Tips to Organize Kid's Toys: 12 Tips for Better Organizing for Kids (part 4)

Welcome back to the Tips to Organize Kid’s Toys series. How is your toy room holding up? You’ve been at the decluttering, organizing, and preventing stages for 1–4 weeks now. Do you feel better? No longer as anxious when you glance into the room? I hope so!

As with any plan or life change, it takes a wee bit of time before your actions and behavior become the norm. Give it time and keep trying. It’ll become second nature soon!

Today, I’m sharing some neat tips and tricks on how you can organize for kids, especially when it comes to storing toys and keepsakes. Enjoy!

Organize for Kids Using Memory Boxes

Create a memory box today so it’s ready for the next 1–18 years! I worked with a client whose mother had letter file bins with file folders labeled with her age and grade (0–18; K–12). Inside each folder were important keepsakes: drawings, report cards, medals, cards, etc.

When my client graduated from college, her mother gave her the two containers. What this means in the scheme of organizing is that the papers or keepsakes not kept in this bin should be discarded or used differently. (Read a detailed “how to Organize Kid’s School Papers & Memorabilia” at I Heart Planners.)

Organize for Kids’ Keepsakes and Memories

If a toy holds emotional attachment to you or your child (but is at the end of its life), suggest taking a photo of your child playing with it and putting it in a frame. Then, when it’s time for the toy to go to toy heaven, the child has a visual memory.

You can also create and display the toy in a unique way. (See other ways to keepsake a beloved stuffed animal here.)

Organize for Kids’ Artwork

I love this idea by Artful Parent of hanging thrift store frames in each child’s room. When your child brings home a piece of art, it’s given honor inside a frame. After you take it down to replace with another, take a photo of the original.

Then either:

• Make a photo book with ages or grades beside each piece.
• Keep it in a portfolio, box, or photo frame that holds up to 100 pieces of artwork.

So many options to preserve memories while staying organized!

Organize for Kids’ Puzzles and Games

One of my favorite organizing tricks for kids is for puzzles and games. Repetitive use destroys cardboard boxes, and pieces fall out. Before long, the puzzle is complete but missing 1–10 pieces.

Here are two options:

1. Buy a zipper pencil pouch with a clear front.
2. Buy a small plastic container with a lid.

Cut out the front of the puzzle or game box and tape it to the pouch or container lid, so the picture faces outward. Place all pieces and instructions inside. Then place the containers inside a bin.

Organize for Kids Using Storage Bins

Clear storage bins are sometimes the best option (so you know what’s inside). But I personally like solid colors so it’s more aesthetically pleasing (and I can hide stuff!).

Either way, buy shelves, boxes, or bins. Assign each bin a category: stuffed animals, trucks, dolls, puzzles, etc. (Amazon has great bin options.)

Organize for Kids Using Toy Hammocks

Toy hammocks are the best because you can see everything inside and they use corner space!

Tip:

• Place your child’s favorites at eye level.
• Place the ones they’ve outgrown but aren’t ready to part with on the higher levels.

Organize for Kids by Building a Stuffed Animal Zoo

If you have more space and feel creative, build a zoo! This is a fun visual for kids and an easy way to store stuffed animals.

The best part? Kids are more inclined to return their animals to the zoo or choose from the ones they can see. (Check out the tutorial here.)

Organize for Kids Using a Hanging Shoe Organizer

How cool is this? Buy a hanging shoe organizer and place it on the closet or bedroom door. Then gather Barbies, G.I. Joes, stuffed animals, and more.

This organizer also works for:

• Shoes
• Scarves, belts, bras
• Toiletries
• Cleaning supplies
• Crafts
• Snacks and spices

It’s an amazing addition that saves space while allowing everyone to see what’s inside.

Organize for Kids Using Toy Chests

Toy chests are a simple way to store toys. Options include:

• Wooden toy chests
• Pirate-themed chests
• Cloth ones

Some have separators, some don’t. Sizes vary depending on what you want to store.

Organize for Kids with a DIY Tool Wall

Children often copy adults. Why not build them their own wall of “tools”? Inspiration Made Simple designed this for her son who often “lost” Nerf guns all over the house.

What do you think? Worth the wall space?

Organize for Kids with Endless Paper Rolls

How awesome is this idea? Etsy suppliers will create and send you a wall-mounted endless paper roll. Great for kids and adults alike…a never-ending supply of paper for doodling and creativity!

Organize for Kids While Traveling

One last cute idea that I just read for organization tips for children. Offspring Lifehacker wrote about a dad who often takes business trips. Before he leaves, his daughter will give him one of her smaller stuffed animals. While he’s away, he periodically takes photos of the stuffed animal doing what he’s doing and sends to his daughter. What a great way to keep in touch! Read the full story here. (You can also read another Soulstice Living article, Tips for Summer Travel with Kids). 

Conclusion

These 12 organizing tips to organize for kids will help you manage toys, keepsakes, and memories without stress. Wahoo.

Congrats on decluttering the toys, designing your Toy Room, enforcing new rules about allowing toys into the home and teaching kids to pick up after themselves. Just remember that organization takes time to become second nature and repeated tries to become a habit. Keep doing and teaching and soon the Toy Room will feel calmer and more organized.

If you have questions or need help with your toy room, reach out! We’d love to give you a hand. Connect@SoulsticeLiving.com

Ever feel like your belongings are constantly shifting from place to place? Read here to use bins effectively.