Divide and conquer. Big toy boxes make it too easy for toys to get jumbled together. Better: a bin for Legos, another for action figures, another for dollhouse furniture...

Rotate the goods. Teachers say kids concentrate better on their play when they have just a few good toy choices rather than a dizzying range of options. Keep extra items in your garage or basement in boxes marked "Toys on Vacation," and swap them in every few weeks. Your house will be instantly neater.

Create activity zones. Want to have fun with colored paper, glue, and glitter? It's all neatly stored together in the Crafts Zone. Ready to read a book? Settle into a beanbag chair in the Library Corner. Use lightweight boxes or bins, especially if the room isn't really big enough for so many different "zones," so kids can move their playthings around and put them back without much help from you.

Hold off on bookshelves. Little kids have trouble reading titles on the spines and sliding the books back where they belong. Instead, store books upright in small plastic bins or baskets on the floor or a low shelf. (Shelves are fine once your child's around 7.)

Craft supplies

Keep a vinyl tablecloth with the art supplies. It'll be on hand to protect the table or rug (skip disposable ones: not sturdy enough).

Toss the flimsy crayon boxes. Same goes for the marker and colored-pencil boxes. Instead, put drawing tools into lidded boxes or bins. And don't bother saving every free crayon you've collected from restaurant visits. Teachers say most kids just grab the top two or three anyway.

Make a marker-saver. Little hands often can't push tops back onto markers, so they dry out. One alternative: Fill ice-cube trays with plaster of Paris mix. While wet, insert marker tops with openings faceup; let dry. It's easy for kids to push a marker back into its rightful top (or any top!).

Separate supplies for easier access. Small zip-lock plastic bags can hold scissors, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, and more (store the bags together in a plastic bin). Keep colored or drawing paper uncrumpled by storing it in large plastic envelopes, accordion files, or stacking trays.

Teri Cettina has also written for Real Simple and Better Homes and Gardens.