Are your children’s stuffed animals
constantly underfoot and multiplying? Fortunately, there are solutions that will
create order and corral those critters out of chaos.
- Spend time editing each child’s collection with your children participating in the process. Make this as painless as possible and encourage them through compromise. For example, ask them to find 20 stuffed animals they want to keep. They may counter with a higher number so start low.
- Another option is to find a meaningful place to donate their excess that will help your children feel good about letting go. Local police departments, shelters, churches and hospitals may accept them if they are in excellent condition.
- After editing their collections, you are ready to contain and store. Look for simple, accessible options that appeal to your children, otherwise they will remain on the floor.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Stow them in a small hammockhung from the walls or on shelving.
- Attach shoe pockets to the back of the door for small stuffies.
- Use laundry baskets, wire baskets or hanging fabric closet organizer with shelves.
Nothing is going to guarantee the stuffed
animals will be put away. That is where you come in with a daily tidy up
routine. All the toys and animals return
to their homes at the end of the day—except the precious few they sleep
with.
Limit their sleeping companions to
a range, maybe 2-4, instead of a set number. This will give them some control
over the matter and there will be less to clean up in the morning.
What will you do to tame the stuffed
critters in your house?
**I have a few affiliate links in this post - this does not mean you pay a dime more for the product when you purchase through my link. It just means I made it easier for you to find what you might like, so I make a few cents if you purchase. I SO SO SO appreciate when you support Organizing Made Fun. Thank you!!** Like what you see here? Consider becoming a follower or subscribe via email!
When my kids were little, I scrounged an empty carpet roll. I painted it and cut it to fit floor to ceiling. I think I had someone cut me a piece of wood to fit in the bottom for a snugger fit. I used screw in cup hooks. Then I sewed plastic rings on the back of the stuffed animals. We hung the animals on the hooks. It was cute and the kids could help hang up their own stuffed animals. It was easy to rotate the most favorite ones to the bottom. The kids called it the Animal Tree. It was fun to make and fun to use!
ReplyDeleteWe just organized a large amount of books in my little girls room last weekend. She loves being organized (she is 7). It made us take a look at the amount of stuffed animals that she had (way too many). It is amazing how that happens without even trying. This weekend we will be taking a look and eliminating the stuff animals. We have a wicker basket that they are kept in and when that overflows, some must go.
ReplyDeleteI know how quickly the stuffed animals can get out of control, so I'm trying to stay on top of the population while my little one is still pretty young. I just hate the look of the hammock, which was popular when I was a kid.
ReplyDelete