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The BB2 Toy Caddy -- and my cheapo interpretation
Categories: Kid Decor & Style, Toys & Games
Nicole, over at our sister blog Luxist, has a post up about the BB2 Toy Caddy.
She's certainly right that more toy storage is a welcome thing, especially after the holidays, but since many of us just shelled out the big bucks on gifts, the $250 (U.S. dollars) price tag kinda hurts to look at.
The toy situation at my own house has been steadily getting out of hand for some time, so I finally took some drastic steps. I picked up some inexpensive toy boxes, one for each kid, and about eight big plastic storage bins. First we went through everything, giving away to friends and charity the stuff the kids weren't using. Then, the current favorites went into each child's box and the rest is in storage in the garage.
I think of it as a toy library. They are free to switch up what is in the toy box on a regular basis, but everything has to fit in the box. Exceptions are books, art supplies, and a few (not too many) stuffed animals. It's been so great for the kids and for me. When their rooms start to get messy, I pop my head in and say, "Hey! Time to clean up!" Even if they grumble and drag their feet, they can get their rooms presentable within fifteen minutes.
How is the post-holiday toy storage going at your house?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Martha 12-29-2006 @ 3:33PM
thanks for this information
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mamaloo, the doula 12-29-2006 @ 3:31PM
We live and die by the bin system. I gave up my "office" bin set (an upright set of five drawers/bins) for Kieran and bought an additional wooden framed upright set that has different coloured bins that slot into the frame (I love this one best).
There is a bin for large mega blocks, a bin for the newly acquired small mega blocks construction playsets, a bin for wooden blocks and a bin for block style puzzles. The office bin has a bin for tools, sports stuff like balls and frisbees, musical instruments, "people" or little action figures and miscellaneous stuff like phones and junk. On top of that are a stack of wooden frames with those simple wooden puzzles and boxes of oversized actual puzzles. The train table has two bins under it, one for cars and trucks and one for the Thomas/Imaginarium stuff. We also have a toy box that holds stuffed animals/people only.
Phew!
There is also a large decorative basket in the living room for the toys that are currently being played with in there.
With a new baby on the way, we are going to have to get a bit strict with the toys we keep. We are definitely going to have to pair down!
I really ought to take some pics and make a proper blog post about it. Since we live in an apartment and the baby will share the room with its big brother when old enough to sleep without mama at night (we are co-sleepers), being VERY organized is VERY important!
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ann adams 12-29-2006 @ 7:50PM
Bins absolutely. I have a wastebasket in each room for trash and a small basket to toss their smaller toys into. Eventually the smaller baskets are sorted.
As the get older, they have fewer small toys which makes it easier except for the bicycles parked in my living room (no there is no other place for them - I've tried).
Most of their Christmas gifts were clothes. No small stuff except for a few art supplies, lip gloss, bath and beauty stuff, and earrings. Yippee!!
Sometime before they return to school on the 8th (long vacation here), we'll have a housecleaning party. Our tree is taken down New Year's Day usually and as soon as that's done we can concentrate on shoveling out.
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