[counterGOPI]

ok i will try to make sense here...

:

im so conflicted! our ostheimers are taking over our play spaces LOL. i was thinking of getting basket to put them in when they are not in use but is that the right kind of thing to do? i remember reading (maybe in you are your child's 1st teacher) how everything should have its place and to avoid toy bins b/c then the child can't see where their toys are..so would baskets be the same kind of idea as a toy bin? right now we have them set up on our cubbies (like in this pic: https://flic.kr/p/3306727651 ) but its kinda crowded.. i was thinking labeled baskets in a couple of the cubby holes filled with the figures might be nice.... i dont know..im rambling..am i making sense here? what do you think? thanks so much!!

 

[luvmyrory]

Not sure how Waldorf-y this is... but perhaps you could find some nice natural baskets that fit in those cubbies and either photograph or hand draw a picture of what goes inside it to place on the outside of the basket. That way its easy to know what's inside. This is what we've done with Aurora's clothes baskets.

I took the bits about toy bins to mean like the large toy boxes, where everything just gets dumped in at the end of the day, and half the stuff is never seen again. Same principle as losing socks in the dryer, lol.

 

[counterGOPI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmyrory Not sure how Waldorf-y this is... but perhaps you could find some nice natural baskets that fit in those cubbies and either photograph or hand draw a picture of what goes inside it to place on the outside of the basket. That way its easy to know what's inside. This is what we've done with Aurora's clothes baskets.

yeah thats exactly what i was thinking of doing!

:

 

[KJoslyn78]

I agree with rebecca - i think the idea is to not have huge toy boxes where items are lost, forgotten, etc. We do have 4 bins that slide under our train table to sort toys (1 for play kitchen stuff, 1 for silks, 1 for dress up/etc play, and 1 for the trains).

I think for yoru idea, maybe not do bins along the whole way - maybe 1 at each end and roate out something in the bins and setting up something in the middle (or baskets in middle, set up on outside cubbie). that way the girls still see them, but you can organize your collections too, KWIM?

 

[counterGOPI]

oh i like that idea a lot!
you ladies are so inspiring!

 

[kkar]

I put ours into baskets of varying sizes over the years, and I've found that they're not played with as much, there's more dumping and abandoning, and worse - pieces get broken (sniff, sniff). I've found that they get played with the most when they're displayed on shelves (preferably in scenes). I've also gotten very selective about rotating the wooden figures around a bit with the seasons or stories we're reading. They seem to get more meaningful play that way.

 

[RoundAbout]

This is my son's minimalist toy collection (previously posted on the decluttering forum):

https://flic.kr/p/3373294452
The basket and cubby system works great for us. I think children become overwhelmed in a play space that is visually "busy." My son is only 28 months and knows exactly what is in each bin and wehre it goes. We do periodic cleanup and DS is very helpful about putting things back in the right bin (with help).

 

[LISSA~K]

I use baskets as well but I think that is it important not to have too many things to begin with, or at least too much available at one time. My own interpretation of waldorf is that it is about simplicity.

 

[MamaBirdEmma]

I used the cubby shelving and basket idea (the cubbies were inspired by yours, Nicole) and have found that it works beautifully! Here's picture of ours and I will add notes to explain what is in each basket:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charmin...es/3352340706/

 

[counterGOPI]

thanks everyone! yeah it seems like we have a lot, but we don't. we sold all those trees ect and this is for 4 kids so it will eventually get moved to individual rooms once we move.

i have started to move seasonal toys away and then out for only that season...so much to work on!

 

[luvmyrory]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaBirdEmma I used the cubby shelving and basket idea (the cubbies were inspired by yours, Nicole) and have found that it works beautifully! Here's picture of ours and I will add notes to explain what is in each basket: http://www.flickr.com/photos/charmin...es/3352340706/

wow. that is a beautiful playspace!! the other pics in the stream were lovely also....

