Everyone knows how much children love to scatter their toys, especially when they are passionate about the game. At the same time, even an evil housewife will not force them to collect these items. Parents often give up, after which they themselves crawl every day on the carpet, folding what they have found, and their dear child at this time sits and watches this laborious process from the side. What to do in such a situation? Where to store toys? How to teach your baby to order and make his life easier?
Consider systems for toys, given that the organization of their storage depends directly on the age of your child.
Up to 1 year
Keeping toys in the nursery until the child walks should be out of his access area. They need to be given out to the kid during the games. At the same time, mom should have easy access to all toys (for example, to get a rattle when changing clothes). At the same time, a minimum set of teething and developing toys will be needed on the kid’s playing space.
2 to 5 years
For the child, you can leave toys that he is able to remove himself. First with help, then by yourself. Children at this age are dangerous to leave alone with small parts, especially with the details of the designers. These toys are best hidden on the upper shelves.
The next feature of this age is a constant change of hobbies. Toys that interest a child just a week ago today are completely unclaimed. All the same, while searching for something interesting, they will be out of place. You should use this feature. Throwing away boring items is not necessary, they can simply be folded into a container or box and put away (on the mezzanine, in the closet, chest of drawers for storing toys, a pantry or on the balcony). A few months later, the baby will again perceive these toys as a novelty. After that, you can remove the following items.
At this age, it is important to teach your baby to put things in place. First, let it be one box or basket for toys, where he puts them together with you. Then he will begin to do it on his own, after which he will acquire more difficult skills.
From 5 to 10 years
There are more and more varieties of toys. It will require sorting experience for cleaning. At this age, the child can be taught to get what is necessary for the game, and after it immediately put everything in a chest of drawers for storing toys.
Over 10 years old
During this period, the child already refuses many toys, while the rest can be cleaned independently. Invite him to take part in the choice of places for storing these items by organizing, for example, a special cabinet for toys.
Storage rules
The following rules should be considered:
- It should be clearly visible where what is located. In this case, in search of the necessary, the baby will not begin to get things that he does not plan to play with. When it is very small, they can be transparent containers, whatnots, transparent hanging sections. As soon as the baby begins to learn to read, containers with it can be signed.
- The smaller the toys, the smaller the storage capacity. If a lost toy or part is found by the “turned everything on the floor” method, then in this case it will be much easier to fold everything back.
- Things that the baby has outgrown must be cleaned or given away. Broken toys that are not used by the child in games must be thrown away.
- Take away the toys every time in the same place.
- Try to arrange things so that the storage of toys in the nursery is located exactly where the baby is playing. Next to the table, put paints, toy products and children's dishes - near the toy kitchen. The bedside table near the bed is needed for toys that the child takes before bedtime. Keep separately objects that can get dirty: all kinds of kits for creativity, drawing. For them you need to purchase a transparent plastic container.
- Toys with which the baby plays most often should be within his sight.
- Baby doesn’t like to play in his room? Toys that you can take with you, limit. Put them in another container. It will be easy to put them into it after the game and put them in place.
- In case your kid goes to kindergarten, where the children’s teachers teach to put their toys in place, pay attention to how they are located there. You will probably find ideas interesting to yourself.
Storage furniture
A low cabinet for toys, a rack and a bedside table under the window can always be used as a place reserved for games. Actually, like the windowsill. Make sure that the window cannot be broken or opened independently. When the baby grows up, games can be left in the same place, while the toy box is replaced with a closed one.
Boxes located under the bed remain a very popular solution. The same rule applies to them - the larger the toys, the larger the box. Build shelves, but not high. The space below is used as a garage - cars can be rolled into it, and toys and books can be placed on top of shelves.
Place a sliding plastic or wooden Christmas tree pole from the ceiling to the floor, on which it is possible to hang soft toys - both conveniently and beautifully. Get a bag of plastic small rings. Sew them to the ear of all soft toys. Now they are easy to hang on this "Christmas tree", only within the reach of the child. Or attach a strip of Velcro to the wall at the level of the baby’s hands and stick or sew Velcro to the back of all the toys. Now the baby can attach it to the wall.
Items that are in the yard can be kept in a large plastic container with a lid. There is another interesting system for storing toys for this case - sew a bag from a synthetic mesh so that the things stored in it are clearly visible. Make a tightening cord on top.
Hang a hammock in the corner of the nursery. There you can stack things that will be easy to get.
