What toys do you have and how do you keep your house clutter free?!

**vix84** · 31-12-2008, 10:43 AM

Hiya, I am due to return to Childminding in March when my maternity leave runs out, and its just hit me that I need to get sorted!
Washing is piling up now that we have a child of our own, and we already have a house full of childminding toys and equipment, and with Christmas we now have even more things to try to find a place for!

We have just got a dishwasher so that will help with the washing up, and Im going to try to keep up with the clothes washing and putting away as soon as dry.

I just wondered what toys you have, how you store them, and what toys you think are the most important to have for all ages etc. And do you have any handy tips?

We have:
duplo, soft toys and rattles, books, shape sorters, stacking toys, pretend kitchen and pretend food and pretend microwave and washing machine, cars and a car mat and garage, puzzles, jigsaws, dressing up clothes, paint/playdough/colouring/cornflour etc. pretend tool kit, farm animals and wooden farm, bricks, stickle bricks, musical toys, treasure basket, little people and power rangers etc. plus a few other things like shopping trolley and basket, eggs, music mat etc.

We have a unit from Ikea where I put plastic baskets in with toys, and a bookcase where a few more boxes and books go, then in the conservatory we have a small cheap toy storage unit from Argos, and a big tub for cars, then the other bits are just on the floor.

**mummyroysof3** · 31-12-2008, 11:24 AM

we have far too many toys and im desperate for some ideas for storage so ill be following this tread with intrest and im not even minding yet lol

charlotte x

**miss mopple** · 31-12-2008, 11:50 AM

It'd be quicker to list what toys we dont have

Its taken over so much I have managed to convince DH we dont need a dining rom and have converted it to a playroom

I have argos storage (a bit like the trofast stuff) and other than that I use clear boxes. I use the sideboard for games and puzzles and have a rail for dressing up. I also have a set of small shelves with open boxes on for kids to access stuff freely.

I also have posession of the shed so store a load of stuff in there and rotate it.

**manjay** · 31-12-2008, 12:01 PM

I don't have the luxury of a playroom just yet but I am working on it! I have a tall bookcase in the kitchen with the stuff we use everyday and I have a fair amount of storage in my utility room. DH has a storage unit for his work tools and I have kind of taken over that. I rotate boxes every 3/4 weeks and that works well for me

**Annie_T** · 31-12-2008, 12:14 PM

Im not minding yet but i have lots of toys etc ready.

Ive got one of these in my front hall (get 4 shoes boxes free - they quite large too - which used for art craft bits)
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...7C10197794.htm

I also have 3 of these under my unit in front hall and 2 in living room(hopefully to be moved into unit below thsi link)
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...7C10197791.htm

I want to get one of these (can put storage boxes in/on it)
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...7C10197791.htm

or maybe this one (im unsure what one i want for where its going lol)
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...7C10197791.htm

**patevans** · 31-12-2008, 12:22 PM

I have ran out of space everywhere

My toy room is jam packed to the top

it always looks untidy but theres so much stuff!!

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 31-12-2008, 12:29 PM

I have most of mine in plastic crates in the garage which I rotate every now and again. I also have basic toy boxes relevant to the ages of the children I have at the time indoors and then I cupboard full of craft, paint and puzzles.

My hubby is threatening to ditch the lot as to quote "you have too much and I don't think other people have this much crap"! Does this sound familiar!!!

**mummyroysof3** · 31-12-2008, 12:31 PM

annie, allthat argos stuff looks great am looking at getting hubby to make something like the last 2 links out of MDF cos he wont let me spend that much

how sturdy are the plastic sets of drawers cos would like a couple of them

my problem seems to be all the big toys like the garage and a dinosaur rollaround toy, they just take up too much room but if i had a wooden unit thats still quite los maybe they could sit on top of it

