Mine do not make a mess with toys. The toys are always kept neat by the kids. Brody is very toy centric and will put all his toys 'where they belong' per Brody. He will get down to pick them up off the floor if they fall off of the love seat (toy box # 1) or our bed (toy box # 2) so they are always 'put away' and will tote them from an 'incorrect' toy box to the 'correct' toy box for that particular toy...and he knows each toy by name and where it 'lives'...per Brody!