Many kids have toys here, there and everywhere, seemingly reproducing overnight. Parents clean up the mess in the evening, and the next morning it magically reappears in almost the same place, as if it came alive around midnight.
Is it a kid conspiracy? Are they collectively trying to drive their parents crazy? Whichever, here are some solutions.
Swap closets. Take all of the clothes out of the kids' closets. With those nice bars and little shelves and taller shelves up top, it seems wasteful to hang shirts and slacks there when you could be shoving away Legos, blocks and every "Star Wars" film ever made, along with billions of Matchbox cars and 17 light sabers. Consider what your children actually wear, and put those clothes into a hall closet -- shared, if you have more than one child. Donate the rest to charity.
Think like a kid. You know they will grab the blocks, then head back for Legos, and then return for the game of Life. So with that in mind, set the stage: Midsize bins or baskets are ideal for these sorts of toys. Line them up along the bottom of the closet, one for blocks, one for games and so on. Anticipate that it won't stay neat for long, but accept it, know they are stored away from view and move on.
Get rid of items regularly. Make a hard and fast rule that anytime something new comes into the house, two things must leave the closet. Yes, it's two-for-one time. This simple rule solves so many problems. First, when strolling the aisles at Target and your kids start the "but all my friends have it" begging ritual, you can remind them of the rule and they'll usually stop. Second, when they do get something, it's interesting to watch them pick the two items from their closet that they have now deemed unworthy.
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