October 13, 2007 11:48 AM
Organizing toys
Hi Barbara...I thought of you for advice in this issue! I'm trying to determine a good balance with toys in our house. I have 3 boys so far- 4.5,2.5 and 6 months. It seems we are constantly picking up toys and it is a source of stress for them and me! (obvioulsy not for the 6 month old!!)
I've tried like you said in one of your books I read and organized the small toys in plastic boxes on our bookshelf- I want the house to feel like theirs too- not some 100% big peoples world. I really appreciated that advice in one of you books.
The toys are pretty much divided up in our living room and then the bonus room upstairs. They pretty much just have books in their room.
I feel we have weeded through many of the toys and given away ( from surplus from birthdays , grandparents) but i don't want them overloaded.
Any advice?
Greta
Dear Greta -
Sounds like you are doing a great job thinking through and organizing stuff so your kids can have a better sense of order.
The only suggestion I have is rotating toys - boxing up some and putting them in attic or closet - then cycling through toys. This way children have a chance to see something that's been put away with fresh eyes - sparking new interest.
Hope this helps! Maybe readers have suggestions.
See also Montessori at Home: a prepared environment
Posted in Montessori, Mothering, Preschoolers | Permalink
Comments
We do the toy rotation thing. I went through and pared down the number of toys that we had, but was still left with a lot of great things- still far too many to have out all the time, but not stuff I wanted to part with either. So I have a basket that gets rotated about every 2-3 weeks (whenever I think of it.....) and the girls love it. It is something fresh and fun and clean up isn't overwhelming. I have many things that are constants too, but having one less basket full of toys out all the time has made a HUGE difference in clean up around here.
Posted by: tiffany | October 13, 2007 12:23 PM
In my experience, kids have too many toys for their own good. I really think if a family is looking at "rotating" toys, then their kids have far more than they need. I've really learned,over the years, that the fewer toys my kids have --albeit to a certain point -- they more they play with those toys. Certainly, there is a historical argument for this thought as our generation of kids have more toys than most in history. I spent a fair amount of time organizing my kids toys during my first years parenting, then I realized that that they could do more with less. We donated over 1/2 their toys, got rid of all the toddler toys (subsequent children have played with spoons, measuring cups, pots, pans, water, dirt, etc)except 2 play sets. We've always kept a good supply of art material, spots equipment, legos and reading material. For the older kids, if they weren't good stewards of a toy it was donated. It just seems to work to have them only have stewardship over a few things. The less they have, the more creative they have to be.
Posted by: Deb | October 13, 2007 4:01 PM
My kids are almost exactly the same ages as the boys mentioned. And all boys too. :)
I also struggle with keeping things looking reasonably tidy. My husband suggested I put some toys away and rotate them, and that definitely helped! Also, I allow only a certain number of toys out at a time, and if they're done, they pick them up. And no toys at all in the kitchen, especially when I'm cooking! :)
Posted by: Margaret | October 15, 2007 12:12 PM
