Do you ever feel like you live in a toy store? Most families have a hard time avoiding mountainous eruptions of toys that trickle throughout their homes. There are ways to find a happy medium, so you don't have to feel like your house is being taken over by monster trucks, dolls, children's books and flashing musical instruments. We may not be able to hide our children's tracks through our home entirely, (and who would want to, anyway?), but we can keep toys in check with these simple organizational tips.

Less is Less

Children are all for having "too much of a good thing," but we can teach them how to scale back to keep everyone's life more sane! For every new toy or book that comes into your home, one should be donated to charity or put into storage if you plan on saving them for a younger sibling. Convincing your little ones to adhere to your "out with the old, in with the new" policy shouldn't be too difficult. Most kids will happily part with an older toy, as long as it doesn't have sentimental value, to welcome a new addition to their toy box. *Top Tip: Also keep in mind that toys aren't the end all be all in childhood entertainment. Spending time outdoors, in parks and museums and partaking in family activities rounds out playtime and cuts back on the need for tons of toys.

Enlist Kids to Help with Clean-up

Teach your children from a very young age to put away their toys and books when they've finished playing with them. A fun way to encourage this habit is to purchase bins for each type of toy: plush toys, musical instruments, Legos, trucks, etc. Take a picture of each set of toys, perhaps as your child plays or poses with them, and then tape the photograph to the outside of the bin. This will enable your child to see exactly where his toys need to go during clean-up.

Book Smart

Purchase a small bookcase to house all of your children's books. Make sure it is topple proof and sturdy before  acquainting your child with her reading niche. Teach her to put away her books when she's finished reading them. Kids love to sort and stack books, so this activity will give them pride in their book collection, and help nourish their love of the written word.

Decide What "Look" You're Going For

Some parents want to camouflage their children's toys and belongings, while others are happy to have them out in the open as part of their home decor. If you want to maintain a more sophisticated home appearance, there are a variety of sleek baskets and containers that will conceal toys when they're not in use. You may also store toy containers under a bed or in a closet, and only take them out at playtime. If you're lucky enough to have a designated play area in your home, opt for cute, child-friendly toy storage boxes so your kids may easily access their entertainment. *Top Tip: Don't buy storage containers or toy boxes that have heavy lids or hinges, as you want to avoid any injuries from lids slamming closed or hinges pinching your child's fingers.

Routine Round-Up

Staying on top of toy clean-up and organization is essential. Daily maintenance is required so things don't get out of hand and you aren't tripping on remote controlled cars on your way to make dinner. Sometimes toy clean-up is required several times a day, but it is worth the effort to maintain a sense of decorum, and safety in your home.

If you're a parent, you know that life will never be the same now that you have children. In the same vein, our homes will always be touched by their wonderful musings. Go easy on yourself and your children if your home is less than perfect! The above tips should help you find a comfortable way to live amongst all of your children's gear and reverie!