De-clutter your kids' spaces!

Now is a great time to have a sort out: encourage the children to help for that proud, teamwork feeling!

Sort out the toys and games

Now is a great time to have a sort out: encourage the children to help for that proud, teamwork feeling! Start with a couple of cupboards or boxes and find all the bits and pieces which belong to each toy or game; if something is missing an essential component then you may have to chuck it (unless it’s special and you want to call the manufacturer to track down a replacement). Repair all box lids (sellotape is fine): find some old shoe boxes or ice cream tubs to accommodate the fiddly bits.

If there are items that your child has grown out of or simply never plays with, put to one side for the local charity shop or jumble sale. It’s really worth holding onto good stuff for younger children or little cousins so find space in the loft.

Once everything is fixed and sorted take most of it away and put it in a cupboard which is not on view to your child. You will find that if you have just a few options available at a time they will gain much more pleasure and play for longer. You can rotate the toys perhaps on a weekly basis and it will seem to your kids that they have a whole new set of toys!

How to store toys and games

You want to encourage independent play and you also should encourage your child to help in clearing up their toys so the storage needs to be accessible and have enough space to accommodate everything easily.

Baby toys tend to be soft or have one component so these are easily stored in an open container such as seagrass storage baskets or colourful polypropylene storage tubs.

Toddlers often have toys with lots of removable bits and these can end up at the bottom of a large box and become lost. A low, open unit with castors is just the right height and can be filled with separate baskets of toys. A basket is light enough for the kids to take from the shelf themselves.

Older children may have fewer toys with which they play often - construction sets or dolls for example. Providing a permanent surface for these games can be useful and means that the game can continue for days on end. The Urchin Low Play Table is perfect!

Other Clutter

Keep seasonal clothes or bedding in a blanket box not in the everyday chest of drawers or wardrobe – it forms a good seat for all the inevitable soft toys at the foot of the bed.