Comments on: How I Handle the Living Room Toy Dilemma http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:19:40 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sara's Mama http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-95726 Sara's Mama Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:36:35 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-95726 Oooh, the putting those bins under the sofa table was smart, Julie. We used to have one of those common toy organizer units with the primary-colored plastic bins but I share your desire for my family room to "look like a magazine page" and therefore wanted it to look more adult and less like a preschool playroom after the toys were put away. So we've graduated to bins similar to yours (faux-suede ones from Target), but in a color that matches our decor. One initial problem was that these bins are larger than what we used to have and even with extra effort, we (*I*) couldn't keep the toys sorted until we found these great mesh toy bags at KidsKlutterKatchers.com to segregate the small stuff inside the bins. This solution is working well for us so far and looks pretty nice. On to the next mission. :) Oooh, the putting those bins under the sofa table was smart, Julie. We used to have one of those common toy organizer units with the primary-colored plastic bins but I share your desire for my family room to “look like a magazine page” and therefore wanted it to look more adult and less like a preschool playroom after the toys were put away. So we’ve graduated to bins similar to yours (faux-suede ones from Target), but in a color that matches our decor. One initial problem was that these bins are larger than what we used to have and even with extra effort, we (*I*) couldn’t keep the toys sorted until we found these great mesh toy bags at KidsKlutterKatchers.com to segregate the small stuff inside the bins. This solution is working well for us so far and looks pretty nice. On to the next mission. :)

]]> By: Julie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94809 Julie Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:03:03 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94809 @Sherry - That's perfect! I think learning to adapt to your environment is the key. Make your space work for you, not the other way around. I try to tell people to get over the "where it's <b>supposed</b> to be stored" idea and think about the "where can I store this where it will make sense for how we live" idea. it's so much easier to live that way. @Sherry – That’s perfect! I think learning to adapt to your environment is the key. Make your space work for you, not the other way around.

I try to tell people to get over the “where it’s supposed to be stored” idea and think about the “where can I store this where it will make sense for how we live” idea. it’s so much easier to live that way.

]]> By: Julie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94808 Julie Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:00:26 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94808 @Angelique - Boxes r Us, perfect! We are trying to teach our kids it's quality not quantity that counts. For example: for Christmas this year our big present is we are all flying to Colorado for Christmas. My husband's dad from Albania will be there, all of his brothers' and sister's family. It's going to be a blast! That is worth so much more than 15 or so wrapped presents under the tree. They are pretty excited! @Angelique – Boxes r Us, perfect! We are trying to teach our kids it’s quality not quantity that counts.

For example: for Christmas this year our big present is we are all flying to Colorado for Christmas. My husband’s dad from Albania will be there, all of his brothers’ and sister’s family. It’s going to be a blast! That is worth so much more than 15 or so wrapped presents under the tree. They are pretty excited!

]]> By: Taming toy clutter http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94805 Taming toy clutter Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:54:26 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94805 [...] over at Declutter It has a nice setup too for dealing with toys in the living room (though I’m still jealous of her playroom!). Also, the new Stacks and Stacks blog has a tip [...] [...] over at Declutter It has a nice setup too for dealing with toys in the living room (though I’m still jealous of her playroom!). Also, the new Stacks and Stacks blog has a tip [...]

]]> By: sherry http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94807 sherry Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:41:48 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94807 I love what you've done! My girls are almost 5 years and almost 2 years. They do play in the bedroom sometimes but mostly they prefer to play out in the living room. I had to adapt to that because we're in an apartment so we don't have a playroom and their room is the smallest one. What I did was I had a bookshelf in the living room with three shelves. My husband and I put most of the books away in the office, leaving just one shelf of books for now. The bottom two shelves became storage spaces for toys. I went to the dollar store and bought a lot of little baskets and even used some large ice cream tubs, and I sort the toys by type (train stuff, toy farm, play food, etc) and the toys go in their appropriate container on the shelf. I still have to do a lot of picking up myself and remind them that they have to put stuff away before taking more out, but it's helped a lot and it makes the evening much nicer for us! I love what you’ve done! My girls are almost 5 years and almost 2 years. They do play in the bedroom sometimes but mostly they prefer to play out in the living room. I had to adapt to that because we’re in an apartment so we don’t have a playroom and their room is the smallest one.

What I did was I had a bookshelf in the living room with three shelves. My husband and I put most of the books away in the office, leaving just one shelf of books for now. The bottom two shelves became storage spaces for toys. I went to the dollar store and bought a lot of little baskets and even used some large ice cream tubs, and I sort the toys by type (train stuff, toy farm, play food, etc) and the toys go in their appropriate container on the shelf.

