When it comes to storing your children’s toys it’s all about efficiency and making the most of the space you have. Often times your playrooms or kid’s bedrooms will have a closet to keep some boxed items inside but not everything can be neatly organized this way.

If the toys are oddly shaped, like stuffed animals, or are played with very often, it won’t be convenient to put them on a high shelf where it’s hard to get them so here are a few solutions for stuffed animal storage.

Leticia Pfeiffer, from Styled and Organized Living, is a Certified Professional Organizer and the President of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) DFW, Texas. She says there are different options for successfully storing those teddy bears.

What to Use

“Any basket, bin or mesh contraption will work for storing all those stuffed animals. The key is working with the child to have the animals “live” in that space. We are not talking about the special ones that they sleep with which probably “live” on their bed. This is for the ones who have been demoted or never held the place of honor,” explains Pfeiffer.

Because these toys are going to be used from time to time, but not as often as the ones that stay “out” will, it’s convenient to stuff them into one of these bins because it’s a fast way to put things away and still keep the room looking great.

You can also use small storage ottomans or even hang the toys from a coat hanger (just add a little loop to the toy), or if you have the space, you can get a shelf for the stuffed animals to “sit” on. Get creative and think of what will work best in your space.

How to Make it Work

Pfeiffer says that teaching children where to store their toys works best when it’s practiced alongside them. It’s also important to teach them to be generous and donate what they no longer “need” to those other kids who may be very happy to have a new toy or stuffed animal.

She shares a good way to employ this tactic.

“Start with your empty container. If it is full, dump out all contents while sitting with your child, have them select the most loved stuffed animals and place into container. There will be a story with most of these. Listening to these stories will help you learn your child’s preferences & the “why” to what they keep. When container is full, the remaining stuffed animals are the ones going to other children who only have a very few stuffed animals & will be able to love on these “homeless” stuffed animals,” explains Pfeiffer.

If you follow these simple tips, your children will learn to stay organized and hopefully get into the habit of keeping only what they play with in the future.