Putting the Puzzles Back Together – Puzzle Organization
| November 16, 2012 | Posted by bett4293 under Closets, home organization, Kids |
You have to love toys with lots and lots of pieces right! It is possible. My kids have quite a few puzzles and they love putting them together. The only problems is the boxes don’t hold up. We do have some puzzles that came in metal tins and kudos to that manufacturer for fixing a toy storage problem and aiding in puzzle organization.
I focus a lot with my kids on only getting one toy out at a time and putting that one toy away before they get another one out. Inevitably, there will always be puzzle pieces found under the couch, in the couch, behind curtains, in the pantry, I never know where they will show up. I have a place on a shelf where I collect all of these small puzzle pieces, Legos, beads, etc. Then every so often, I put all of those pieces back where they belong. It is tough to put toys back where they belong if their container is no longer doing its job.
Here is the system I have developed to deal with puzzle box failure.
I keep the box around until it is beyond repair with tape. Then I make sure we still have all the pieces. If so, I put those pieces in a plastic storage box. I cut the photo of the puzzle out of the puzzle box and place it on top of the puzzle pieces in the box. I like this system because the kids can easily open and close the boxes. They can see inside the boxes to know which puzzle it is. The plastic boxes are very durable, lightweight and inexpensive. You can even find them at the dollar store. I also like to reuse plastic takeout containers from Chinese and Thai restaurants to hold puzzles.
Take out container reused as puzzle storage
I have been checking out all the cool Christmas projects to do with kids lately as I work to plan my son’s Christmas party. You may have seen the ornaments made of puzzle pieces – a snowflake, wreath, Christmas tree, and reindeer. I have them pinned on my Christmas Tidings Pinterest Board if you want to check them out. They are really cute.
These projects have prompted me to go back through my kids’ puzzles to do some puzzle organization to see if there are any with missing pieces. I plan to use those puzzle pieces to make these ornaments with his Kindergarten class. I’m sure they will have fun with this project.
Here is a list of parties where you may find this post linked up - Party List.
Amazing!!! Sounds like the key is one toy at a time. I am sure it also helps to start with an infant. BUT you are giving your children amazing organizational skills. That is something I could never do. They just got way ahead of me.
Thanks.