How do you manage the toys in your playroom? How is it organized and do you have rules about play and clean up?

Organize, what is that!! lol. I have toy shelves that are out daily and that is where I keep my toys. I have a toy shelf for my block area. Right now I have a stove, sink, and fridge for my house keeping area. I also have a toy box for my housekeeping items. I am working on getting a shelf for that area. I also have a small shelf for my writing center and working on one for the math/science area as well. All my toys that are on shelves are in baskets. I am working on labeling them all. Then I put everything that I am not using in the garage or my office.

I use low book shelves to help organize. I have everything in baskets that are labeled with the word and pictures. I have the puzzle area tidy by keeping boxed puzzles on one higher shelf (need my help to get down) and a puzzle rack with the wooden ones on the next shelf down. Blocks and lacing items have been working really well in latchable plastic containers with a handle on the lid...I think they're actually portable file boxes, but they work (from sterlite). The kids pull out the box they want and play. We chant and clap, "Blocks in the box, blocks in the box!' over and over again until they're all picked up. A muscle check is always done on the strong little guy or girl who puts the box back in place! When it's time to clean up, we don't have a special song. I got really tired of "clean up, clean up, everybody do your share....." (blah!). Usually, if they need inspiration, I'll do a slow countdown from 10, so that they can hurry along. Then, my "toy detective" will make a sweep looking for missed things. The biggest thing I've done to organize and keep things under control is to limit how many toys are available. I rotate them depending on what's getting played w/ the most and the theme.

My playroom is set up with a kitchen, table and chairs, washer, dryer, ironing boad, baby beds and changing table,all make believe household things. There is a large Barbie house and supplies in there also. I have 5 tubs with different themed toys, i.e. train and track, cars and mountain/roads, waffle pieces, etc. that I rotate. I have something called "table time" twice a day. That takes place when I'min the kitchen working, like getting lunch ready. I have 10 activities that rotate every two weeks. These are the activities that are better off with direct supervision. I rotate coloring, stamping, sissors/paper/glue sticks/, playdoh, little Legos, Laurie Toys, puzzles, clay & tools, painting, magnifying (sp?) glasses and little tiny things and a treasure box of special toys. The child who's Special Day it is gets to choose and we cycle through all ten activities every two weeks and start all over again. Even my little ones under 1yr old know what it means when I say "It's Table Time!".

I like the table time idea...I think I'll implement it.

I just have my living room and i've taken 2 chairs, we just have a couch in there now, with 4 people. Can't wait until i get my room built on. I want my living room backkkkkk.