Are your children's toys taking over the whole house? Do you pick up the same toys over and over that your child never really uses?
It's almost spring and many moms will be spring cleaning around the house. While you're planning your tasks, think about how you will tackle the toys.
The best way to sort through a lot of toys, clothes, or other items is the four corner system.
- Set up four boxes or containers, one in each corner of the area
- The first box is for items that will continue to be used
- The second box is for items that you want to pack away and save
- The third box is for items that you will donate to charity
- The fourth box, a bag, is for damaged items that will be thrown away
To use the four corner system with your children's toys, you have two choices. You can do the job by yourself while the kids are at school or away or you can have the kids help you.
Getting the kids involved in the process usually works the best. You won't accidentally give away something that really matters to your child if they are helping sort.
It's great for kids to learn to give back. Giving toys that she no longer uses to a homeless shelter, preschool, or church nursery will teach your daughter to share with those less fortunate.
The box for items that will continue to be used will be sorted a second time into appropriate containers.
Small baskets on a book shelf work well for many kids for action figures, cars, small stuffed animals, and other small items. Larger toys can be stored loose on the same book shelf or placed into a toy box.
The box for items that you will pack away and save should be a plastic storage box that will help keep out moisture and protect your child's memories.
If you have more than one child, it's a good idea to color code the boxes. You should also label the outside of the boxes with the contents so that it will be easy to find things later.
The box for items you will donate to charity can be a heavy duty cardboard box or a heavy duty trash bag. If you will be donating to multiple charities, use a separate box or bag for each charity to avoid double sorting.
For the items that you will be throwing away, a large heavy duty trash bag will work better than a box. The bag will be ready to put into the outdoor trash can when your sorting is done.
Some moms use a fifth box for items that the parent feels aren't used often but the child isn't ready to pack away or give away. Once the box has been filled, agree that if the toys aren't used regularly, they will be resorted into box two or box three.
Once you've finished going through the toys, pack the donate box or boxes and your children into the car. The sooner the toys go to their new home, the less likely that your children will change their minds.
When you get back home, put the trash bag into the outdoor can. Take the storage boxes to the attic, basement, or closet.
Then ask your child for his best suggestions about storing the toys that will stay out. If your child has a voice in the storage process, he will be more likely to use the process later.
If your child has a lot of stuffed animals, a laundry basket in the corner might be a good home for them. You can buy a net or hammock to hang from two corners of the room for the animals' new home.
Another option for stuffed animals is a rolling toy box that can be rolled from room to room. This makes cleanup time easier, especially if your kids play with animals all through the house.
An over the door shoe organizer works well for small to medium sized animals. Each animal can have his own little home.
If your child collects cards of any type, invest in a heavy duty notebook and some card collector sleeves. This will keep the cards in better condition and make them easier for your child to look through.
Hot Wheels cars, action figures, Barbie accessories, Legos, and other small items should each go into separate containers. Small plastic baskets or see through plastic boxes work well for all of these.
If your child can read, label the boxes with what's inside. If your child isn't yet reading, take a photo or draw a picture of the items and attach to the outside of the box.
Books can go into a bookcase in your child's room or in the family area. If your child has books that she reads daily, you might want to keep them out on the night stand.
Board games can find a home on a closet shelf or a shelf on the bookcase in your child's room or the family area.
Once you and your child have organized his room, make it part of your daily routine that all toys are picked up before bedtime.
It's easier to clean up at the end of the day if you use the one basket or box at a time rule. Only one basket of toys comes out at a time. The first basket is put away before another is pulled out.
You can use the four corner system for organizing in any room. Maybe your bedroom will be next on the list.
Although it takes time to sort and organize all of the toys, you and your children will be happy with the end result.
Your children will enjoy the extra space in their bedrooms or playroom once the task is done. You will appreciate not tripping over the toys in every room.
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