Choose the category before the label
Start with three containers that already have clear jobs. Blocks, books, and puzzles are easy examples, but the right names are the ones your family actually uses.
Avoid printing a label for every possible toy category before you know where those toys will live. A small working set is easier to adjust than an entire room of labels that do not quite match its contents.
Make the picture mean something
Show your child a picture and ask what they think belongs with it. If a train picture means all vehicles to them, either use that broader category or choose a different image for the distinction you need.
Keep the wording short and familiar. You can pair a picture with a word without turning cleanup into a reading exercise; the picture should still be useful when nobody stops to read the label aloud.
Test the size on the actual bin
Print one test page before printing the full set. Use the paper size that matches your file and check the print settings, especially if a printer automatically shrinks pages to fit.
Hold a sample label against the container from the distance where your child normally stands. It should be easy to see without covering a handle, folding around a corner, or disappearing when the bin is pushed back onto its shelf.
Attach it in a practical place
An adult should do the cutting and keep scissors and loose offcuts out of the play area. Test your chosen attachment method on the container first, because surfaces, adhesives, and removable holders behave differently.
Place labels consistently where they can be seen during cleanup. If a basket usually sits sideways, the visible side is a better location than a front panel that faces the wall.
Practice with a few real toys
Put a small mixed group of toys nearby and return them together. Ask where each one goes, then let your child use the pictures to find the containers.
When an item does not have an obvious home, decide whether the category needs changing. A doll's blanket might belong with dolls rather than dress-up clothes, even if an adult would sort it differently on paper.
Let the labels change
Check the system after a few ordinary days of play. Repeated mix-ups are useful information: a label may be unclear, a bin may be too far away, or two categories may work better together.
Keep a few blank labels for temporary interests and new combinations of toys. Replace a label when the job of the container changes, and remove old ones so the room does not ask your child to choose between competing instructions.