Organize Your Child's Stuffed Toy Collection

A large stuffed toy collection can make it significantly more difficult to keep your child's room neat and tidy. In fact, sometimes even a small stuffed toy collection can be challenging. Most stuffed toy collections consist of some animals that a child plays with on a regular basis - or even sleeps with each night - in addition to many other animals that they play with less frequently. In some cases, a child might not even play with most of their stuffed toys at all. If you are faced with the dilemma of organizing a stuffed toy collection, here are some tips that can help.

Start by Sorting

Although most children are hesitant to part with any of their stuffed toys, it can be useful to at least attempt a sorting and possibly even a discarding process. If your child has a few favorites, these of course need to be kept even if they are in a tattered condition. However, sometimes you might find that your child has outgrown some of their stuffed toys. Or, some of the less-favorite toys might have become damaged, dirty or worn. In these cases, you might be able to convince your child to whittle their toy collection down to a more manageable size. However, this sorting and discarding process should always be done with your child's consent and permission. Once you are down to only the toys he or she plans to keep, you should further divide them into toys they play with frequently and those that they do not.

Storage and Display Methods

If your child has a few favorite stuffed toys that they sleep with every night, chances are you'll just want to store them in a place of honor on your child's bed. However, the bed is not a good storage spot for other stuffed animals. Storing too many stuffed toys on a child's bed will make it difficult for them to go to bed at night or make their bed in the morning. When this happens, the end result is often a messy pile of stuffed animals tossed in a pile on the floor. Instead, you should provide your child with appropriate storage facilities for their toys. A toy hammock or sling hung in the corner or on the wall behind your child's bed is often an excellent choice. Not only are the toys kept neatly contained, but they can also add a decorative look to the room. A toy hammock will also make it easy for your child to retrieve a toy if they decide they want to play with it.

If your child has a number of stuffed toys that they basically never play with, you could display them on a high shelf near the ceiling of the room. When displayed in this fashion, a large stuffed toy collection can really add a decorative and stylish look. In fact, many teenage girls decide to display their childhood stuffed toy collection in this manner. A bookcase or shelving unit can also provide handy storage in a more accessible fashion. A toy box can also be used, although this storage method can make it more difficult for your child to find a toy when he or she wants to play with it. Once you've decided on a storage method, work with your child so that he or she always puts their stuffed toys back where they belong.