This week’s project is a sore topic for me. So, I am in need of this boot camp session for sure! There is nothing like a good challenge, right?
Most of the toys and art supplies in my house are kept in what we call the “sun room.” It is the room that is least utilized in our home mostly because it is not ideally constructed to serve our family’s needs. It is not insulated and, thus, when the sun shines through the completely sky-lighted ceiling (hence, the name “sun room”), it gets really hot in the summer and super cold in the winter. So, it is easy to close the door and forget about the space, toys and art supplies that are often not as organized as we like. Out of sight, out of mind, some say. However, our ability to keep the toys and many art supplies in order at all times has been very much on my mind.
Once you get the organization of a kid space down, I believe that the organizing project will not be too complex. The key ingredients to your (well, and my) success will be:
Resist abundance. If you think about it, our kids tend to play with only a small portion of their toy collection. Weed out the items that are underutilized or unloved. Make a point of involving your children in the process of sorting through their toys and books to identify items they can live without or want to pass on to younger relatives, donate, etc.
Display some, save some, throw out most. Stop saving all of your kids’ art work and school work. They create clutter and will be the cause of greater agony later on. Establish a system. Display the loveliest creations for a while, save the best in a memory file, throw out the rest. More on that here.
Get zoned. Start thinking and organizing in zones. Just like preschool classrooms are set up in zones, your kids’ spaces should be too. The dress-up zone should not be with the art supplies. Books should live the reading zone. You get the idea.
KISS – keep it simple stupid. Clear and defined homes for the items in the space and labeling are key. Co-mingling of an assortment of things will be the death of you – just remember that I said so 
! If your kids are not yet of reading age, use pictures to identify homes for their belongings. When labeling is NOT an option, consider open storage or see through containers, which will simplify the headache of determining what lives where.
Do not put down, put back. Practicing daily maintenance is a must. Putting things back into their clearly defined homes will keep your zones in order.
So, the fuzzy picture above is one of the play space in my house. Just like the blurry photo effect, the organization system there is a bit fuzzy too. This week, I will work on changing things around for the better so that I can think a little bit less about that space. Can’t wait to show you the after.
What’s cooking in your kids’ play space? What are your trouble areas?
If you do not have kids’ spaces to worry about, then you have time to catch up on the precious four previous boot camp assignments!
Previously on Order Matters’ Organizing Boot Camp:
Any suggestions for my teenage daughter’s room?
These are great suggestions, I like to suggest zones as well. We also like to involve the children like you mentioned in few points. Making sure everything has a place and is contained within that space is important too!
I have plenty of sore spots in my home too. Keeping organized is a work in progress!
xo
Sharon
Lovely tips! Kid’s rooms are pretty tricky to organize because it takes no more than an hour to turn it into it’s chaotic state. Putting back things in it’s place should be easy so those little hands will do. Have a gorgeous day, Kellie xx
I do not have children but I can imagine that would be the toughest thing to keep organized is all the toys, books, etc. Great ideas!
I love the “don’t put down, put away”. I am using that line with my family now.