Preschool storage and organization

I have been adding to my preschool stash since I started in about 2012. To get me started, Lindsy, the creator of Preschool Alphabet blog and my sister, sent me a photo box and a 2” binder, both full of preschool things I could do with my oldest son, then 2 years old.

She got me hooked and started in the right direction. Now I have drawers and tubs and binders and bookshelves FULL of preschool things, as I now have four kids, two of which are still at home doing preschool with me!

So what do I do with all this stuff?

• BINDERS

I have since expanded from the one 2” binder I started with into six 2" binders, and can see myself adding more!

SET UP:

• Dividers for each binder, labeled with a letter of the alphabet
• After each divider, add sheet protectors for each specific theme for that letter.
      *In the sheet protectors I put:
• laminated or reusable papers
• Extra copies of printed papers
• Magazine articles or pictures
• Extra materials for activities
• Stickers
• essentially anything flat that will fit!
• Label the outside of each binder with the letters/holidays it includes!

• DRAWERS

I upgraded from the one photo box my sister gave me in the beginning to a few sets of plastic drawers (the kind you find on sale during back-to-school). I use these to store small but still bulkier items that wont fit in a binder.

SET UP:

• Dividers for each drawer. Nothing fancy here, I use pieces of cardboard with the letters written on them.
• After each divider, put items like small toys, craft items, or dollar store finds that you use for each theme of that letter.

 I have a separate set of drawers just for Holiday and party themes as well.

• PLASTIC TUBS/BINS

Lots of sizes of plastic tubs!

• Small Tubs: 
• I use their smaller tubs, about 6 quart, to store crayons, glue, markers, scissors, dot stampers, etc. We pull these out almost daily and it’s easy for set up and clean up.
• I also use these small bins for sensory play. Fill it 1/4 way with rice, beans, wheat, oatmeal, or sand. Then add themed items, spoons, cars, etc to play with in the bins.

• Large Tubs:
• I use larger tubs for the general play items that we use for a variety of days or for play time.
          *Examples of items:
• Stamps: ABC and animals
• Tanagrams
• Beads of all kinds and sizes: perler, pony, jumbo beads, etc
• Clay, Playdoh, Kinetic Sand
• Magformers
• etc!!
• I also use Large tubs for really big ABC themed items that don't fit in the drawers (kites, big airplanes, fly swatters, clipboards, etc.)

• BOOKSHELF

I feel like this one is pretty self explanatory.

• You need a bookshelf for your binders and for all the fun preschool books you have or borrow from the library!
• It also helps to put the smaller tubs in one spot on a shelf so the kids can help set up and clean up preschool too!
• Store other items you use to aid with preschool:

• Silhouette
• Laminator and laminating sheets
• Paper: printer paper, construction paper, writing paper, sticker paper

**I have a video of my set up on Instagram (under my story highlights, titled "Get Organized")

What do you do for your preschool storage and organization at home? 

-Kiley