Toys!

[homemademom]

We have a fairly large loft that we use as a playroom. It has a couch and bookshelves in there, too. I'm always decluttering it and then, well meaning family members buy more stuff to fill it up. Recently, I did a HUGE declutter (like 4 huge garbage bags of nearly new toys that I donated).

But here's the thing. The place is still such a pig sty! The kids get out toys and don't put them away (probably my fault since I'm not following up with them and helping them with that habit). But they mix things up and then, can't tell how to put it away in any organized fashion. When it's a big mess like that, even a put away mess, they aren't motivated to play in there.

I'm wondering what you think is essential to a play room and how I can cut back even more. They play with the dolls and strollers, and the play kitchen. But some of the other things I think I keep because I want them to play with them, but they never do.

Please help me declutter some more. Even with all I've done, I'm obviously not done yet. Thanks in advance for your ideas! (BTW, the kids are 9, 7, 5, 2)

[clutterwarrior]

Originally Posted by homemademom

But some of the other things I think I keep because I want them to play with them, but they never do.

It's hard to know what you should and shouldn't keep without knowing what you have..what are these things you want to keep that they don't play with?

[tallulahma]

Our set up in our old house and now at our new place went from plenty of toy room to zero spare room.... I went and bought an ikea shelf with 8 squares, got 8 baskets and sorted like with like: my little ponies&pet shops together, wooden toys, dominos and educational stuff, play silks, dress up accesories, stuffed animals.

That way when the room gets turned upside down from two kidsplaying, it's just a matter of tossing like things into baskets. I can do the fine adjustments later...

When we had more room, i just kept two large empty baskets in the playroom, when they were done we picked up the room and tossed the toys into the baskets so the room looked clean, then i went through and put things away when i had time.

Im not big into forcing the kids to clean their stuff to my liking. I go in and pick up to model being tidy, but my oldest doesn't mind a mess, so she really doesn't help much. My 2 yo love love loves to clean and organize though.

If they are just trashing the toy room though, they may be over stimulated, you could box up bunch of stuff to see if it's missed, then pull it out in a month and reassess?