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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Toy Storage Ideas...
ABCDaycareMN 12:29 PM 11-06-2012
First off, I have a very small space (townhouse). I am using my whole house (besides my bedroom) for childcare. I need ideas for toy storage. I am very organized and I hate messes.

At first I was thinking about getting a cube storage unit.. Anyone have one, does it work for you?

Otherwise i was thinking about getting plastic storage unit with drawers but think about little fingers getting stuck often...

What do you use? It will be in my main living space/dining room so want it somewhat organized and attractive as much as toys can get...
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DCMom 12:35 PM 11-06-2012
IKEA.

So many choices for storage, especially if you are combining childcare and your living space.

I am also in MN and often go to the store to just get ideas in their displays. I personally love the Trofast drawer system, but there are many choices.
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littlemissmuffet 12:45 PM 11-06-2012
I have cube shelving along the walls of the playroom - all the toys, puzzles and books are nicely stacked and sorted into baskets on the shelves. Larger toys are stored in larger baskets/bins which look nice when placed in the corners of the room.
I think the plastic drawer towers look kind of junky and they aren't very sturdy... I just use them to store crafts.
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MonkeyingAround 01:28 PM 11-06-2012
Hi! I am in the same boat as you. I am "opening" my daycare in january and would love to hear everyone's ideas. I have 4 kids of my own and they go downstairs to our unfinished (but carpeted) basement to play with their toys.

I hate clutter too and I just plan on bring up a few bins of toys every day and rotate the toys for DC's. Think that would work?
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LK5kids 03:51 PM 11-06-2012
I have identical low shelves that school supply compaines sell (like discount school supply) that my husband built. I have lots of nice, matching, red tubs from when I taught kindergarten. I make sure toys stay sorted. That's about it.
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LK5kids 03:54 PM 11-06-2012
Originally Posted by MonkeyingAround:
Hi! I am in the same boat as you. I am "opening" my daycare in january and would love to hear everyone's ideas. I have 4 kids of my own and they go downstairs to our unfinished (but carpeted) basement to play with their toys.

I hate clutter too and I just plan on bring up a few bins of toys every day and rotate the toys for DC's. Think that would work?
I think that would work if I was doing child care right in my family room or living room. I'd have to clear it out at night too. That's why I've always had a separate area for my child care center. But what about a kitchen set? There are small, toddler kitchens that could be easily moved each night and kids play just as well with those.
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ABCDaycareMN 04:19 PM 11-06-2012
Originally Posted by LK5kids:
I think that would work if I was doing child care right in my family room or living room. I'd have to clear it out at night too. That's why I've always had a separate area for my child care center. But what about a kitchen set? There are small, toddler kitchens that could be easily moved each night and kids play just as well with those.
I already have a kitchen set. I really like the ikea idea, but spendy. For now, i just brought my daughters toy box downstairs until i can get something to actually sort everything and i can get rid of the bins in the garage of separate toys.
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TheMonkeyFam 04:38 PM 11-06-2012
We currently use a s all bookshelf and some canvas handled totes. I keep mostly bigger toys. I will be buying some of the shelving units from ikea when I have the money. I love that you can adjust the size of the bins to fit the toys you have.
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providerandmomof4 04:42 PM 11-06-2012
I recently bought several stack-able clear bins. I put all the legos in one, all the play kitchen stuff in another, link-o's in another, barbies and accessories in another. (anything that I have way too much of) The problem I'm having is, I'm having a hard time utilizing the toys I put up so neatly in bins. I secretly don't want the kids to get the toys out that are so neatly put up, and make a humongous mess again!
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ABCDaycareMN 05:36 PM 11-06-2012
Originally Posted by providerandmomof4:
I recently bought several stack-able clear bins. I put all the legos in one, all the play kitchen stuff in another, link-o's in another, barbies and accessories in another. (anything that I have way too much of) The problem I'm having is, I'm having a hard time utilizing the toys I put up so neatly in bins. I secretly don't want the kids to get the toys out that are so neatly put up, and make a humongous mess again!
I have done this also. With Thomas and dolls. I have one bin out and that's the choice for that time. When all are done with that toy another can be brought out. I find that was fair and all learn to share. I haven't had an issue yet with boys not wanting to play with dolls or girls not wanting to play with Thomas. There are just so many pieces to both on them I dot want them all mixed up.

Ps my son was addicted to Thomas so he has a LOT and I do mean A LOT!
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biglou 06:50 PM 11-06-2012
agree, Ikea is the best all around on balancing cost and style. quality is good enough to go a few years. billy shelf system and trofast dominate my facility.
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Scout 07:04 PM 11-06-2012
How about some cube ottomans that the kids can also sit on? Might be pricey but, they look nice.
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Crazy8 07:12 PM 11-06-2012
I have the cubical storage units in espresso. Have a few of them in my playroom and even have 1 9-cube unit in the corner of my family room for my own son's toys. I have nice wicker baskets in that one, the cheaper canvas bins in the ones in the daycare area.
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Meeko 07:36 PM 11-06-2012
I have cubby storage in my playroom and clear containers from Walmart. See my post "finally moved into the basement"

I got the cubbies with drawers last week from Sams Club for our front area. Each child has a cubby for their belongings and yet it still looks nice. I wasn't liking the plastic drawer units we had been using. We bought three units. Loving it.
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EAP 10:20 AM 11-07-2012
Ikea - trofast !! Love it!!
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EntropyControlSpecialist 10:33 AM 11-07-2012
We have the birch shelves you can buy at Discount School Supply that have 3 levels of shelving (not the low toddler kind, the kind meant for Preschoolers). They work fantastically.

