Take control of the mess and reclaim the valuable space you formerly held.

These straightforward suggestions will help you restore control if having your family stay at home all day, every day, has made your home feel disorganized and your days and evenings feel rushed.

1. Reduce the clutter

No matter how well-organized you are, having too many toys will always result in a mess waiting to happen in your home. Fortunately, it's much simpler than it sounds to convince kids to part with their belongings.

The key is to give them a chance to express who they are and what interests them. Kids should be encouraged to collect "baby toys" to donate and toss out any items that no longer hold their attention, like action figures from a long-gone TV show. They will be able to recognize how much they have developed and rediscover their favorite toys by separating these toys.

2. Choose toys wisely

It pays to be picky when purchasing toys as you'll likely be stuck with them for a while. Only buy gifts for holidays, special occasions, and prizes to give your child more of a sense of purpose. Don't be afraid to urge family members to do the same.

Avoid toys that are cheaply produced, inappropriate for the child's age, excessively huge, useless, or related to a movie unless you've been watching it nonstop. The greatest toys, like Legos, wooden train tracks, and dollhouse sets, are adaptable, inspire imagination, and are simple to build upon.

3. Leave some toys out of reach

Play dough and puzzle pieces should be stored on the top shelf of the closet if you frequently discover them there. You may spend more time with your youngster by designating these dirty toys as "family toys" rather than wiping pen stains out of the drapes.

Try to save a tote of games, puzzles, and toys for rainy days as well. This makes sure you'll always have a gimmick ready for when a boring cousin comes to visit or on sick days.

4. Set boundaries

Don't worry if toys are already strewn across every surface in your home. Set some ground rules for your home, such as "no toys in the kitchen" or "limit the number of toys out overnight," to rapidly restore order.

Even if it could sound a little harsh, children often respond better to clear expectations and few surprises. Because of this, it's crucial to finish what you start each night, regardless of how worn out you may feel.

5. Give kids ownership

Toy collection doesn't have to be monotonous. As long as it's a positive experience, organizing and cleaning up may be enjoyable for babies, toddlers, and older children alike. This means that you should give people ample time to enjoy themselves without having to count to three or yell empty threats.

Setting aside additional time for cleaning up is fantastic because you and your child can engage in enjoyable activities like using a blanket to scoop up blocks or a tricycle to transport toys across the house. Your child will ultimately pick it up on their own if you make it fun enough.

6. Give every toy a home

Picking up can be a real pain if you don't have a straightforward strategy in place. There is a better approach than dumping everything into a single large toy box.

Where your child can easily put toys away and retrieve them on his own, buy a number of coordinating plastic bins and arrange them in a line along the wall. Set aside a box for Legos, another for plush animals, a third for train lines, and so on.

For smaller toys like dolls and matchbox cars, use stacking plastic boxes. Store puzzle pieces, doll outfits, and other annoyances in Ziploc bags to further organize them.

7. Hit the books

It's not in your head. If you wait much longer, that stack of picture books next to the couch will probably grow to be a huge mass.

Even worse, as each night passes, your child utilizes those books as an excuse to put off going to bed. Because of this, it's crucial to either keep the books in your child's room or to store a few of their favorites in a basket for quick access. Source: Zillow