Whether for the season, or just for the day, summer fun requires a lot of stuff to be put away afterwards.
Pool floaties, water blasters, those big foam noodles we all had back in the 90s (and can’t believe they still make!) – if your kids are enjoying summer to the fullest, they probably have a lot of toys that need a home. (And if it’s still summertime when you see this, they’ll need to be able to get them back out of storage more easily!)
It’s not as hard as it sounds, though! By making a specific space for the summer toys & activities to be stored, you can help prevent a mess and keep the toys right where both you and your kids will remember!
Organizing Summer Toys & Activities
The first step in organizing summer, outdoor, or pool toys is to create a special space for outdoor toys. Let’s face it – a lot of summertime toys tend to be things that can only safely be used outside, like sandbox toys or the aforementioned pool noodles. With that in mind, you should consider keeping them in a place close to the outdoors (and one that can stand to get a little dirty), such as:
- The mudroom or entryway
- The entrance to the basement, or right at the bottom of the stairs
- Inside the garage near the door (as long as it’s far away from any tools or the car)
- An unused hall closet
You get the idea! Find somewhere that can stand to get a little dirty as well as being convenient to get to on your way into the front or back yards, and you’re on your way.
Once you’ve found the right location, the next step is to figure out how to store each of the items. This will take a few different forms, depending on where you’re keeping them, and what exactly you need to put away:
- Larger toys (or even accessories like baseball hats & gloves) can be kept on coat hooks or wall hooks to keep them up and off the floor in an easily-accessible way
- Toys that tend to bring in a lot of water or dirt with them could be stored on rust-proof wire shelves to avoid damage or rust somewhere else (think sandbox toys and water blasters)
- Special outside clothing like swimsuits, shorts, or just a favorite hat could be stored in home lockers to keep them clean and out of the way when not in use
- If all else fails, smaller toys could be tossed into a plastic storage bin kept on a shelf or near the door – try to save this for more durable items, to avoid any potential damage!
Finally, once everything has a home, you’ll want to sort them out and get rid of anything that isn’t being played with anymore. Nobody ever really enjoys this step, but it can make organizing everything else a lot easier – take a look at anything that’s too broken to be fun, clothes they’ve outgrown, or toys that they just don’t play with that often, and donate/dispose of it as needed. It’ll free up a lot more space for the toys they do like, and you’ll have less to put away in general.
If you’re getting your kids ready for the end of summer vacation, or just getting them ready for bed after a fun day outside, these tips can make the cleanup a little easier for the whole family.