Interesting storage options:
- old stroller;
- small suitcases;
- bags for clothes with a zipper or ties;
- a box with a film top so that the baby, without opening it, sees what exactly is in it;
- baskets attached to the wall;
- an inflatable plastic pool for a child can accommodate a lot; the kid will be interested and easy to dig into it, looking for the necessary toy;
- the plastic tray for dishes is ideal for books - the kid will be able to quickly sort them out;
- plastic baskets or wicker trolley on small wheels;
- boxes of diapers;
- several plastic ice cream containers can be glued together so that they look with a hole in one direction, and then painted; put the structure sideways, like a bookcase, and store material for crafts or small toys in the cells;
- a chest for storing toys with a lid having a retaining mechanism or removable, rounded corners and edges on a metal chest and the absence of burrs on a wooden chest, as well as ventilation holes located on the side walls and the lid;
- draw or cut from the magazine the image of the thing that should be in this place; stick to the drawer so that the baby immediately finds out what is contained there or what should be put there.
Crates
A plastic box for toys, painted in a juicy color, looks aesthetically pleasing, while performing several functions. Toys can be easily put into it, and to make them easier to find, make appropriate markings or inscriptions with your child (mark with different pictures, colors).
Buckets
If the size of the balcony allows, the system for storing toys can be organized here: we take several plastic or metal buckets for this, paint them, place signs on them indicating what is in them. To save space, the plastic buckets can be fastened together in the form of a pyramid: for example, the first layer is three buckets, the second tier is two buckets, at the top of the pyramid - one with toys. It will be possible to add balls to this design, cubes, cars, small toys, a designer and other little things pleasant for a child. The pyramid will also look great in an empty corner of the nursery.
Wicker Crates and Baskets
No system for storing toys can do without drawers. Wicker baskets will also be an excellent assistant in this matter. You can even decorate simple cardboard boxes with ruffles, ribbons, beads, seal them with a multi-colored cloth, you can weave baskets from newspapers or vines, purchase finished products in the store. In any case, on the children's shelf, such boxes will bring order and variety to the interior.
Hammock
Interesting, right? The hammock may include a rather unusual system for storing toys. In the room it can be hung so that the baby can get the necessary items out of it. In the corridor it can also be attached by placing toys in it with which the baby plays on the street.
Canvas
If you know how and love to sew, you can sew a whole canvas from pieces of cloth or mesh, which is suitable for storing toys. To do this, cut out a rectangular fabric, sheathe it with a cardboard frame so that the storage location on the wall hangs evenly and does not deform. We sew the same pockets and eyelet - it will be convenient to store cars, dolls, small toys here. It is also quite possible to make such a model from polyethylene: she will have an advantage in that the baby will determine exactly where and what he has.
Linen bags
Such bags, located side by side on a door or wall, are also perfect for storing various children's treasures. Of course, you can buy one large "store", but it’s really possible to sew it with your own hands. Soft baskets look presentable, while very roomy. If you sew them yourself, you can decorate the basket with the child with an inscription or a beautiful applique.
Wire baskets
Old wire baskets, string bags can also be used in a nursery. The main thing is to create a funny composition. Such products are often placed in a chaotic or checkerboard pattern. You can decorate them with multi-colored paints, as well as attach funny drawings and tablets. Some brave parents also attach boxes to the ceiling according to the principle of garlands - this solution cannot be called standard, but it is very practical.
Boxes or Boxes
If you have old boxes or boxes, why not give them a new life? They can be put on wheels and allow the child to put all his toys there. The advantages of such products are their mobility, while you can decorate them as your soul desires. In general, you can purchase such boxes in the store - to find them quite real.
Furniture
Now consider the furniture, which should also be beautiful and practical. At the moment, furniture with various drawers, shelves (for example, a plastic chest of drawers, 5 drawers in which are illuminated, allowing the baby to see what is in them) and transformer models are very popular. You can also store toys rarely used in drawers . You can attach a “wall” to the bed, in which to organize a toy store and a library.
Work zone
A working area with a toy rack located in it also has a right to exist: the child will grow up, his interests will change, some toys will be replaced by others.
Suitcases and chests
As a basket, you can use an old suitcase and a chest. They are ideal for storing toys, while they fit well into the room, especially if they are tinted and updated. The kid will feel himself the owner of a pirate treasure chest.
Ottomans
Poufs equipped with a reclining seat also fit perfectly into the child's room: this is an extra place for friends of the baby, as well as a storage for children's books, designer, coloring books and other gizmos.
Thus, using improvised means, it is easy to reorganize the space using it functionally. At the same time, their small owners will like these storage options.