Works For Me: Storage Idea

I had many Great Parenting Ideas before I had children, among them that no son of mine would every play with toy guns.

Then I actually had a son, and he turned bananas into rifles and peas into bullets.  And I realized that my expectations had been a teensy bit unrealistic.

I am now the proud mother of three boys and (therefore) the proud owner of every plastic piece of weaponry known to mankind.  We have rifles, pistols, light sabres, pirate swords, ninja swords, nerf guns, water guns and more.  Really, the U.S. Armed Forces shouldn't give up their hunt for weapons of mass destruction until they've had a go at our playroom.

The problem has been how to store all of this.  Toy guns and swords (especially the big ones) fit very awkardly, if at all, in most storage containers.  Recently, I had a brain storm and bought a big kitchen trash can (a new, clean one, of course).  I keep it in the corner of the playroom, and it's proven to be the best weapon storage solution I've found.  A bonus?  I bought a second one for Hot Wheels tracks.  Works for me!

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Comments

[Smockity Frocks]

Thank you, Shannon.

[ellen b]

What a great idea. I love organization and the size of some of the toys out there make it really hard. Fun also to aim and throw them in :)

[WhatWorksForMom]

Clever!!!

[Ann @ Holy Experience]

Baskets, cans, wood boxes.
Do whatever it takes, Mom. ~warm smile~

Thumbs up, Shannon!
All's grace,
Ann

[Mandy Houk]

Well, I have two of the girliest girls you could imagine, so I don't have gun storage issues. But I'm thinking this would work great for our hobby horses!

Thanks, Shannon!

[Lynnae (From Under the Clutter)]

That's a great idea! We use trash cans (the big outside size) to store outside toys. I've never thought of using a kitchen trash can for inside toys though!

[diatribal]

That's a great tip! I will remember that when my time comes. I almost posted on toy storage this week, but with my recent move, I decided that I am not one to give out organizational advice!!

Thanks for the idea.

[Karen@FamilyBriefs]

Pictures? Where are the pictures? Don't you know our tiny minds hunger for pictures?

[Christa]

Great idea, Shannon! I'm going to have to do this! With three small boys and a daddy who's a police officer, we have lots of guns, even scale replicas of the fancy ones used to spin for ceremonies! Thanks for the great idea!

[Western Warmth]

Here's my comment...Visit my blog for a tip on getting organized! Love your blog by the way, it's so fun to read.

[Michelle at Scribbit]

Yes, I thought I could have kinder, gentler boys who didn't play with guns. Then I had sons.

[jen]

boys will be boys
and boys will use their fingers as guns if necessary
I have been successful in my ban of No guns mostly I think Billy might have 1 and a light sabre but as I said cant ban their fingers or twigs can u???

[mummifiedx5]

With 4 girls and a son who's almost 16, I don't have to worry about toy guns and such anymore...it's all about small gadgets and game consoles.

[Dawn]

So far the only weapons we have are water pistols and one Ninja Turtle sword, but Hot Wheels tracks are taking over so I am going to use this great tip to get those things under control. Great tip.

[brat]

My daughter, who lives with us is expecting my first grandchild in Dec. Will be my first experience raising a boy. The no gun policy will be firmly in place. I know boys will 'make guns' from anything, but we won't bring them in the house. Guns are too big of a problem in and around our city and I can't see making them 'fun'. ugh

[Karen @ Simply A Musing Blog]

Great idea, Shannon...my kids have a storage bin with open tubs so they can just throw the junk in there and it looks somewhat organized. I like this idea too!

[Beth_C]

My son is just beginning his fascination with guns and swords. What a great idea!

[floorplan]

My son has put his favorite 'swords' on display on his bedroom wall. They prop easily on little nails, and removing them is easy, kind of like when Daniel Boone would grab his rifle from the wall just before going off to kill a 'bar'. This way he has a very manly display of weaponry, too.

floorplan

[Heather]

My husband is a hunter, so I dropped the no gun idea pretty much as soon as it formed in my head. My rule is, we never point toy guns at people. EVER.

My boys spend their days running around shooting "bad bugs" and "baddies." I feel it's a decent compromise.

[Jenny from Mommin' It Up!]

Great! My sister-in-law will love this tip for her boys!

[Lisa]

I'll never forget the day my son (5) wrapped the baby's Boppy around his waist and used the "ends" as a gun, running around the house shooting everything. That sealed it for me. He is All Boy.

[Toni]

This is a great tip. With a just turned 3 year old I am beginning to experience an overload of weaponry. Thanks!

[At A Hen's Pace]

This is a great idea. With 4 boys, we've had the same issue and solved it with those giftwrap storage boxes that fit under the bed. (We call it "the arsenal"!) But I've thought of moving the whole collection to the garage in the summers, and the trash can idea is PERFECT for that plan. Thanks!

Jeanne

[maria]

no wfmw link, but I am laughing at how unrealistic our ideals are ...BEFORE we actually reproduce. As a mom of 3 boys myself, I understand. And SOO wish I had thought of that for Hot Wheels tracks...doh

[Antique Mommy]

We buy Sean every gun/club/sword we can find hoping to encourage him away from his tea set.