 

[ZippyGirl]

I try to avoid baskets and bins for toys that look like living beings. Maybe line the basket with a fluffy pillow and cover them with a little blanket so that the basket becomes their bed, rather than simply a storage bin where the animals could get tossed willy-nilly?

 

[Bird Girl]

I do rotate ruthlessly. When I get the new batch of stuff out, I set up a little scene, with a silk underneath, and perhaps a stacking element arranged behind. Then I put out the little figures. They generally get a few weeks of play, and then I move to the next set. The only things I keep in cubby boxes are blocks, the marble run, and train track.

 

[LISSA~K]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaBirdEmma I used the cubby shelving and basket idea (the cubbies were inspired by yours, Nicole) and have found that it works beautifully! Here's picture of ours and I will add notes to explain what is in each basket: http://www.flickr.com/photos/charmin...es/3352340706/

Beautiful, I love it! I'm totally going to copy yours and Nicole's ideas!

 

[mamaUK]

we have really shallow baskets to keep thing like Osthiemer figures, it keeps eveything is order, great quick tidy away, and b/c they are so shallow there are only one layer of items in the basket so it can all be seen. Here's the link to show you how we do it, I don't know if you can see from this pic but there is actually a basket of Osthiemer figures on this toy shelf:

https://flic.kr/p/3283966645

 

[SageR]

We store all of our small items in baskets. There is no issue with the kids not being able to see what is in them. I get all my baskets at the thrift store.

 

[Angierae]

Another rotating mama here! (Although I must admit, I am still learning this skill along with donating. There are untouched baskets lingering on our toy shelves.)

I used to use baskets, but so much was ignored or broken. Now I only leave out a small amount and try to coordinate it with the season and what we are doing or reading. My 4yo LOVES to come downstairs in the morning and see a "new set up". It is like getting new toys. And she always says, "mom, did you do that for me!? You are the best mom in the whole world!"

 

[counterGOPI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaBirdEmma I used the cubby shelving and basket idea (the cubbies were inspired by yours, Nicole) and have found that it works beautifully! Here's picture of ours and I will add notes to explain what is in each basket: http://www.flickr.com/photos/charmin...es/3352340706/

ok silly question..could you measure your baskets for me? my cubbies are odd sized (13"wide,13" tall 11" deep) so im having a hard time with baskets <3

and btw,youre too sweet

 

[dogretro]

We use this system for dd's toys: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/ca...ns_ikea/12018/

Not v Waldorfy w/ the plastic bins, I know, but it is actually rather aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. The bins slide in and out like drawers and you can get different sizes and colors. You can also buy shelves to put in instead. We only have one piece of this system so far (it is the low one w/ three units across) & plan to get more as we have more kids and more toys.

 

[RollerCoasterMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogretro We use this system for dd's toys: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/ca...ns_ikea/12018/ Not v Waldorfy w/ the plastic bins, I know, but it is actually rather aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. The bins slide in and out like drawers and you can get different sizes and colors. You can also buy shelves to put in instead. We only have one piece of this system so far (it is the low one w/ three units across) & plan to get more as we have more kids and more toys.

We've got the tiered ones in DS's room. I looooove them! We went from laundry baskets of baby toys to shelves with bins in the dining room, to shelves with just a couple bins in his bedroom. Once I replaced a couple of the bins with shelves and just one or two toys per shelf, his play got so much more focused almost instantly! I kept a couple of the bins for Little People animals and his Ikea train set, but the rest are used for random storage now. Love love love it! It's super sturdy and I think it will be in our home forever in some way or another! (It's not really meant for corner use...my maternity pillow is wedged in the gap between the shelf and the wall cuz he's obviously gonna climb!!)

ps. About half of the toys in both of these pics have been culled. It's been a gradual process, but ditching bins for shelves with a couple of baskets has been really motivating! And from where we are today, the first picture just looks nutso overstimulating! I'm really happy how far we've come in a year!!!