Keep Control of Toy Clutter

Toy clutter. My kids love it. And it makes me nuts. I don't mind toys around, but at the end of the day, I like it all put away, so I can go to bed with a nice, neat house. (Yeah, right!). I have a few strategies to keep my house from looking like ToysRUs. It helps keep the house neater, the toys in better shape, and the kids happy, too.

Sort and separate. I sort toys pretty often. I like to dispose of anything broken, and figure out what toys the kiddos have outgrown. I'll put a few away for sentimental reasons, give a few to friends, and the rest I'll donate. Not all organizations will take used toys, so you may have to call around to find one in your area that does. While I'm at it, I pull out the baby wipes to wipe off spilled juice, dust, and anything else.

Toy swap. This is a fun idea! Have your child pick out a few toys that he or she is done with. Have your friends and their children do the same thing. Then, you can all meet together and shop each other's toys. For each toy your child brings, they can choose someone else's to bring home. Just make sure that all toys are in good working order and safe. You could do a permanent swap, or a toy loan, like a library. It saves money and puts those old toys to good use.

Rotate. I have a batch of toys that I rotate in and out. The little ones just get overwhelmed when there are a ton of toys, and end up always playing with the same ones all the time anyway. So I keep some closet space for extra toys, and periodically swap out the things they are tired of with toys they haven't seen in a while. I may not be ready to dispose of them, so I'll just save them for the next swap.

1 in, 1 out. A good rule to follow - and a tough one - is to get rid of an old toy for every new one that comes along. This is easier said than done, but it can help keep the toy overflow to a minimum.

Toys to go. Happy Meal Toys, especially, just end up cluttering the bottom of the toy box. The kids play with them for a day or two, and then they get stepped on, tossed around, and generally ignored. So grab a gallon bag and toss a bunch of those toys in, along with dollar store finds, old crayons, whatever. Keep the bag stashed in your van for whenever you have an unexpected wait, like at the doctor's office, restaurant, or a long drive. If the toys get lost along the way, you won't be sad. You'll be relieved that they're not cluttering up your floor anymore!

Everything else gets stashed in toy bins, shelves, and Tupperware containers. I'm still looking for the best of all solutions, but for now, these strategies are working great. And I know that far too soon my small ones will be gone, and I'll miss having those toys, and happy faces, underfoot.