If you’ve ever accidentally shredded your child’s favorite toy with the lawnmower or run over a beloved toy when backing out of the driveway, it may be a good idea to get organized and come up with storage solutions for outdoor toys.
Whether you want to set aside an area in your garage, deck or devote a section of your yard to toys, it is worth your while to take action before it’s too late. There is almost nothing you can do after you realize you’ve just pulverized junior’s favorite ball, outside of cleaning up the mess and hoping he won’t notice the toy is missing.
One way to get organized is to invest in a small shed to store outdoor toys in. Shelving can be added for the smaller items and toy mowers, toy cars, tricycles and bikes parked on the floor. Another idea is to use a playhouse for storing smaller toys. The houses come in a variety of styles and sizes, from dollhouse to castle, and this storage solution can function both as a play space for your child as well as a storage solution.
Or if you are handy, you could build a storage area for your children. The area could be an open-air carport style, mini shed or just about any style you come up with. Kiddie toys can be stored in bins or shelves. You may even be able to train the kids to park their toys in the carport when they are finished for the day.
Although it may be a challenge to get your children to put their toys away instead of leaving them strewn across the lawn, it is worth the effort to get them to take responsibility for their things. Use colorful signs to designate parking spots and storage areas to get your children involved. It may also help to remind your children that if they don’t put away their toys, sometimes the toy gets chewed up by the lawn mower never to be seen again.
For sports oriented toys, make sure you have a secure place to store the balls. One good rain with a lot of wind can send your child’s favorite ball down the street into some other child’s yard. A large plastic tub where balls can be tossed should work. Bats, tennis rackets and baseball gloves should be stored inside so they won’t be damaged by the elements. A small basket can store tennis balls and another one for birdies.
One option you might consider if you have enough room is to gate off a section of your yard for toys. You can put up some sort of plastic markers or go even further by having a fence installed. Play mowers, bubble makers and riding toys can be lined up along the fence. The space can function both as a place to play in as well as a storage area for toys when the kids are inside.
If you prefer to store toys on the deck, there are plastic storage bins that work well. The toys can be stored by size, by child or organized into categories. One box for favorite toys and another for toys that aren’t used much. Or you may want to have different colored boxes for each child. Let your children choose their color and label the box. Explain to them that the special colored box is for their toys and that it is their job to put away the toys at the end of the day.
Once you get those toys organized and cut down on the time you spend clearing them from the yard or driveway, you may just find yourself with a little free time to relax and enjoy that lawn.
