Toys are a part of a kid’s life, and they’re sure as heck going to be a part of yours. 

Don’t let the toy clutter get you down — you can have a space that both you and your kids enjoy being in, and it all starts with some intentional organization methods and clutter management. Here’s how you can keep your apartment organized and reduce the amount of toy-related clutter left behind in the wake of your kids. 

10 ways to keep toy clutter under control

Regular purge

Your child’s toy needs will change over time as their brains and bodies develop. Their interests will also change quickly, so it’s good to start introducing the idea of trimming down the toy collection early on. That way, you avoid the slow-but-steady buildup of toys over time and your kids will be used to the concept of moving on from old possessions. 

Donation drives

It’s never too early to introduce the concept of generosity into your child’s daily life, and giving away toys is a valuable opportunity to do just that. 

If us adults have a hard time getting rid of the things we find valuable, then we can’t be too harsh on our kids for feeling the same way. Talk to your kids about ways you all can help others and make other people happy by donating items that they no longer have use for, and introduce the idea that second-hand items can be just as enjoyable as new ones. Allow your kids to hold some control over the situation by letting them choose who to donate their toys to, or ask them for ideas on what to put in the donation box. 

Utilize vertical space

If you’re hanging onto your toys, then make use of your apartment’s vertical space when it comes to storing them. Wall-mounted shelves, bookshelves, coat hoots and over-the-door storage systems are great for smaller items or items that need to stay out of reach from any tiny, grabby hands.

Baskets & bins

Clutter is far easier to manage when it’s easier to put away. Use labeled baskets and bins to store your kids’ toys so that clean-up time is easy and quick. No need to organize the stuff in the bin — just chuck the toys in and hide it away, since it will probably all get dumped out again in a few hours. 

This is also a great way to incorporate functional décor into your home! Find ottomans that have storage compartments inside them, or bookshelf baskets that match your interior decorations. No need to sacrifice your interior design vision for a functional storage system  — you can have both!

Under-bed storage

Use shoe storage containers to keep toys under beds and sofas, especially if you have toys that you want to keep but which aren’t used all that often. Craft supplies and toys that require adult supervision can go in here since these containers usually require access to certain areas of the apartment or some grown-up strength to acquire. 

Dedicated play corners

A dedicated play space (or a few dedicated play spaces) can keep the majority of the toy clutter in certain areas of your apartment. Not only are the toys more likely to remain in the play space, but it’s easier to clean up clutter when you don’t have to travel all over the house to put items away.

It goes without saying that toys will find their way all over your apartment no matter what, but this way you can mitigate some of the effort that goes along with cleaning it all up.

Foldable play mats

Clutter can come in many forms, and maybe it takes the form of a bright, definitely-not-part-of-your-apartment-aesthetic play mat smack-dab in the middle of your living room. Visual clutter is a thing, too ya know?

Find play mats that can easily be folded or rolled up so that it’s easy to put away when you need to. It’s a great way to cut down on the visual clutter, and it’s also a convenient method of moving a designated play space around the apartment to suit your and your child’s needs.

Encourage cleanups

Introduce the concept of cleaning up toys early and your future self will thank you. Your kids may not see it as the valuable life lesson you know it to be, but they will come to see it as a regular and predictable activity that they’ll get used to performing. Make it fun by incorporating the whole family or by turning it into a game!

Be intentional about new toys

The absolute best way to stay on top of your toy clutter is to reduce the number of toys you acquire in the first place. 

Kids don’t buy themselves all those toys, adults do — so what are your motivations for bringing them into your home? Understanding what you want to achieve by having toys in your home will go a long way in keeping them under control. 

That’s not to say that toys are bad or that new toys are a no-no. Just be mindful of what an item’s long-term presence in your home will look like beyond its initial excitement. Choose quality over quantity and look at how a toy can fulfill your child’s developmental, physical and emotional needs, rather than its instant gratification.

Rotate toys

Rotating your child’s selection of toys has a wide range of benefits. 

First, creating a rotation of toys allows you to capitalize on what your child is currently interested in. If they’re super into crayons, skipping ropes and puzzles, then there’s no reason to keep everything else out front-and-center just for them to be lightly used then promptly ignored. This is especially handy when it comes to educational toys and games, as you can piggyback off their interests and incorporate some learning into their play!

Second, rotating toys keeps your collection of toys fresh and exciting. A toy they’ve had for years will seem more exciting when it hasn’t been around for a while, and a freshly curated toy corner will feel like an exciting change of pace — no new toy purchases necessary!

Third, cycling through your stock allows you analyze what toys are ready to be donated or given away. If a toy that used to be a favorite hasn’t been used at all this past rotation cycle, then that’s a clue that maybe interests have changed and the toy is no longer needed. Refer back to the “donations” section for the next steps!

Finally, keeping a balanced rotation can help you incorporate seasonally-appropriate toys into your child’s play time. If the weather's getting colder and your kids are spending more time inside, then it’s a good time to bring out some toys that will help them burn some of that energy and keep them entertained while cooped up indoors. If they’re getting plenty of learning done at school and need a place to do some solid play at home, then bring out the stuff they’re not getting a chance to interact with in class. If you’ve got a garden on your balcony and they’ve expressed interest in it, then it’s a great time to introduce gardening concepts and toys that support those interests. 

Whatever age your kids are and however much space you have in your apartment, use these toy management tips to keep your home as kid-oriented as possible while also keeping yourself sane! It’s a win-win!

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Featured photo by Tanaphong Toochinda on Unsplash