Organizing a toy room after Christmas can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to deal with a lot of new toys! But with a few simple tips, you can make the process easier and have your kid’s toy room looking neat and tidy in no time. Here are our best tips for organizing your kid’s toy room after Christmas so you can start the new year fresh and tidy!

Do a Quick Purge

The first step to organizing your kid’s toy room after Christmas is to do a quick purge. Keyword, quick. Take a few minutes to go through all of your child’s toys and get rid of anything they no longer use or play with. If you’re not sure, set it aside to review later. This is a great opportunity to teach your child about being mindful of what they own and donating items that are still in good condition. Doing this quick purge will also give you a better idea of what you’re working with and how much space you have to work with.

Get Rid of Anything Broken

Once you have sorted through all the toys, it’s time to get rid of anything that’s broken. If a toy is missing pieces or is no longer functioning, toss it out. It may be difficult for you and your child to part with things, but broken toys are just going to take up space. Remind yourself and your child that new items need the space these broken toys are using. If your child has sentimental attachments to certain toys, you can always take a photo of them to keep the memory alive.

Sort by Category

Start by sorting toys into categories such as stuffed animals, dolls, cars, blocks, books, puzzles, and art supplies. Once everything is sorted, it will be easier to find a place for everything and make sure that like items stay together. You may also want to consider sorting items by age group so that older toys are not mixed in with younger toys. This will make it easier for kids to find what they are looking for on their own.

Invest in Clear Storage Bins

Investing in storage bins can be a great way to help keep your kids’ toys organized. Not only do they provide a way to separate and organize different categories of toys, but they also provide an easy way to store away items when they are not in use.  When selecting storage bins, look for ones that are large enough to accommodate all the items you need to store, but not so big that they take up too much space in the toy room. This is why you’ll sort first, and buy storage bins after.

You may want to opt for clear bins so that it’s easy to identify what is inside without having to open them up. If you have multiple types of toys, you may also want to consider getting different colored bins to differentiate between the different categories.

You know that toy you’re not sure what to do with or not ready to part with? Put it in an out-of-sight storage bin. When your child asks for it, go ahead and find a place. If not, after 6 months, donate it.

Put heavier items on lower shelves

Placing heavier items on lower shelves is a great way to keep toys out of reach while also ensuring they are secure and easy to access.

Consider putting larger items like play kitchen sets, train tables, and other heavy toys on the bottom shelf or the floor. This helps to ensure that those items are not tipped over or otherwise damaged when kids are playing with them. In addition, it’s much easier for kids to grab a toy from a low shelf than reaching up for something high up.

Opt for shelving units with adjustable heights so you can customize the layout to best suit your growing child’s needs. This way, items can be easily moved as they get older and taller.

Label Everything

Labeling your child’s shelves and storage bins is a great way to keep everything organized.  Labels help everyone know what goes where and make it easier to find the items.

You can buy pre-made labels or create your own with a label maker or stickers.

When labeling, use clear and concise words that your children will understand. Use the categories you sorted into earlier. It doesn’t need to be as granular for each toy. This gives you room to add toys to that category for upcoming birthdays or next holidays.

You could also use pictures to help younger children understand what goes where. This can be especially helpful for little ones who are just learning how to read.

Using labels will help teach your children how to clean up after themselves. It will also save you time in the long run, as you won’t have to go searching for items or remind your kids where they belong.