We also have 2 of the stands with the tilted, plastic bins in them. One of them holds most of the Home Center items and the other holds Lego Duplos sorted by color.
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ABCDaycareMN 10:55 AM 11-07-2012
Does ikea ever offer any discounts? Like spend so much get 15% off? Lol I like to save whenever I can
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LK5kids 12:11 AM 11-08-2012
One thing is for sure....kids don't play well from a toy box. If everything is thrown in and mixed up it becomes a problem. Kids play sooooo much better if toys are kept in separate bins.
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LK5kids 12:14 AM 11-08-2012
Originally Posted by Meeko:
I have cubby storage in my playroom and clear containers from Walmart. See my post "finally moved into the basement"

I got the cubbies with drawers last week from Sams Club for our front area. Each child has a cubby for their belongings and yet it still looks nice. I wasn't liking the plastic drawer units we had been using. We bought three units. Loving it.
This unit is from Sam's? LOVE it!
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Michael 01:10 AM 11-08-2012
https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=toy+storage
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heather 12:51 PM 11-08-2012
I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. I keep most of the toys in the living room in I think you would call it a cube unit? It is a cubed shelf with colored boxes that fit in each cube and it reaches nearly to the ceiling. Then I line up big toys on top of the shelf. I organize the toys so that for ex all the Little People are in 1 box, all the dolls and doll clothes in another box, etc then all I have to do is take 1 box down (2 if you have a big group) and the kids have something to play with. I like it that I can control how many of the toys come out at once--before this system ALL the toys were child height and it was not good... I got the shelf at IKea but I'm sure you could also just use a normal shelf and tubs. I like this one because it looks nice for our living room and we got mirror doors to go on some of the cubes.
Other than that I have little hiding places... the piano mat goes under the couch... dress up stuff hung on the back of the bedroom door.. we have more shelves in the kitchen where the art supplies, play dough etc go.
And another smaller shelf with tubs for blocks in the kids room. Basically every room has a shelf and what doesn't fit on the shelves gets thrown out. It is a challenge to keep everything neat and orderly!
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coolconfidentme 01:04 PM 11-08-2012
Stack & mount milk crates on the wall. Mix & match colors...
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melilley 03:47 PM 11-08-2012
I agree, plastic drawers look junky. The storage cubes that you can buy in 6, 8, or 9 cubes look nice and are functional and you can get the fabric drawers in many colors to hold some of the toys. Also, the toy storage units that you buy that are wooden and have plastic bins in are useful too. Try doing a search of "pictures of in home daycares" this is where I got some of my storage ideas. I am using my front living room for the main play space and too have a limited amount of space to put toys and things.
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Meeko 06:39 PM 11-08-2012
My Sams Club cubbies have worked out great. I got rid of the plastic. The bins are large and hold a lot and keep it hidden. My entry looks better now I think.

The pot holding the pens at the entrance says "Ashes of Problem Clients" One of my awesome DCM's bought it for me!!!! Next to that is the dreaded "red folder" that is open at 6PM and late fees apply!
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ABCDaycareMN 07:01 PM 11-08-2012
Originally Posted by Meeko:
My Sams Club cubbies have worked out great. I got rid of the plastic. The bins are large and hold a lot and keep it hidden. My entry looks better now I think.

The pot holding the pens at the entrance says "Ashes of Problem Clients" One of my awesome DCM's bought it for me!!!! Next to that is the dreaded "red folder" that is open at 6PM and late fees apply!
Are you sure you operate a daycare? LOL J/k!!!

I love those SAMs club cubbies. I'm debating on getting rid of my fish tank to create more space for storage. I am not going to purchase anything until I actually get my license and get kids in and have an income. All these suggestions are great! Hopefully when I move I will have a much larger daycare space!
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Meeko 05:01 AM 11-09-2012
Originally Posted by ABCDaycareMN:
Are you sure you operate a daycare? LOL J/k!!!

I love those SAMs club cubbies. I'm debating on getting rid of my fish tank to create more space for storage. I am not going to purchase anything until I actually get my license and get kids in and have an income. All these suggestions are great! Hopefully when I move I will have a much larger daycare space!
Over the years I have learned to "think storage". In my photos, the room doesn't scream "daycare". But we use the room all day and it's packed with daycare stuff. I have another playroom too, but we use this room for quieter activities. The parents sign in by the door and put coats etc in the cubbies. I didn't label them as I didn't want to and the parents know which one is their's anyway. Shoes are removed and placed in bins under the bench by the cubbies.

The couches are skirted. Board games and puzzles are stored in under-bed containers than wheel out.

The coffee table is huge (perfect for our family for snacks etc while watching TV) and has two huge drawers. These contain more games and books. Between the couch and loveseat is a wicker ottoman. This holds daycare storage too.

The lateral file you see (with the "family" decor on it) holds all my daycare info....art project ideas, calendars, blank contracts etc...all filed neatly. I chose this cabinet because it looks more like furniture than a metal filing cabinet.

I want a functional daycare. And I have areas designated JUST to daycare, but I wanted my family room to still look like a family room at the end of the day, so the "kid" part is more hidden.
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