Personalized storage bins

Personalized storage bins

Winter is here and we all know that winter rhymes with coats, hats, and mittens. Having a separate bin to store each child’s items can save you a lot of time and energy. In this article, I would like to share a simple and creative way to make personalized storage bins for the children in your group. Using recycled materials (small wooden clementine crates), you can provide a simple solution, one that children will love to use to store their clothing items. To avoid having to eat the contents of eight clementine crates, you can ask parents to provide a wooden crate for their child.

For each storage bin, you will need:

• A wooden crate (like the ones clementines are sold in)
• Paint
• Decorations
• A picture of each child or a pictogram representing each child

How to make a personalized storage bin:

Creating a personalized storage bin is quite simple. If you wish, children can make their own. You can easily turn this into an arts & crafts activity. Just give each child a wooden crate and let them decorate it as they see fit. The only rule is that each child must be able to quickly and easily recognize his storage bin.

Once the crates have been decorated, stick a picture of each child (or a pictogram) on his crate. Have each child set his storage bin in his cubbyhole or on a shelf in your cloakroom. They must be able to reach them. Children will therefore be able to set their winter accessories in their storage bin. This will make finding them easy when it’s time to go get dressed for outdoor play.

When you first begin using the personalized storage bins, children will most likely require your help and support. You will have to remind them to set their accessories in their bin when you come inside. Slowly, children will realize how easy it is to use their storage bin. They will also discover how they can save a lot of time by setting their items in their bin.

For those who aren’t familiar with pictograms:

A pictogram is simply an image that represents a child. It can be a simple design or illustration. The design or illustration associated with a child shall be used throughout the daycare to identify his items or spaces: bedding, cubbyhole, crafts, circle time spot, etc. To begin using pictograms, simply select a simple image for each child. Write the child’s name on a small piece of cardboard along with the chosen image (see example). Pictograms can be used by early childhood educators AND children to identify personal belongings.

Maude Dubé, Specialized educator