Taming the Toy Tornado: 3 Sanity Saving Tips for Organizing Kid's Stuff

Let’s be honest—organizing a kid’s playroom can feel like trying to brush your teeth while eating Oreos. The chaos is real. But take heart! With a little strategy (and maybe a strong cup of coffee), you can bring order to the toy tornado.

Below you'll find my 3 top tips for getting started!

1. Don’t do it with them. 😂 I repeat: don’t. Unless your child is an organizing unicorn, it will be a trainwreck every time. You’ll end up negotiating over every crayon nub and Happy Meal toy. Put on your “parent-in-charge” hat and make the decisions yourself (with kindness, of course—you know what they actually love). You don’t need their permission to donate the 14th stuffed animal that’s never been hugged.

2. Sort by category—not by location. Grab all the toys (yes, all of them) from every corner of the house and dump them in one spot. It’ll look terrifying for about 15 minutes—but stick with me. Seeing everything together is eye-opening. Suddenly, you realize why you feel overwhelmed: you’re managing a small retail store. This trick helps you spot duplicates, see what’s actually used, and make smarter decisions about what stays.

3. Sort by “Now, Next, Never.”

• Now = fits or gets played with regularly.

• Next = will be used soon (next size, next season). Store it. And label (always!)

• Never = outgrown, broken, or just not loved (even if it’s still new in the box). It’s not serving you or your kids anymore—let it go.

  
  

  

  
  

And there you have it—less clutter, more breathing room, and maybe even a floor you can see again. 😉

If tackling toy chaos feels like too much, that’s okay! It’s what I do best. At Restoration Organizing, I help families bring peace, function, and joy back to their homes—one playroom at a time!