When your child plays with their toys, they create stories, characters, and memories. Watching them get lost in their make-believe worlds is so rewarding—but does that mean there has to be a mess too? We think not!
As your child moves from one toy to another, the toys tend to scatter across your floor and burrow under the couch. However, with fun and creative toy storage solutions, you can declutter your home and your kids will have a designated place to store and find their favorite toys.
Not only does toy storage help to organize your home, but it has several physical, mental, and developmental benefits as well—not to mention, you’ll get to enjoy your home without stepping on a hard toy.
A Clean Home Is a Happy Home
Any parent can attest to this statement; however, research shows that a tidy home has lasting benefits on children’s mental health as well.
A clean and organized home can help reduce stress in children and lowers their chances of developing anxiety; it also helps to improve a child’s concentration. Having set places for toys, books, and art supplies makes it easy for your kids to clean up and find what they’re looking for. This allows them to focus their attention on other matters, such as school work or mastering a new skill.
Building Long-Term Skills
Teaching your little one to clean up after themselves paves the way for so many great habits. By starting at a young age, you can instill skills that they’ll use for the rest of their lives.
By creating assigned areas for certain toys—a cubby for pretend food, a box for building blocks, a bin for doll accessories, etc.—you can teach your child the importance of organization. Cleaning up will be easy when every toy has its own place.
Toy storage is also a fun way to teach your child about categories, how certain objects are grouped together, and the difference between different types of toys, such as indoor and outdoor toys. Turn cleaning into a game and watch your little ones join right in!
By having your little one clean up after themselves, you teach them that they can’t just make a mess and someone else will clean it up for them—a lesson all caregivers can get behind! They learn responsibility and the value of hard work. They also grow to value, appreciate, and respect their environment.
Say Bye-Bye to Germs with Deep Cleaning
Toys need some deep cleaning every now and then. Whether they’ve spent time as a chew toy for your teething baby or they’ve taken a plunge in a bowl of macaroni and cheese, toys need the occasional wiping down.
Over time, toys pick up bacteria, and with the current pandemic, it’s more important than ever to make sure they’re properly taken care of. If your child has gone to school, a friend’s house, or taken their favorite doll to the grocery store, it’s a good idea to wipe down these items once you get home.
To learn how to clean toys to protect them from coronavirus, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved certain disinfectants as COVID-19 killers. After playtime, wipe down toys with these products before storing them away.
If you don’t have the EPA-approved disinfectants on hand, the CDC has provided an effective bleach-based solution that you can make at home. They also provide several tips to keep your home safe during these times.
Not only will cleaning toys with these disinfectants help against COVID-19, but they also help eliminate a variety of germs, molds, and bacteria.
Step2 toys are easy to clean! Use disinfectant wipes or household cleaners whenever you want. With other toy brands, make sure to check the manufacturer’s manual for the recommended cleaning instructions.
If your little one has a habit of sticking toys in their mouth, make sure you’re using kid-safe cleaning products.
Save the deep-cleaning supplies for after bedtime, so there’s no worry about ingesting any harsher chemicals. You can even wipe the toys down with a clean, wet rag afterwards to make sure there’s no residue left behind!
Once the toys are wiped down, store them away in a toy box or toy storage bin to keep them clean until your little one is ready to play with them again. When your home and toys stay clean, we call that a win-win.
A Place for All the Toys
Storage solutions provide so many benefits for parents and children. They provide a solution for the clutter and create an organized and tidy home.
Kids will have an easier time learning to clean up after themselves when they have a clear, specific location to put their toys. They’ll also develop skills that they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives. Kids will gain a sense of responsibility, learn organizational skills, and contribute to the household—yet another win!
Storage solutions keep the home and toys clean. Before storing toys away, wipe them down with a disinfectant. By placing them in a storage bin or toy box, the toys will remain clean until they’re taken out for some imaginative play.
If you’re in need of toy storage ideas, check out our line of toy boxes, bins, and fun playroom organization ideas. We even have unique toddler bedroom storage, such as the Turbocharged Twin Truck Bed™ with built-in drawer—how awesome is that?
What’s your favorite thing about toy storage? Comment below!
