over the last decade or so, I have combined my experience as a mum, journalist and shopping editor to create useful guides and lists of ideas and inspiration to make it easier for busy parents to plan and host kids’ parties and find great gifts. Read more.
Nina
Friday 30th of January 2015
I love this idea but I am a registered in home child care & I can not use plastic bags in the play area, due to safety hazards. I use Tupperware:(
Alice
Sunday 1st of February 2015
We do have some in tupperware as well Nina, but does end up more bulky doesn't it?
Amanda
Friday 23rd of January 2015
A simple and brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing!
Alice
Monday 26th of January 2015
Has worked brilliantly for us Amanda - I need to do all the new Christmas toys as still surrounded by enormous boxes!
Mary Beth
Friday 3rd of October 2014
This is such a great idea! My youngest son's toys are EVERYWHERE at this point and it is driving me batty! Thanks so much for sharing at Project Inspire{d} ~ pinning :)
Alice Emma Thompson
Wednesday 8th of October 2014
Glad you liked Mary Beth, it really has been such a winner for us ... much less mess AND more things actually get played with.
Heidi's Wanderings
Wednesday 24th of September 2014
Aren't ziploc baggies one of the handiest inventions?
Alice Emma Thompson
Wednesday 24th of September 2014
Oh completely! I use them for so many things.
Clare - The Super Mommy Club
Wednesday 24th of September 2014
Oh my goodness - light bulb moment! I've been using tupperware boxes, but this would be so much easier to store. Off to try and find some at a reasonable price.
Alice Emma Thompson
Wednesday 24th of September 2014
I'd try using tubs as well Clare and the zip lock bags do work so much better.