The Elusive Toy Library Theory

I heard about this "toy library" theory where parents keep toys to a minimum by rotating what's on display and keeping the rest hidden.

It's easier said than done.  I've been fixing a toy closet for nine months now.

Back in January we had Ladybug Girl's closet made over to encourage more independence and confidence.  Maybe that was over-reaching but these closets had ambition!

The other ambition was that hopefully the second closet will be for her sibling someday.  If you build it, it will come.

The one on the right is pretty successful.  It's her clothes and linens closet.

Ironically she hadn't shown much interest picking her own clothes.  Which is fine because I live out my stylish wardrobe fantasies through her while my body and I are not on speaking terms.  But she does fetch her nightwear for bed thanks to the low shelves. 

The closet on the left is meant to be the toy library.  

Believe me this doesn't look like progress but it is.

The goal is to keep all toys and leave-behind activity materials in one place.  Except for her play kitchen space in the family area, she would know where all her things are.  

There are some working areas like:

1.  The Dress-Up Station

Costumes and ballet gear and (sige na nga) the princess crown

Getting out her dress up things herself

She dresses up for ballet "shows" (left) and sometimes wears a crown to school (right).  

2.  The Toy Store Easy-Access Shelves:

Our very own toy store!  I also put the newer toys and gifts she received for her birthday here. 

Here she is reaching for the Orbeez toy box.

3.  The Heavily-Curated Stuffed Toy Collection:

It looks manageable here but I still wish this would be half its size.  

She does use the toys though.  One time I checked in on her during the night and caught her in the darkened room, holding a flashlight and reaching for a toy "to cuddle for sleep".

4.  Out-of-Sight Toy Stash

Toys I'm saving for future use and her Strawberry Shortcake collection for when she plays with her bed playscape.

And then there are the parts that need work, like:

1.  The Small-Toy Drawers

Zero play -- they need labels

2.  My Leave-Behind Activity Supplies

This was meant to be my storage for rotating repeat activities I would leave-behind for Ladybug Girl everyday.

This is why it doesn't work: 

Half-done ideas clutter in the spare room/library/office/dumping ground

So until I finish up that pile, those organizers aren't really being useful as a self-limiter to our toys and supplies.  But every single time I work to clear the pile, I get more ideas that I save up for when I have more time (I never do).

I'm getting to my breakpoint where I can't stand the mess and I'll just throw everything out.  That may not be a bad idea.

Overall it's still great.  I wish I had gotten started on it earlier when she turned one and all the toy store stuff started pouring in.  But since that Strawberry Shortcake Sale lesson, we keep a one-in-one-out policy.  It's also "saving the planet from trash" so she actually says she has too much toys.  It helps when she really wants something, I ask what she can give away.

I love it when she yells "Mommy!  I found the walkie talkie!" or another toy that got buried in memory and the old mess.

Rediscovering this dog walking toy after the closet rearrangement

Some toys still multiply despite the toy library.  Her father just can't resist Happy Meal toys and the occasional "guess what I have for you?" surprise.  But by this time I can tell which toys make it to a semi-permanent place in her shelves.

None of them.

So our toy closet is not perfect, but it's a good start!

See a gallery of our other play spaces here.