If we asked you to imagine what your kids’ play room looks like right now, would you see a neatly organized space with every toy storage being used properly or a chaotic mess of toys that could scare even the most determined organizers? If it’s more likely to be the latter, don’t worry because that’s not something you or your kids are to blame for. It’s an organization problem that can and should be solved. One of the main reasons is that with the best storage solution for toys, you can promote an organizing behavior in your child.
When done right, this can have a positive impact on child development. Experts believe that organized children are better at mental processing as it hones their problem solving skills. Additionally, kids also benefit from the time saved through easier access to their belongings, which enables them to spend more time engaged in the positive experience of playing.
To help you enable this, here are some of the best ideas for toy storage that you can use to solve your children’s toy storage needs.
Store small toys within large toys
It is much easier to lose smaller toys as compared to larger ones, hence it is important to figure out the best storage solution for toys that are smaller first. An easy way to do this is to put them inside larger toys. While advancing your goal to organize, it can also make things easier to find. For example, the pretend food can go inside the pretend kitchen when not in use, or the action figures can be stored inside the doll house before it is packed.
Use a toy shelf for frequently used toys
Everyone has favorites, and probably so does your child. Get them to identify a few favorite toys that they want to keep accessible and display them on a shelf in their room. Not only does this address organizational needs, but it also helps them proudly showcase their favorite possessions. You can get a toy storage shelf like the Jungle Gym from Smartsters for a thoughtfully designed choice.
Incorporate toy storage into their play setup
When you’re trying to find the best ideas for toy storage, one of the most effective places to start is the area where they spend most of their leisure time. This could be an activity table like the Roobik where their stationery and smaller playthings are stored within the table. Get them to identify ways in which they can group their smaller toys together to use a table like this effectively as a toy storage organizer.
Incorporate toy storage into their room’s furniture
When we’re trying to address any storage needs, we often tend to restrict our search to furniture that is explicitly designed for that purpose. Toy storage is no different. While there is nothing wrong with looking for the best toy storage units, this shouldn’t keep you from picking other furniture that incorporates storage within its design as well. For example, the Secret Den single bed from Smartsters features easy to use storage within the bed that can be used as children’s toy storage quite effectively.
Invest in multipurpose toy storage
This is different from picking regular furniture with some storage built in. These are pieces that are designed from the ground up to be as effective at storage as an alternative purpose. Things like stools and benches are some of the best storage solutions for toys as they can be designed to be mobile. Check out Happy and Mushroom from Smartsters for examples of how this can be done without compromising on aesthetic appeal.
Provide efficient variety in toy storage
Not all toys are built the same, hence any toy storage organizer should be able to offer a variety of options for storage. For example, toys that are easy to clean can be stored openly, while those that require some effort to get rid of accumulated dust should be in a closed toy storage unit. Pick a shelf like the Hopscotch that offers the best of both worlds. Along with open and closed toy shelf options, it comes with hanging hooks for their bags.
Prioritize flexibility for toy storage options
Your children grow and change every day, and so do their preferences and tastes for toys. Any toy storage unit that you pick for them should be able to accommodate their changing needs and wishes. For example, their favorite big teddy could tomorrow be replaced by a shiny sports car toy. An adjustable toy shelf like the Magic Hut is built to evolve with your child. It also offers easy access open windows - letting them check in on their favorite toys at all times.
Keep toy storage accessible
Think of your child’s daily routine and try to find ways to encourage organization when they need it the most. For example, if they’re playing with their toys before bedtime, they might not feel encouraged to put everything back into a toy storage organizer or a toy shelf all the way across the room from the bed where they’re playing. In such cases, a bedside table with storage like Boop can let them quickly store their toys before falling asleep, and organize them properly the next day.
Encourage storage beyond playtime
Being organized is a trait that percolates into all aspects of life. Hence, to develop it in your child, you need to look beyond their play area and introduce easy-to-organize elements in other parts of their lives like their study time. Pick a desk like Skyline or Spaceship that are built with interaction and storage solutions. They can also use the open shelf space as a toy shelf for their favorites.
Understand their perspective
Even when you implement the best ideas for toy storage in your home, you can encounter situations where spaces for children are not as organized as you’d like them to be. In such situations, be mindful of imposing your own perspective on your child’s view of their world. Always remember that it is their space, to begin with, and you should make an earnest effort to understand their thoughts and feelings on organization before making any changes.
You want to build a harmonious relationship between your children and their storage habits, and that happens through a combination of thoughtful design, conscious parenting and a whole lot of working together with your kids.