Putting away toys is one of the first steps on the path to reading. It is an excellent way for your child to learn to classify, a skill that will serve him well in math, in science, in reading. Let's talk about classifying as it relates to reading. Think about the things your child must be able to recognize to be able know one letter from another. Your child must classify by shape.
Shape is the difference between most letters.
Your child must classify shapes that face the same way. Direction identifies a b or a d , a p or a q . Your child must classify shapes that have the same rotation. Rotation identifies a b or a q , a d or a p , a Z or an N . As your child learns to put away his toys, he will learn to identify every kind of characteristic, big and little, yellow and red, rough and smooth.