One of parenthood’s greatest joys is watching your precious little ones explore the world and learn as they play. Their adventures just tend to leave messy trails. It’s a work of love that’s definitely worth it—but that doesn't mean you can't teach your kids how to tidy up after themselves. Responsible behavior and independence can be taught from a young age and will benefit them as they grow older.
Help your children grow into good tidying habits, starting with the everyday mess-maker—toys. Read on for a quick guide on how to help your kids manage their toys in a way that will build healthy habits in the future!
Create a play area
To keep something contained, of course, you need a container. Pick a space in your home to be the play area. It doesn’t even have to be a room, so long as it’s a dedicated space for kids to have fun. Add rubber mats, fluffy rugs, or other cozy carpeting to help define the space. Plush seats like beanbags and floor pillows make it even comfier and easy for kids to drag around—they’ll definitely want to stay there even more!
Here, they can go wild with their imagination and creativity. Eventually, they'll recognize that the space is made for playing, and they will naturally go to that space to play.
Use plenty of storage bins
Of course, all those toys need a home too. Bring in lots of storage bins to fit all of them and create a system for where every kind of toy goes—cars, dolls, board games, and so on. You can also use a ready-made storage system to make this easier.
It might be tempting to get just a few huge bins, but the chaos of all the different toys inside will confuse your child about what truly belongs there. Multiple smaller bins will help them tidy up by category. Opt for ones with no lids or tops as well, so kids can return toys without trouble.
Pick what toys are reachable
Your child’s everyday favorites are best put in low or floor-level bins for easy access. As for other toys, they can go on the upper shelves or be put away altogether. Those toys can be used to play at your discretion or at your child’s request. But why limit their toys like this?
For one, your kids will likely have doubles or multiples of the same kind of toy, and they don’t need to play with all of them at the same time. Rotate toys to keep things fresh and fun. Having fewer toys actually stimulates kids’ imagination and creativity more, while too many can make them lose interest faster. There are also some toys you can’t leave your kids alone with and require adult supervision.
Label everything
Now that every toy has a home, your kids need help to remember it—hence using plenty of labels. You can go as simple as marker and tape, or make it fun with pretty stickers. What matters is that the labels are simple and easy to read for kids. Consider color-coding and adding pictures if your children are not yet of reading age. This is also a fantastic way to decorate your play area.
Consult with your kids on a theme that they would like, such as outer space, the ocean, or a fantasy castle, and decorate accordingly. Not only will it give the play area a fun, cohesive look, but it will also delight your child and make tidying up more enjoyable.
Declutter
Just like your closet, the play area should be decluttered every so often, especially as kids grow older or new toys come in during birthdays and holidays. Toys that don’t make the cut can be donated or passed on to relatives or friends with younger children. And while kids shouldn’t be pressured, they should get a say on what stays and what goes. After all, it’s their toys, and they can form sentimental attachments that should be respected.
