clearing the Playroom

SmellyOldSock

We're very lucky to have a playroom for the kids. It has a bed settee in it and loads of toys EVERYWHERE! Its really getting to me, that I spend so much time tiding up. I have clear storage tubs which we use.

I need some ideas to get the kidlets involved in keeping it tidy and easy solutions to keep it that way! Obviously getting rid of the kidlets is not really an option!

Olliebeak

I suppose it depends on how old your kiddies are, as to how tidy you can keep the playroom and how much help you can expect from them.

Are they old enough for a 'reward chart'? Maybe make the reward about who gets to choose the bedtime story . You could turn it into a race to see who can get the most toys into a box the quickest.

Another good one is to not have quite so many toys in there. Kids often get 'over-faced' with a large selection and then half of them don't even get played with. Try removing some of them for a couple of weeks and then rotate what is actually in the playroom. You may need a few more storage boxes to be able to do this but then keep them somewhere out of sight of the kids (shed, cupboard, spare bedroom, loftspace).

Good Luck - I know the feeling I had three littlies myself and now have 5 grandkids (you should have seen my house on Christmas morning - and they don't even live with me :rolleyes:).

beautiful_ravens

I always say 'who can clear up the fastest - ready? GO!!' and then watch what follows - It works with mine age 3, 4 and 8....I also rotate toys as they dont play with them if theres too many, because everythings all mixed up.
I also have 'themed' storage boxes - dollies, train set stuff, farm stuff, babies & clothes, cooking toys, megablocks, dressing up etc etc and set all the boxes out, tell the kids what goes where, and off they go.
I also have a small 'lost toy' box, where I put things that have become seperated from their set - a lone jigsaw piece, one dolly shoe, one shape, one bit of train track etc, so I can reunite the set if needed - very handy when it eventually comes to selling or freecycling.

spendingmad

Not really any suggestions - OP - my playroom is the same!

I get soooo annoyed with things think Mcdonalds toys or little bits of carp which don't get played with but always seem to be on the floor. I just tend to go in when they are not around with a plastic bag - they never notice!

I do have a problem with soft toys though - people give them as gifts so I dont want to give away/sell but they just sit there collecting dust and are nvery few are ever played with - any suggestions?

beautiful_ravens

If you WANT them to play with stuff, go around saying 'right, Im throwing this away!' and see how quick they want to keep it!! Well it works on my kids lol

Nickynoo1

If its all in a separate room cant you just shut the door?

crumpetman

Nickynoo1 wrote: »

If its all in a separate room cant you just shut the door?

That is all well and good when you are not in the room but not when you are in it trying to find something or play with something. I am in the same position as the OP and have come to the conclusion that the only solution is to get rid of most of the toys. Anything that has not been played with for a while can be sold or given away. Actually doing it is going to take a bit more time though.

SmellyOldSock

many thanks for the suggestions and comments.

Will be putting some into practice and as soon as I can get up the nerve to face the playroom! YIKE!!

cuddly toys are a problem, especially as they are given as a special gift sometimes, with 3 children I have loads! And when I look at 'losing' one, it becomes they favourite!

My middle child calls my bluff when I say I'm throwing them away, he trys to tell me I have to buy him some new ones!

Nickynoo1

How about installing some shelving in there. And then rotate the tubs from lower to higher shelves. Then they won't be able to reach the higher tubs and empty them, only stuff from lower shelves to tidy. Not sure if this is making sense?

Nickynoo1

rev229

We have a large wall to wall unit thay has shelves, drawers and cupboards and space for the TV etc bought it from MFI years ago and surprisingly still standing. Ikea have similar storage solutions. The unit has ment the toys are hidden away. My kids have been quite good though as I make them tidy up as they go along. I can't stand mess/clutter. Saying that they are now 10&12 so have more gadgets rather than toys and we now rent DVDs and console games which not only save money but decreases the need for storage. DD has special needs and loves cutting and sticking and then putting it all back in the cupboard, so every few weeks I do a black bag clear out!! Glad the lego and car days have gone as I was forever standing on them which can be a tad painful!!

lindseykim13

I'm glad i'm not the only one, all the boys (6&4) toys are kept in stackable tubs which each have a sticker on, lego, cars, figures! When tidy up comes everything has somewhere to go although it prob does spend most of the time of the floor.
If something isn't played with and i can't get rid we agree to put it in the loft so they can still have it if they change their mind about playing with it.