The Taming of the Toys

Taming Toys

From the moment you open the doors, all you see is chaos. Blocks are strewn about to the left, trains thrown off the tracks to the right, a toy plane swings from a ceiling fan above, and those popular plastic blocks are stabbing your feet with every agonizing step. Yet in the middle of this GI Joe warzone, you will often find one or more smiling children, happily engaged in the chaos that can be playtime.

While playtime can seem chaotic at first glance, it doesn’t have to be. The two major areas of focus for organized chaos are:

1. Toys
2. Environment

Organize the individual toys

We live in a world where many of the cool toys come with more pieces than a child can keep track of. It is important to do “checkups” on the toys and games your kids are playing with to make sure all of the pieces are accounted for, the toy functions properly, it has batteries, etc. If the toy passes the “checkup,” it is easier for a child to engage in play rather than toss it aside with frustration. Be sure to get rid of toys that your kids are no longer interested in because they are too easy, missing too many pieces or just plain don’t work. This will keep kids inspired by the toys they have and their imaginations won’t get crowded out by the toys that need to be retired.

Keep the environment in mind

Providing a space that is clear of clutter, noise and other distractions can go miles for keeping things as orderly as possible. Maybe you have a space in your house for playing with toys? It is easy to keep the TV on, but not everyone can filter out that background noise. Lessening distractions is really key for kids connecting during play with others and the toy itself.

With the two major areas of focus in mind (toys and environment), here are some toys and tips to help children understand organization and motivate them to maintain order.

Toys that can help organize:

Toy Tamer Bags: These bags are the self-proclaimed cure for the black holes of toy boxes! With different sizes and fun colors to choose from, Toy Tamer Bags let children see the toys they want to play with and provides them the independence to choose. Not only are these bags genius at keeping parts of the same toy together, kids can also have fun with the label slot, as they create a custom tag to describe what’s inside.

Weplay Rainbow River Stones: The organizational elements of Weplay products are aplenty. Many of their toys are have opportunities for space saving storage. The Rainbow River Stones neatly nest within one another and come with a storage bag for portability. Involving cleanup as a component of playtime can go a long way for teaching kids responsibility.

Happy Heart Kid: Each Happy Heart Kid kit is a self-contained activity center around a different social/ emotional concept. The box it comes in along with the step-by-step instructions can be a resourceful way to introduce children to keeping the kits in order while following directions to complete the project. With kits focusing on topics like empathy and generosity, children can learn more about these sometimes complex feelings, making them more capable of handling them in an orderly fashion.

Ways to Organize:

This list is helpful for adults and children alike. It introduces a sense of order and independence for children, and it keeps things looking tidy. Here are some of our favorite ways to tame toys:

• Under the bed storage bins: Unseen storage that is perfect for the kid who plays where he sleeps.
• Shelves: An oldie but a goodie. You can even put the toys that need adult supervision on the upper shelves so kids can’t get them on their own.
• Over the door organizers: In addition to specially designed holders, shoe organizers can be repurposed to hold any number of play products.
• Storage stools/benches: Multipurpose storage for hiding toys with sophistication.
• Hanging from hooks: Use those blank walls to your advantage by hanging hooks for toys big and small to create order in a previously unused space.
• Categorize the toys: Whether it is size, theme, or color, many organizational tools allow for labeling so kids can come up with their own system (with your help of course).

Why Organize:

• It can prevent over stimulation: Keeping things organized lets children approach playtime with excitement as well as a cool head.
• Easier clean up: When everything has a set place to go, cleanup is more orderly and there is less of a chance for toys to get misplaced or lost.
• Establishes healthy habits in children: As children learn to clean up after themselves, this can instill a sense of responsibility and independence.
• Concept of categorization: As kids think of or see the different ways to organize, their minds are getting exposed to the concept of categorization.
• It helps you clean up shop: As you go through and organize the toys you have, it is a great time to see which toys are incomplete/broken, as well as figuring out which toys are no longer engaging for the child.
• It can remind kids of toys: This means not only reminding them of toys they forgot about, but it allows them to combine toys in ways they had never thought of before.

To lessen the chaos of playtime, we encourage you to take on “The Taming of the Toys” with your kids to discover the possibilities that organization can bring!

Ahren Hoffman is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), Manager of Industry Relations & Partnerships at the National Lekotek Center, Sibshop Coordinator at Advocate Illinois Masonic Pediatric Developmental Center (PDC) and consultant for Autism Speaks sibling support groups

Helpful Articles

• 7 Essential Safety Tips When Choosing Toys for Children with Special Needs
• Toys“R”Us: Safe Play Tips for Children with Special Needs
• 9 Great Toddler & Preschooler Toys for Kids with Special Needs
• Tips for Selecting the Right & Safe Toys
• The Upside of Making Your Own Educational Toys
• Are Too Many Toys & Games Hurting Your Child’s Health?
• The Taming of the Toys
• TOY Safety?

This post originally appeared on our January/February 2016 Magazine