how organizing your toy room helps children learn and keep it tidy

Do you have those days where your toy room/area looks like it just exploded? I have had those days and its been so hard getting my kids to clean up their toys and their toy area! I feel like I just have so many toys for my kids now, but what with sites like Play Like Mum, it’s just impossible to not get something nice for them. It’s so easy to get them things for birthdays and Christmas, that I’m not really surprised that they have so many toys now! There are times where I have to persuade them by saying if you clean your toy area, I’ll give you a surprise. Why is it when they are at school they clean up so fast and do not have to be told 10 billion times to clean up???

I have tried so many different ways to have my kids clean their toy room and toys up. I have tried persuading them. Rewarding them with positive reinforcements such as stickers and little toys. I have acknowledged them by saying “great job Kayden cleaning up” or you are doing an awesome job Nyah cleaning up.” But these all have not worked all the time. So after awhile I ran out of things to do and say. I then got into my teacher mode and realized what I needed to do was label my toy room and containers. What is label your toy room and containers? Well let me tell you, it is the simplest thing, but the most affective so far for my kids that’s helping them keep their toy room tidy and clean. 🙂

Few things to do in your toy/play area:

• Label all your containers you keep your toys in. My daughter is learning to read and my son is recognizing his letters so this is a perfect time for them to learn how to recognize their letters and read, plus put their toys away in the correct bin. As you can see I have labeled my book shelf bins and my kids know exactly where to put their toys back. Before I labeled the bins I also showed them what the label read and showed them that the “cars” go into the cars bin.

• I also, went ahead and labeled all the big toys we had in our play room such as our toy kitchen and train table. This helps children see and learn where the spoons, cups, and plates belong in the kitchen and also where the trains, tracks and buildings belong for the train table. Before putting the label on the toy/container explain to your child that this label reads “Train Table” and emphasize on the begging letters and show them what belongs on the train table. Do the same for the toy kitchen, emphasize on the beginning letter and then explain what belongs in the kitchen area. Make sure to label everything in your play room, such as containers, book shelves, and lego containers. This will help your children keep the room tidy and clean and plus it will teach them to put things back where they belong.

• Another thing that I do with my kids for them to tidy up their toys and toy area is play a game with them. It’s also educating them so it’s a great game to play. I play the game “What letter does the toy begin with?” I pick up a toy such as a train, and ask the kids what toy is this? The kids will answer “train”, then I ask what letter does this toy being with? I sound out the first letter if they cannot recognize it, and then I ask where does this toy belong? Look for the label with the letter “T” and place your train there. so they then place it in the train table area. This game is so simple that you can play it any way you like, as long as the children are getting the concept!

So far this has been working so well for my children. They keep their toy room so nice and tidy that I do not have to keep telling them to clean up their toys over and over. They also, love that they can play a game while cleaning up their toys. Now my daughter and son play it on their own and they take turns on who reads out the letters. I am glad I was able to use my teaching abilities to have my kids keep their toy room clean. 🙂

What do you do with your children to help them keep their toy/play area tidy?