I still have to do a lot of picking up myself and remind them that they have to put stuff away before taking more out, but it’s helped a lot and it makes the evening much nicer for us!

]]> By: Angelique http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94803 Angelique Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:35:01 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94803 Ha! I love the box story! Shouldn't a place called Boxes R Us open its doors? I actually buy my cutie pie something only when forced to. I'm not even getting him anything for his birthday because he said, "I don't want you to get anything. Everyone at the party will bring presents!" And it's true. And his relatives will buy 25 or so gifts (no, I'm not kidding), and I won't be able to get rid of them. If I had the perfect holiday, it would be one where NO presents were exchanged and only experiential "gifts" were allowed, such as a trip to the museum or a kid-friendly place or a weekend somewhere frugal and fun! Boy -- I sound like a curmudgeon, don't I? :) Angelique Ha! I love the box story! Shouldn’t a place called Boxes R Us open its doors?

I actually buy my cutie pie something only when forced to. I’m not even getting him anything for his birthday because he said, “I don’t want you to get anything. Everyone at the party will bring presents!” And it’s true. And his relatives will buy 25 or so gifts (no, I’m not kidding), and I won’t be able to get rid of them.

If I had the perfect holiday, it would be one where NO presents were exchanged and only experiential “gifts” were allowed, such as a trip to the museum or a kid-friendly place or a weekend somewhere frugal and fun!

Boy — I sound like a curmudgeon, don’t I?

:)

Angelique

]]> By: Julie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94633 Julie Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:16:31 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94633 @Angelique - Why DO we buy our kids toys? My husband and I ask ourselves that all the time. For example: I bought a really nice foosball table. My husband and I have been having a blast with it. The kids love it too, but do you want to know what they've played with more? That's right. The ginormous box it came in! And we really want to throw it away because it's taking up half the playroom, but they love it. My 3 year old finally stopped the dumping thing. After many fits when being told to clean it up i think it just got old for him. He still dumps the toys out on the floor to look for something every once and awhile but he cleans it up pretty fast. :) @Angelique – Why DO we buy our kids toys? My husband and I ask ourselves that all the time.

For example: I bought a really nice foosball table. My husband and I have been having a blast with it. The kids love it too, but do you want to know what they’ve played with more? That’s right. The ginormous box it came in! And we really want to throw it away because it’s taking up half the playroom, but they love it.

My 3 year old finally stopped the dumping thing. After many fits when being told to clean it up i think it just got old for him. He still dumps the toys out on the floor to look for something every once and awhile but he cleans it up pretty fast. :)

]]> By: Angelique http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94797 Angelique Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:06:55 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94797 I've been trying to do something similar in my livingroom (and in other rooms), but somehow my son manages to DUMP everything in the bins... then turns the bins into playthings! It used to make me crazy! There were piles of toys everywhere and bin/box "structures" all around. But I think it'll eventually stick. Besides, when he isn't looking, I sometimes throw away severely broken toys--ha! How I hate plastic sometimes, especially when it's attached to some little cruddy plaything. :) Angelique I’ve been trying to do something similar in my livingroom (and in other rooms), but somehow my son manages to DUMP everything in the bins… then turns the bins into playthings!

It used to make me crazy! There were piles of toys everywhere and bin/box “structures” all around. But I think it’ll eventually stick. Besides, when he isn’t looking, I sometimes throw away severely broken toys–ha! How I hate plastic sometimes, especially when it’s attached to some little cruddy plaything.

:)

Angelique

]]> By: Julie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94801 Julie Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:54:00 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94801 Thanks Suzanne! I know all too well about those magnetix toys too. Ugh! They are cool though. :) Thanks Suzanne! I know all too well about those magnetix toys too. Ugh! They are cool though. :)

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.blisstree.com/articles/how-i-handle-the-living-room-toy-dilemma-207/comment-page-1/#comment-94799 Suzanne Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:48:05 +0000 http://www.declutterit.com/how-i-deal-with-the-living-room-toy-dilemma#comment-94799 Oooh, I LOVE that idea! I have a table very similar to that in my entry way as well and I never thought of putting those bins underneath of it. Bye bye magnetix in my living room! Oooh, I LOVE that idea! I have a table very similar to that in my entry way as well and I never thought of putting those bins underneath of it. Bye bye magnetix in my living room!

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