Post-Holiday Toy Organization
My favorite day of the year is when my family and I put up our Christmas tree. And, my 2nd favorite day is when we take it down. I think after the overall abundance of the holidays, it’s so refreshing for our space to feel a little spare.
Though, there’s just one problem. Every year when the post-holiday urge to cleanup kicks into gear, it’s not as easy as putting everything in its place because everything doesn’t have a place. All those new toys, books and games need a home. That means a healthy dose of purging and reorganizing is in order.
For post-holiday toy organization, first, you need a good foundation. I’ve found the best starting point is modular and flexible storage, like our Cubic Collection. Your kid’s toys will evolve as they grow from stuffed animals and blocks to dress up clothes and board games. So, look for furniture solutions that can continue to function as your needs change.
Second, purge. You may have to send the kids to grandma and grandpa’s for the day to get it done, but your space will simply not multiply as quickly as the toys. I try to do a pretty heavy purge before birthdays and Christmas. Throw away anything broken or with missing pieces. Then, donate items they’ve outgrown or simply don’t use. If you’re planning to have more kids, pack up the items they’ve outgrown and save them for down the road. But, one way or another, purging is an essential toy organization step to keeping a handle on the madness.
Lastly, find a home for everything. You may need to invest in a few more bins and baskets. I try to keep like items together (a bin for dinosaurs, a bin for doll clothes, a bin for play food, etc) as this makes for quicker cleanup. Then, stash items that require supervision (paint, board games, etc) on higher shelves, and keep frequently used toys closer at hand.
By Danielle Kurtz. Danielle is the Creative Director at Nod and an over-protective mother of two. She’s also completely obsessed with Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and her Kindle, but not necessarily in that order. Danielle loves to craft, sew and crochet. Her current craft of choice is weaving tiny wall tapestries.