Back in the Box
  | To organise toys, separate them into categories (e.g., building blocks, stuffed animals, cars, action figures), and make a list of what you have. Then, determine what kinds of containers to put them in. |
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| Parents often make the mistake of buying several large bins without first deciding where they will go or how items will be sorted. By planning ahead, measuring each category, and determining which shelves or closets they will be contained in, you will find a storage system that works for you. |
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| Then, simply set everything up and put toys in their proper places. Not only will this help you find and clean up toys more easily, it will also introduce your child to organisational skills. |
Few things are as frustrating to parents as hearing a child utter the phrase, "I'm bored." How can they possibly be bored, you think, when they have hundreds of toys to play with? But the fact is, kids require a lot of stimulation, and have very diverse interests that can change almost daily. So the key to keeping their toys interesting is to rotate them on a regular basis. Think of it as playing "musical chairs" with your kids' toys.
This is really rather simple to do, especially if you've already organised the toys.
Once playthings are separated into easy-to-move containers, put them in strategic locations around the house. Place several in your child's bedroom (on shelves and in closets), others in a playroom and a few in the basement. Hide the rest of the containers in your garage or storage area, out of sight — and mind — of your child.
Every month or so, take the buckets out of storage and switch them with containers in play areas. By rotating, long-forgotten toys will suddenly seem interesting to your child, sparking renewed enthusiasm. And you don't have to buy a new toy to accomplish it!
Simon Says — Clean!
Eventually, even the best toys will require cleaning. Babies drool, spit up and drag play objects all over the floor. Before long, their toys will be covered in a variety of dirt. But you can keep them looking like new longer with regular cleaning.
Toss washable cloth toys in the washer using Tide® with Bleach Alternative to help eliminate dirt and keep colors bright. Follow up with Downy® Sheets to keep them soft and smelling fresh.
It's also important to keep an eye on how a toy is aging. If it starts to lose parts that your child could ingest or develops edges that could harm your child, throw it away. And if your child outgrows a perfectly good toy, pack it up and store it, or give it a second life by donating it to a needy child.