charlotte x

**Annie_T** · 31-12-2008, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by mummyroysof2

annie, allthat argos stuff looks great am looking at getting hubby to make something like the last 2 links out of MDF cos he wont let me spend that much - what i asked my fella to do but he takes ages lol so said once we bit more sorted i get one hehe
how sturdy are the plastic sets of drawers cos would like a couple of them - they sterdy (have put it all together your self but takes couple mins) ive got duplo in one box, wooden blocks (bottom one) in another and play food/plates etc in other pleanty space as well to be honest

my problem seems to be all the big toys like the garage and a dinosaur rollaround toy, they just take up too much room but if i had a wooden unit thats still quite los maybe they could sit on top of it

yea i know what you mean, wilkinsons do large stackable boxes (maybe be of use for it) but like said could sit on top unit

charlotte x

hope helps hun

**sarah32** · 31-12-2008, 01:19 PM

Very lucky my hubbie is a carpenter so he's made most of my storage for me.

I give him a drawing of what I want to hold boxes, similar to the argos ones and he makes them.

Bit of nagging needed but makes them in the end.

**sarah32** · 31-12-2008, 01:20 PM

Ive got him in the frosty back garden right now making some shelfs for my daughters room.

**mummyroysof3** · 31-12-2008, 02:14 PM

oh, can he come and make me some too lol

i would at least let him work inside,

charlotte x

**mummyroysof3** · 31-12-2008, 02:16 PM

thanks annie,

im having my extension renovated in april so will get some of them drawers then was just worried they wouldnt be very strong

charlotte x

**vix84** · 31-12-2008, 02:29 PM

Im glad Im not the only one who has a moaning partner about all the toys. Its really hard as you want your home to remain a home and for your husbands/partners to feel like it is their home, but you also work from home and want to have everything that you need!

Maybe I should stop thinking about what else I can cram into the rooms downstairs, and start having Max's toys in his bedroom, and then I can rotate them. Didnt think about rotating the toys!

Does anyone have any ideas of good toys etc. to get?

I was thinking of getting a cheap blow up paddling pool to fill with our plastic balls, and a pop up tent.

Our cars have always been a hit with all ages - that has been our best buy.

Maybe I could put some toys in the loft and rotate them once a month - do you think they would be ok in boxes in the loft, or would they get damp?

**sarah32** · 31-12-2008, 02:39 PM

Sanding and cutting wood indoors, no way.

Been there, too much dust, hoovering for weeks.

Hes got his hat and coat on. He works outside all the time, hes a grown man, im sure he can cope.

**louise** · 31-12-2008, 03:37 PM

Hum, My stuff is everywhere!!i have 2 of those plastic 3 draw argos ones. They are under the stairs with bits in. I used the shoes boxes to seperate some of the craft stuff on top of kitchen cuboards. It all started in a cuboard and now has over taken that, the top of my fridge and cuboards!!

I got this from argos
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...%3ESTORAGE.htm
i havent got much room so this is good. i only have the 3 baskets but i use the shelfs for puzzles, games bulky toys.

Loux

**kirka** · 31-12-2008, 04:20 PM

just a thought, try and list them under the learning and development areas for when ofsted turn up- it does impress them.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

**patevans** · 31-12-2008, 04:30 PM

here are some pics of mine........what a tip

Think I need to sort it out

**Carol** · 31-12-2008, 04:35 PM

Storage was my biggest problem too. Especially when my own kids are 16 and 24 so we dont want to see toys equipment at the weekend.
Couldnt afford an extension so I bought a childrens cottage shed. Put an ottoman storage unit in with space underneath for 2 storage boxes and a solid pine 2 x 2 multi toy unit on wheels next to it. So in the week the children can play in it and on a friday night it takes me 10 mins max to put highchairs, equip etc and toys all away and my home is then toy free. The cottage down the garden doesnt look an eyesore either. Best thing I ever bought.

Carol

**miffy** · 31-12-2008, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by DebbieS26

My hubby is threatening to ditch the lot as to quote "you have too much and I don't think other people have this much crap"! Does this sound familiar!!!

Sounds very familiar!!!!

My trouble is I never throw anything away, keep buying more and then wonder where I'm going to put it.

Sometimes think the whole house will disappear under childminding stuff

Miffy xx