Every parent daydreams of having all the toys picked up and stowed away, but this dream is often unrealized as by the end of the night tired parents simply look forlornly upon the toys strewn about the floor. Sometimes parent simply don’t have the time or the energy to pick up after their children. If your children are old enough to pick up their own toys then one way to get some help is to create a simple way for them to put their own toys away.

The easiest storage device is a simple wooden box. Unfinished wooden craft boxes can be found at most craft or hobby stores along with the paint needed to finish them. Creating your own storage system will take a little time, but it will be well worth the effort.

You can create simple, kid friendly storage by using a color coded system. Purchase however many boxes are needed and different colored paint for coding the boxes. Once the boxes are painted, you can move them into the house and teach your children what toys go in what colored boxes. After some time and with some help, your child should be able to put the specific toys in the proper boxes.

This clean up process will not only get the toys up off the floor but will also help you child learn their colors. Other options are letters and numbers. If your child has their colors well established, you can number or letter your boxes and teach them which toys go in which box according to letters or numbers.

This dual purposed storage system will take some time and effort, but it will teach your children some basic skills and knowledge and it will safe you from having to constantly pick up toys. Now, this may not get the toys completely out of sight as the boxes may be located in your living room, but the toys will be organized and off the floor, which is almost as good as out of sight.