How to Organize Large Toy Playsets: The Simplest, Easiest Methods

As the parent of 4 rambunctious little ones, I’ve learned how to keep their toys organized. Large toy playsets can be overwhelming to organize. There are so many pieces and they can take up a lot of space! But there is a solution! Here are some tips on how to organize large toy playsets so that your child can find the pieces they need, when they need them. Recognizing the benefits of having a tidy playroom instead of a chaotic toy chaos will help you get started on organizing those large playset toys. Let’s explore some useful tips for keeping those large playset toys organized and accessible for your child.

Establish a place for everything

The most important part of organizing a large toy playset is establishing a place for everything. If you don’t have a place for items, they will quickly become disorganized and be difficult to locate. It may take a few times to get it right, but it’s worth it! For example, if your child has a large number of wooden building blocks, then you may want to store them in a large crate or box. A large plastic storage box, with a lid that snaps shut securely, may work really well, too. If your child has a large collection of stuffed animals or dolls, then use a large plastic storage container with dividers to store them. Alternatively, you might store the stuffed animals on a shelf or in a toy chest. Just make sure to label the storage containers or toy chests, so your child knows what’s inside.

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Use see-through storage boxes

You can use large clear plastic storage boxes to store large toy playset pieces and other large toy pieces. You can store building blocks, toy cars, puzzles, or dolls and stuffed animals in see-through containers. Toy cars can also be stored on a bookshelf and can easily be reached by your child when they need them. When storing large toys that are not likely to be used often, such as a doll house, you can use a large tote or a large plastic storage box to store the toy. This will keep the toy clean, so it can be used again, while keeping the other toys in your child’s playroom organized.

Labeling is key

For the most part, toys are used to create imaginary scenarios and stories. To help your child to remember these scenarios and stories, you’ll want to label the various pieces. For example, if your child has a doll house, you’ll want to label the rooms in the doll house so that your child can remember which room is where. You can use a small strip of paper, or a sticky note, to label each room. Another idea is to use a dry erase marker to label the rooms on the walls of the doll house. You’ll also want to label any furniture pieces in the house, such as beds, couches, tables, and chairs. You can also label bags or boxes of building blocks, puzzles, or other large toy playset pieces to help your child remember what goes with what.

Make use of vertical space

One of the easiest ways to make more room in your child’s playroom while organizing large toy playset pieces is to make use of vertical space. We all know that vertical space is at a premium in a playroom! One way to make vertical space is to use shelves. You can hang shelves from the wall in your child’s playroom, or you can install a large bookshelf or other furniture piece to hold things. You can use shelves to store large toy building blocks, puzzles, books, or magazines. You can also use a large basket to store stuffed animals, dolls, and other toys. Remember to keep heavy items on lower shelves, so they don’t tip over and fall onto your child.

Limiting the number of toys in your Playroom

I know this may sound strange coming from a person who is telling you to organize your child’s large toy playset toys! But if you have too many toys in your child’s playroom, they will never learn to put the toys away. Let’s face it, sometimes there are just so many toys out there that it can be difficult to know which to buy for your child and which to leave at the store. Let your child decide which toys they want to play with by giving them just 1 or 2 choices. Then, once they have selected their toys, you can buy just the selection. At home, you can also rotate out older toys and games that your child has outgrown or has not played with in a long time. This will make room for new toys and will help your child learn to share older toys that are still in good shape with other children. More about this below.

Choose Folding Playsets

A folding play set makes it easy to stash away when you don’t need it. It can be folded up and stored under the bed, in a closet, the garage or stored outside in the shed when not in use. This is a great option for those with limited indoor playset space. Folding play sets are also easy to move to different locations if needed. It’s important though to keep in mind that the smaller the folding size, the lighter and flimsier the frame might be.

Folding-style playsets are available in wood, plastic and even metal. While wood and metal are sturdier and more durable, the plastic versions tend to be lighter weight and easier to move around. When choosing a folding-style playset, make sure you have plenty of storage for all the pieces that come with it and that it’s easy to assemble.

Rotate Out Older Toys and Games

As you get rid of toys that your child has outgrown, rotate in new toys and games. This will keep your child interested in their playroom and their toys. They may also be more likely to put toys and games away, if they know new ones are coming in. You’ll want to consider the age and interests of your child when adding new toys and games. You don’t want to overwhelm your child with too many toys at once. You also don’t want to crowd the playroom with too many toys. This will make it difficult for your child to find the toys they want to play with.

The best option is to familiarize your child with storage options and get them to understand they can also have a set number of toys, so they will have to make room for new toys by donating or selling the older ones.

toy donation

Shelving units when possible and secure them well

Another great way to make more room in your child’s playroom is to install shelving units. You can install these on the wall in your child’s playroom, or you even use a large bookshelf. Shelving units are excellent for storing larger toys, such as a doll house, a train track set, or a large toy car collection. When installing shelving units, make sure they are securely attached to the wall and that heavier items are at the bottom. You don’t want your child to knock over the shelving units and hurt themselves. You can also use a large toy box to store larger toys if it fits. Just make sure you put them on the bottom shelf to prevent injury.

More large toy storage ideas

If you have a lot of large toy playset pieces in your child’s playroom, you may need more large toy storage ideas.

Here are some more ideas for storing large toy playset toys that worked for other parents:

  • Use a toy chest to store toys.
  • Hang a bag or two from a wall or the back of a door to store toys.
  • Use sturdy plastic baskets to store toys, such as laundry baskets.
  • Store toys in large plastic storage boxes. Just make sure they stay in good shape as cracked boxes may have sharp edges.

Get your child involved in the clean-up process

One way to encourage your child to clean up after themselves and to help them learn to put their toys away is to make a game out of it, such as teaching them to sing a clean up song. Let your child help by putting away the toys they played with while they are still interested and energetic. If your child really enjoys playing with their large toy playset toys, they may have many toys they use while they play, so you can definitely help, but make sure he or she is also a part of the process. You can also reward them by looking at the room they just made for new toys, just don’t do it too often as this will teach them to expect new toys each time they clean up.

Conclusion

Organizing large toy playset toys can be a challenging task. However, it’s important to keep these toys organized so that your child can find the pieces they need, when they need them. It’s also important to keep large toys out of the way so that other siblings or family members aren’t tripping over them. By following the tips above, you can get your large toy playset toys organized.