Drowning in toy clutter?
Girl, I see you.
If you’re an ADHD mom (or just feel like your brain’s running on three hours of sleep and too much coffee), that explosion of toys taking over your living room isn’t just mess. It’s mental overload.
You spend 20 minutes picking up blocks. Five minutes later, there’s somehow Play-Doh in your coffee mug.
You finally get those bins organized. Next thing you know, you’re finding action figures in the pantry.
Here’s what I learned the hard way: You don’t need a complete home makeover or one of those Instagram-perfect playrooms that make you feel like a failure.
You just need some quick wins. Simple stuff that actually works when your brain feels scattered.
These 12 strategies saved my sanity (and my mornings). They work whether your kid has ADHD or not.
Don’t forget to save this pin for later! Trust me, you’ll want to come back to this when you’re standing in a sea of Legos at 7 AM.
Let’s dive in 💛
1. Try the “One Bin per Category” Rule
Stop throwing everything into one giant basket.
Give each toy type its own home. Blocks get a bin. Cars get a bin. Dolls get a bin.
Use clear containers when you can. Your kid can see what’s inside without dumping everything out.
Pro tip: Label each bin with words AND pictures. Future you will be so grateful.
2. Set Up Easy-Access Toy Zones
Think of your playroom like a mini mall.
Create different “shops” for different activities. Building zone over here. Pretend play corner over there. Cozy reading nook with stuffed animals.
When everything has a logical home, cleanup stops being a guessing game.
Your kid knows where things go. You know where things go. Everyone wins.
3. Rotate Toys Like a Toy Library
Here’s a game-changer: Keep only half the toys out at once.
Store the rest in a closet or under a bed.
Every month or so, swap them out. Suddenly those “forgotten” toys feel brand new again.
Less daily mess. More excitement. No extra spending.
4. Limit How Many Toys Come Out at Once
The “one toy type at a time” rule sounds impossible, right?
But hear me out. Teach your kid to put away what they’re done with before grabbing something new.
Will it work perfectly? Nope. Will it cut your cleanup time in half? Absolutely.
Even 50% success means 50% less chaos.
5. Give Every Toy a “Home” (and Stick to It)
When everything has a designated spot, your brain gets a break.
Cars go in the red bin. Animals go in the blue one. Books go on the shelf.
No more standing there at 8 PM wondering where the heck these puzzle pieces belong.
This is especially helpful on those days when your executive function is running on empty.
6. Keep Storage Low and Simple
Don’t make toy storage harder than it needs to be.
Use open-top bins your kid can actually reach. Put shelves at their height.
They can grab what they want and put it back without calling for help every five minutes.
Trust me, this saves your sanity more than theirs.
7. Declutter Together (But Set Clear Boundaries)
Never secretly toss their toys. That breaks trust.
But make the process visual and simple.
Say: “We’re keeping what fits in this basket. You get to choose what’s most important.”
Kids actually do better with clear boundaries like this. You’re not being mean. You’re giving structure.
8. Ditch the Junk (Without the Guilt)
Those Happy Meal toys? The broken pieces? The random plastic bits that seem to multiply overnight?
You don’t have to keep them “just in case.”
Toss what’s broken. Donate what’s ignored. Give yourself permission to protect your peace.
Your home isn’t a toy graveyard.
9. Make Decluttering a Regular Thing
Twice a year, do a toy reset.
Before birthdays and holidays work great.
It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Just a simple “what do we still love?” conversation with your kid.
Keeping it part of your routine means it never turns into an overwhelming mountain of stuff.
10. Use Labels That Can Change
Your kid’s obsessions change faster than you can keep up.
Use removable labels or dry-erase ones that can evolve with their interests.
Goodbye dinosaurs, hello Pokemon. No problem.
11. Contain the Chaos to One Space
Your home should be your sanctuary too.
It’s perfectly okay to say toys stay in the playroom or a designated area.
This creates boundaries everyone can understand.
You’re not a toy-sherpa for the entire house.
12. Celebrate Every Small Win
Did you sort one bin today? Label two drawers? Clear off that one shelf?
That counts.
Every small step chips away at the chaos and gives you back a little mental space.
This isn’t about having a perfect home. It’s about progress.
And you’re doing better than you think.
Final Thoughts 💛
You don’t need to be perfectly organized to have peace in your home.
You just need systems that work with your ADHD brain instead of against it.
Simple systems. Visual systems. Systems that make sense when you’re tired.
These little changes make a huge difference. They bring order where you need it most.
Start with just one tip. Then try another when you’re ready.
Before you know it, you’ll have chipped away at the clutter without burning yourself out.
You’ve got this, mama.
Really.