We're sure the toys under the tree have increased your children's collection since last Christmas. We also know how attached they are to their superheroes, toy cars, dolls, constructors, stuffed toys, etc. And we can't blame them! We’ve all been kids and have surely had a few favourite toys that were hard to part with. In this guide, we'll offer a few helpful tips related to how to pack and store toys when moving, which will hopefully contribute to the wide smiles of little ones after moving into a new home.
How to prepare the toys for moving
The first step to successful packing and storage of the toys when moving is their preparation. Here is what it includes:
Cleaning
We are sure that the collection of the younger ones is often on the floor, behind the beds, or under the sofa. Cleaning the toys will, on the one hand, ensure the safety of the children, and on the other, save you effort when moving into a new home. Depending on the type of toys, cleaning them has its subtleties. For example, you can clean plastic toys with wet wipes containing alcohol to minimise bacteria. Another alternative is to wash them with water and detergent. For wooden toys, you should use a minimal amount of water, while stuffed toys can go straight into the washing machine—a gentle programme, of course. You can also follow the label instructions on the toys. If something bothers you, the safest option is to wash them by hand. Make sure you give yourself at least one extra day to get the toys ready. This is especially true in the winter when they would dry more slowly.
Sorting (by type and breakability)
The next step in our guide on how to pack and store toys when moving involves sorting them. You can sort them both by type (cars, dolls, stuffed toys, electronics, wooden toys, outdoor play supplies) and by their breakability. More fragile toys will certainly require extra care in packing and transport. In addition, if you still haven't managed to clean all the toys, then make sure you store the dirty and clean ones in separate boxes. Another tip is to pack your child's favourite toys in a separate box that is handy in the first moments after relocation. This way, the child will feel engaged while you unload belongings and arrange your home.
Donating toys
Last, but not least, before you start packing up the toys, decide which ones you actually want to part with. In most cases, children's collections are large, making it difficult and slow to carry them. In addition, many of the fairy tale and movie characters often stand unusable. An excellent alternative is instead of throwing them away, to donate them to those in need or give them to families with younger children. You can search for worthy causes online and on social media, a process that is unlikely to take more than 10 minutes but is sure to make truly needy children happy.
How to pack and store toys for relocation: Get help from your kids
Involving the little ones in the process of packing and storing the toys would be your ultimate success. How to do it?
Music
First, make sure you put extra effort into the atmosphere when moving. Play the kids' favourite music, set the mood, and let them have fun while packing. A positive mood will not only ensure you complete the moving tasks smoothly but will also leave you with a nice memory.
Responsibility
Show the children that you really count on them. This is one of the answers to the question of how to pack and store toys when transporting. This way they will feel that you accept them as adults capable of taking care of their belongings themselves. Communicate clear rules and guidelines for cleaning and packing toys, and make sure that kids have labelled and signed the contents of all boxes correctly.
Reward the kids
Show your appreciation for a job well done and treat them to a favourite treat or a much-anticipated experience, like a movie night. This way, they'll also feel stimulated to join in upcoming activities like tidying up the toys after moving into the new family home.
How to pack toys for a move
We proceed with packing the toys, which requires getting the right materials; a task also involving extra time before the actual relocation. Here's which aspects of toy packing you shouldn't underestimate.
Getting the right materials
Among the packaging materials needed are cardboard boxes of various sizes, paper, bubble wrap, tape, markers, and labels. We advise you to wrap the toys individually in several layers of paper before placing them in the moving box. This will ensure that no scratches will occur on the toys if they are knocked over. Also make sure you place the heaviest and bulkiest toys at the bottom of the box. Placed on top, they can break the more fragile ones. Different sized boxes, on the other hand, will help you isolate excess space and reduce collision between toys during movement. Another alternative is to place bubble wrap in the gaps, which is resistant to strong collisions and will protect the items in the box if it is dropped or knocked over. Duct tape is necessary to further secure the boxes, and we advise that you do not just place it over the opening but wrap the box with it on all sides along its length and width.
Using the original boxes
In case you keep some of the toys’ original boxes, it would be best to use them for transportation. They have the appropriate shape and elements in which to place the toys and their additional components (incl. accessories). This reduces unwanted movement during transportation. The original boxes are especially important when it comes to electronics and more expensive toys under warranty, such as remote-control cars, toy vehicles, moving and singing toys, joysticks, etc. Don't worry if you intend to use a larger moving box. This wouldn't be a problem since you've already secured the toys by placing them in their original packaging.
Always put the labels
Among the answers to the question of how to pack and store toys when moving is to label individual boxes. That's where markers will come to the rescue. Labelling the boxes will help you organize them more easily and quickly after moving, and you never know when the kids will want to play with a particular toy.
Getting creative
A great way to involve the kids in the process of preparing the toys for moving is to motivate them to paint the boxes. They can make drawings of the toys in the corresponding box or execute another creative idea. This way, they will feel busy during the relocation preparations, and you can get on with the remaining tasks.
How to store toys for a move: Tips and tricks
Toy boxes
One trick to storing toys during and after a move is to purchase boxes made of fabric or another more stable material. In these, you will be able to stow the toys (again, by category) and then put them directly into the moving box. Make sure the empty spaces are filled with paper. This way, after the relocation, you can simply take the toy storage boxes and place them in a location of your choice: directly on a shelf, in a cupboard, under the bed, etc. You'll create order in your home, avoiding toys scattered on the floor and on the sofa, thinking practically a few moves ahead.
Keep the painted boxes
If the child is really creative and has enjoyed the painting, you can keep the moving boxes and store the toy collection in them for a long time. This will not only encourage their work, but also make the most of the cardboard boxes, allowing you to use them the next time you move.
Think out of the box… literally
Boxes are not the only option for storing and arranging toys. As we have already written in our small apartment storage ideas, you can buy special shelves for the door. They are metal, hook onto the door, and provide you with not only extra space, but also the order you're looking for in a home full of little ones. Shoe organizers, again designed to hang on a door, can also be adapted to stash toys. And if you live in a two-story home, you can use the space under the staircase to store toys. Another alternative is to opt for multifunctional furniture, such as a table with storage space or a stool that can also house a stuffed character. Last but not least, beds with built-in sections underneath would do an excellent job when it comes to toy storage.
Sort in stages
We all know that children are lovers of an abundance of toys and often want to have the latest movie or fairytale characters in their collections. Most likely, you too are the kind of parent who has spent a long time trying to separate the little ones from the brand-new toys on the shelves in children's stores. And despite the overwhelming initial passion, kids easily get fed up with their plastic friends, games, and children's books. That's why make sure you sort through their toys, parting with the no longer usable ones. This can happen every spring, for example, or even more often—a small task that will free up space at home, making it easier to store toys.
How to pack and store toys for a move: Must-Have Items
At the end of today's guide, we'll offer you a simplified checklist of everything you need when it comes to packing and storing toys when moving. Make sure you have:
- Cardboard boxes of different sizes (small, medium, large)
- Paper and bubble wrap
- Labels
- Coloured markers
- Tape
- Cleaning materials (such as wet wipes)
- Toy storage boxes
- Door rack (or shoe organizer)
Hopefully, just like Lego, you have managed to build a workable relocation plan with toys at hand. If packing and storing toys isn't the only challenge you face when planning a recent move, then contact a Movega Removals representative. The company has rich experience in removal services, available in as many as 33 countries. Submit specific questions to us now via our chatbot feature or the available online contact form.