[Princess Leia]

Great idea to keep in mind when AJ gets to that age. He's only 7.5 months right now, but I've already discovered several very mistaken ideas I had pre-delivery. :)

[GiBee]

EXCELLENT idea, Shannon! That's the very reason why I sit at your feet and soak in every thing I can!

[Rachel Anne-homesanctuary.com]

Great tip!

[jen]

Great idea - now if I can just remember it until we get all of that stuff!

[Tammie]

You are a genius!! I have 3 boys and have the same problem with our arsenal. But what I love most about this idea is the Hot Wheels tracks! I hate them, hate them, hate them for the very reason of storage.

Thanks!

[Vail]

Excellent Idea! I was just doing "Fall Cleaning" and organizing toys and had no clue where to put all the swords, tall guns, light sabres, etc!

[Marni]

I'm about to do the very same thing with two outside trash cans that have had the lids busted and rendered useless for outdoor trash bag storage.
My friend said she tossed out the "no toy guns" ideal when her son bit his french toast into the shape of a gun.

[phyllis]

great idea for the toys...we just had our carpet cleaned and had to put all our "big" toys down the basement, and now we love the way our playroom feels so we're going to try and leave them down there. yay for open spaces! blogger was down so i couldn't get it up sooner, i was so excited for my first wfmw!

[Heather L.]

Great idea!! I have a boy with a penchant for light sabers and this would be great for his room! Thanks!
I use a similar idea in our garage with a plastic storage tote for all if the bats, rackets, golf clubs, plastic garden/sand tools. It works very well.
Thanks for hosting!

[SAHMmy Says]

Great idea! I prefer that everything line up nice and neat, but the toys disagree! We use Rubbermaid bins in assorted sizes to corral the offenders.

[Mom of a Munchkin]

Great idea! I only have a girl so far so I'm still in the "No child shall play with guns" phase...But I remember my mom telling me how a boy changes all that. I was their first and they would even tell neighborhood boys to go away if they were playing with guns around me. But then my brother came along and every time we went anywhere he headed straight for the guns. He's now almost eighteen and has had every kind of gun imaginable as well. I guess girls and boys really are just that different!

[Jenn]

I think I am going to have to try that. With toy guns, baseball bats...all sorts of things. Thanks for sharing!

[KimC]

And for little boys made of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, what could be more appropriate than a trash can storage system?
I actually caught my girls bathing in a 32 gallon trash can this morning. It's a long story and I'm considering blogging it.
:p

[Simple_Chic]

I thought I would just jump on in after lurking these last few weeks. I too have a little boy who owns so many toy weapons that he could arm a small imaginary country all by himself. I saw this and added a trash can to my shopping list. What a great idea! I posted my Works for Me over at my new blog.

[faithful chick]

That is a great idea! I have all boys, so I will be using this one. I have my first official WFMW post out there...Yay!

[Carla]

Bless your heart! You've done it. You've solved my "weapon storage" dilemma!!! Now, to find a trashcan that coordinates with their room. :)

[peppylady]

I had the same ideal about guns before I had any kids. I only chuckle when I read your post.

[Kara]

Storage is always a problem for me too! Thanks for the tip!

[Jamie]

You all have got to go see my WFMW, not so much for the tip but that it came from my 12 year old, who incidentally also posted a little something on his own blog. So cute! Leave him a comment, he'll get a kick out of it!!

[Tracy]

That's a good idea. I am using tall wrapping paper storage boxes for the hot wheels but it takes two of them at this point. Just one garbage can would fit everything instead, and I could have the wrapping paper boxes for their original purpose.

[Jennifer]

I have one boy, after having 2 girls. I was a little worried... UNTIL HE CAME OUT! From the first second of life, this guy has set himeself apart from the gals. My mom bought him an arsenal for his birthday last year, and they just keep coming! His favorite fish? "a swordfish, 'cause I like swords." Love that boy!

[where the boys are]

OMG! That's so simple yet so ingenious!

[Fiddledeedee (It Coulda Been Worse)]

That is an awesome idea! Come to think of it, a trash can might be the perfect solution for storing all the little bitty teeny tiny Polly Pocket pieces we've accumulated. I'm thinking the trash will then look awfully nice on the curb come trash day. :)

I'm really looking forward to the weaponry phase in the next year or two. So far, he's turning his toast into automobiles. Tomorrow, the bread may become a boomerang. I'm bracing myself.

[SingForHim @ Real Life]

"Really, the U.S. Armed Forces shouldn't give up their hunt for weapons of mass destruction until they've had a go at our playroom."

I love this!

[mdessy]

My nephews shake things up everytime they are here. I'll have to pass this along to their moms.

[Stacey]

That is a very clever idea! I'll have to pass it along to my SIL who has 3 boys.

[CherieB]

Your post cracked me up because it sounds like something I would right! I too had these "ideas" that we wouldn't have toy guns at our house. Then I found out that's all my little boy wants. Ugh!

So now we have guns (and grenades and swords and...) but what a pain to store! I LOVE your idea though for trash cans! Woohoo! Thank you!!!

[HolyMama!]

oh, me TOO! i so wished my boys wouldn't care for weapons. yesterday i watched ethan turn a napkin into a gun. a chick fil a NAPKIN.

i might need a big trashcan soon.