Simplifying Children’s Play Areas for Summer

Summer holidays are wonderful — until you’re tripping over toys or can’t find the Lego base plate your child needs right now. Whether you’ve got toddlers or teens, refreshing your children’s play area before summer kicks off can save a lot of stress.

The goal isn’t to make the room picture-perfect. It’s to create a space where your children can play independently, find their things, and (hopefully) tidy up without you losing your patience.

Involve Them (Yes, Really)

Depending on their age, get your child involved in the decluttering. Give them simple choices:

• “Do you still play with this?”

• “Would you rather keep this or that?”

• “Shall we give this to someone else who might love it?”

This gives them a bit of ownership over the process and can make letting go easier.

If they’re too young, you can still do it on your own — just keep a small “maybe” pile to double-check with them later.

Categorise the Chaos

Start by grouping toys and items into broad categories:

• Arts and crafts

• Puzzles and board games

• Soft toys and dolls

• Vehicles and building blocks

• Books

You’ll instantly get a clearer idea of what you have too much of, and what’s missing pieces.

Once sorted, get rid of anything that is:

• Broken or incomplete

• Outgrown or never played with

• Annoying battery-operated toys that mysteriously no longer work (I won’t tell if you “accidentally” bin them!)

Rotate Instead of Overwhelm

Kids don’t need access to all their toys all the time. Too much choice can actually lead to boredom. Consider setting up a toy rotation — put some things away in a box, and swap them out every couple of weeks.

It keeps things fresh and encourages imaginative play.

Organise for Independence

Set up storage so your kids can reach and tidy things easily. That might mean:

• Open baskets or bins labelled with pictures

• A low shelf for books and board games

• A craft box with sorted materials in zip pouches

• A mat or tray for messier activities

The easier it is to see and grab things, the more likely they are to play and clean up independently.

Prepare a Summer Activity Zone

Create a small, inviting summer zone with:

• A table for drawing or crafts

• A basket of summer books

• Easy-to-reach outdoor toys like bubbles, bats, or balls

• A “boredom box” with puzzle books, stickers, or reusable activity cards

You can even include a few “indoor only” items for the hotter days when they’re stuck inside.

⸻

A decluttered play area doesn’t mean no mess — it just means less mess, less overwhelm, and more time enjoying summer together. You’ll thank yourself every time you hear, “Mum, where’s my…?” and you actually know the answer.