Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 25 Storage Solutions It is so important to give everything a designated place. Is it big enough to stand on its own? If not, then it needs a "house." Think about how and when your kids will be playing with it. If it is frequently used and needs li le adult oversight, then open bins and baskets work best on low shelves, racks or in cubbies. If it is something that requires adult supervision, or if it comes with lots of small pieces, consider placing it higher up on the shelves so that they need to ask an adult for help ge ng it down. This way you are alerted whenever these items are coming out. LIMT THE LIDS Bins with lids may look nice and neat, but this one extra step can ruin the en re clean-up process! Li le kids o en have trouble opening and closing lids properly, and older kids can even be lazy about it. O en mes bins end up looking disheveled as the lids get tossed around and even broken. Because of this, bins without lids, totes or baskets work best. And any of these with handles will make it easier for your kids to pick up and carry around. Save the bins with lids for really small toys such as LEGO pieces or messy toys such as play dough. If the blocks were just in a basket, a simple spill has the poten al to really increase clean-up me or result in a lot of lost pieces. And since play dough dries out quickly (even in its li le containers), bins with lids are great for both of these playthings. Some mes kids need a li le guid- ance to get started. Look around the playroom for toys that are not as commonly played with and fi gure out a way to incorporate dif- ferent items together. Maybe a bin of construc on trucks and Lincoln Logs could be mixed together. Dump out the logs on one side of the room and line up the trucks on the other. Now tell your kids to pretend it is a giant construc on site. Watch them use their hand-eye coordina on as they move the trucks across the room, fi ll them up with logs, transport the logs to the new building site and create a masterpiece. Some mes you might be in the middle of something and feel like you do not have the me to sit and play, get crea ve or deal with another interrup on. However, if you take a few minutes before star ng a task to set up a scenario like the one men oned above, kids will o en occupy themselves for a much longer amount of me. These few minutes could result in you be- ing less frustrated with them, and they'll have more fun playing with something that you helped them construct – even if you don't s ck around for the actual playing part. Technically this is not a p for the playroom, but it helps to control what new things come in. If your kids are lucky enough to already have a lot of toys, then consider giving them fewer toys for birthdays, holidays or special occa- sions. Instead try: GIFTING EXPERIENCES Instead of toys, consider asking certain people to only give your kids gi s of experi- ences. This will limit addi onal clu er, and your kids will get to enjoy some really fun family ou ngs. GIFTING PRACTICALS This may become easier as your kids get older and grow out of the toy phase, but you do not need to wait. Prac cal gi s can be good for younger kids too. Try keeping a list on your cellphone throughout the year, making notes of the things your kids ask for when out and about. Many mes, it will not be toy related and will actually be something very prac - cal, such as a new suitcase or new set of gel pens. These items may not end up being their favorite gi s, but at least you know they will love them and use them! Lastly, as you go through these steps, keep in mind that a playroom isn't supposed to stay highly organized. There will always be new messes and a regular need to dy up. Reorga- nizing and rearranging can inspire new play, so don't give up on the playroom - even when it feels overwhelming. Get Involved and Get Creative Get Creative with Your Gifts

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