Toys with Lots of Parts ARRRHHHHH!!! - Tampa,FL

We did 2 different things with these kinds of toys. When the kids were old enough to play with the lego's we got a big long skinny container at kmart and slid it under the bed. that way they could pull it out and play and then plop all the parts back in and slide back under the bed when done. the rule was all parts had to go back in when done playing. as far as the doll house just shove all the parts in and close it up. if its not one that closes then just keep a shoe box or something like that to throw the stuff in. you can do the same with the train set and race track. make it the kids responsibility to keep the stuff together and tell them you will throw away what is left out. they will learn to do it. and kids can still play with toys that are missing parts. don't stifle them with the "its garbage if you loose a pc thing" some of the best fun we had as kids were with toys my mom bought at garage sales that were missing parts.

forgot to add in the other storage thing we do. get a shoe bag from target. and hang it on the back of the bedroom door. we have these on all doors. put stuff like art supplies, music stuff, video game stuff, lego's etc in the pockets. we got the shoe bag with various size pockets. I think it was 10 bucks and has like 16 or maybe even 20 pockets. across the topo are regular sizes but the bottom ones are big enough to hold coloring books and art supplies he even has a portable dvd player in one. good luck

Okay, I feel your pain. I used smaller totes and cut the pictures off the boxes and taped them to the outside for clear identification. If the train set is really huge, use one tote for track and the other for cars and other accessories, or stick with your existing large totes for this. If you don't have the original box, then take a photo of the pieces or cut out something from one of the circulars or from the on-line site, and stick it on the outside of the tote. Kids who can't read can look at pictures. I use clear package sealing tape so it's too thick for the kids to peel off.

The next trick is, the kids get to play with ONE of these toys at a time, and they can't break out another one until this one is picked up entirely. Put some of the totes in a closet or the basement if you have to, to limit the choices. A new tote comes out when a previous one gets put away.

Let the kids figure out how to put things together even if you can't. That's the point of these toys. If they don't enjoy it or can't figure it out, it goes back in the tote for a month or two. If the in-laws want to know how it's going, they can come over and bond with the children while working on it!

We set up a spot in the basement with a special table for the track sets. All the totes went underneath the table. You could even buy a folding table at Walmart or BJ's that has adjustable legs and then the youngest kids can work at it. The tracks can stay set-up and they can vary the cars, and then it's not all over your family room.

Save the manufacturer's information and particularly the parts list - many times you can order a missing part from them, particularly if it is key to the toy's operation.

The kids can learn to sort parts for the things you already have. Make a game of it, not a chore. If you REALLY want to be organized, you can stick paper labels (like the circular ones for garage sales) or even a dot of nail polish (if you have a lot of colors) on the bottom of toys - one color for every set. Then the kids (and you) can sort all the red things into one tote, the pink dots into another, and so on.

For Legos, you can throw them all into one tote, or you can sort them by type (if for a specific set like one of those Star Wars things or the moonscapes) or just separate them randomly into gallon sized ziploc bags, and just let the kids take out one bag apiece. When done, they can push all the pieces into one clear bag, or you can use a dustpan or a beach shovel to scoop them up and slide them into the bag when it's on its side!!

It CAN be done - you just have to start out right! And don't bother trying to convince MIL to change her ways - it ain't gonna work! But she's more than welcome to come on over and sit on the floor with the kids to play this stuff with them! In fact, I think you should PLAN on a monthly play date and let her experience the same "joy" you are experiencing! Just smile sweetly and say "Now, isn't this as much fun as you thought?"

I mean sure anyone who has kids has this problem. And yes, I've been there with the totes that get emptied and toys on the floor, but really what can you do? Most toys do come with multiple pieces. I think the best thing you can do is keep working with your kids to pick up after themselves. (I know easier said that done.) Just make sure everything has a place, and then use pictures if that will help.

I totally feel your pain, too. The one thing I've found that works best at our house (although we still deal with constant messes) is open bins. We have a baby doll bin, a lego bin, a dress up bin, etc. The bags just didn't work. I guess they were too difficult for the kids. Granted, the things in the bins get mixed up but we just re-organize from time to time and it stays do-able. My bins are anything from laundry baskets to storage bins, to the little colorful drawer baskets that they sell at Walmart and Target - whatever is the best size for that particular toy. Good luck!!

That's why God made Ziplock bags!

You aren't doing anything wrong.
Look at it this way, you could be us, empty nesters who just said goodbye to our kids who live in another city. What I wouldn't give for one more Christmas with little pieces of toys all over the place.

since the inlaws forget what you tell them limit the toys. allow each child to have access to one toy that has lots of parts. put in a plastic tote and put that childs name on it.put the rest of the toys with lots of parts away and change them out every three weeks or so .the kids will enjoy them and you will maintain some order. tell inlaws too many toys with pieces are too confusing for the kids and its over whelming for them to pick up.once a day with the kids make a game out of pick up set the timer for ten minutes give them each their container and ask them to put the pieces in it so they will have them al .then reward with a star on the chart that you make. after a few times if the kids are old enough let them change and pick up for each other. you can make it fun say oh hurry only a few minutes quick quicker fast for a sticker. you would be surprised how wel l they will learn this and want to please you.then you can pick once a week for a special treat,cookie, or change to put in a bank whatever you want.just make it fun and do it young.good habits are easier to teach the younger they are taught.routine is a childs best teacher because with a routine they know what is expected and what the consequences are to not following them. if they don't cooperate then their container gets put up for a day or two.also if your inlaws see ths they may catch on especially if they see not all toys are given to the kids if there are too many parts.

i feel your pain. but at the same time, i see that many of the toys with little parts teach kids fine motor skills, and Legos are fantastic for creative development. keep working on teaching them to clean up one thing before getting out another. since you have the plastic totes, you could limit the number of small parts toys that you keep in the house at one time. put the rest in storage and rotate them every couple months or so.

I cannot wait to hear what solutions people have to this question. We have three kids and one on the way and little pieces strewn from the living room to the sun room from Christmas! Argh!

I do the bin thing and stay on my kids all the time about picking up as they go along, I also have one HUGE chest that we keep ALL Legos in (we just mix the sets), but we seem to still have tons of missing pieces for all the toys.

Good luck and hopefully we can both get some good answers here.