Today was the third day of appointed cleaning and reorganization of the playroom/schoolroom. It has been deep cleaning. The cleaning has been so deep that after three days, the floor of random stuff looks no better than when I started.
We have about 8 large bins of toys that are systematically pulled out throughout the month for play. The bin usually consists of about 8 toys. Only one bin is allowed to be out at one time, and it usually remains out for about three days before the kids remind me that I haven't replaced their bin.
By the end of 4 months I have a generous accumulation of parts and pieces that have come out of the bins during play, and never found their way back to the proper bin home. So at the end of 4 months, all bins come out and the lids are lifted for the missing parts to be reunited with the toys, games and puzzles. This is always a magical day of delight for the kids, as it feels like Christmas to have all bins open at once. It is a day of hard core play.
Naturally this task takes twice as long as the kids are pulling things out faster then I can put them back. However, I have to remind myself each time I do this how much easier our toys have been to manage since we instituted "bin play". And then, right after that thought, I wonder why I don't pull all the bins out at once more often...especially during those "Kids I need you to play hard all day so Mommy can get something done today" days.
I will be trying something different this month, as I have noticed that those things at the bottom of the bin don't get pulled out. I've made room on one of our bookshelves to place the bin toys out in the open and more accessible (rather than having to dig through a deep bin). This may also help give the room a feel that it is always changing. We'll see...
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