But I knew Easter was coming and wanted to get a jump on the toys before we started adding more. Keeping a hold on the toy situation in your house can dramatically cut down on the clutter and free up tons of needed space!
Here's some helpful tips for clearing out toys and for keeping a proper perspective on their place in your house!
1. Involve your kids in the process of clearing out their toys. Pick a day and tell your kids about two or three days before you clear out so that it gives your kids time to think about what they'd like to clear out. You would be shocked at how helpful the kids can be in clearing out their own things. They got rid of things that I never would have thought they didn't want. What a treat!
2. Be sensitive. Children can't see as objectively as we can yet. A few more months of holding onto that "one bear" may be worth sparing their feelings. But help your children see that things don't make us happy. Consider scanning a copy of an important paper or picture, framing a small corner of an old blanket, or encouraging them to consider others with less that may enjoy their toys also. Children are unfailingly kind and sympathetic and are often very willing to let a toy go when they know it will make another child happy.
3. Be choosy. Need I really say this? If it's broken, it goes. You'd be appalled at how many broken toys are hanging around. So let go of all the emotional ideas that Toy Story planted in your head about the lone, headless Barbie and throw her out. And let the guilt go with some frozen yogurt.
4. Keep your word and put those toys to good use. Pick a donation spot and take your children with you to drop things off. This allows them the experience of sharing with others and feeling good about it. Pick a local charity, church nursery, neighbor with children the same age, school classroom, etc. The list is endless!
5. Pick a single, designated spot in the home for toys. Trust me on this one. Many parents pick several spots in the house for toys...like a basket in the family room, a bin in the bedroom, a spot in the office, etc. This just allows toys to be all over the house! If you have a toy room, put ALL the toys in the toy room. If kids play in their bedrooms, put all the toys in the bedroom. They may want to play in another area of the home every once in a while, but they'll be more selective in what they pull out because they have to carry it to another spot. And then they know it goes right back to where the toys belong. It's so much easier to find what they're looking for when they know that all the toys are in one spot - not five. In my opinion, if you can keep toys out of the bedrooms, do it. It's total chaos for us trying to keep clothes and bedding and toys all separate. My children are allowed drawers in their room where they can keep important personal belongings, but if it's a toy that they don't mind sharing or have personal attachment to, it goes in the toy room. Make sense?
6. Use smart storage. I used to put their toys in deep, gray Tupperware bins. But because they were so deep and couldn't be seen through, they dumped everything out to find what they wanted from the bottom and then walked away once they found it, leaving everything else on the floor. Why do kids feel the need to dump everything out?! So I finally invested in some new Tupperware that was clear, wide and flat. It still fit all their toys but allowed everything to lay out flat so that they could see it all. Now all I have to do is put the lid back on instead of putting all the toys back. And I can stack them lower to the ground which makes them entirely accessible for the kids to reach and put away.
7. Buy your children experiences. We've learned that toys quickly lose their appeal, but memories last forever! Instead of spending $15 on a toy, spend $15 on a ticket to a museum they've wanted to visit. Toys have their place and offer immediate fun, but over time can become broken, lose their excitement, and take up valuable space. The old adage is true when it comes to toys: LESS IS MORE. My kids are way more excited when I tell them I'm spending three dollars to get them into a local pool for the afternoon than when I give them a three dollar toy. TIME IS WORTH MORE! If toys are the answer for a particular occasion, think outside the box. We LOVE games. They don't break, they offer hours of fun, they involve everyone, and they require some brain power! Art sets, Lego sets, books, etc. also require brain power and creativity. You get the idea!
8. Reevaluate every six months, especially before birthdays and holidays. This is a no-brainer. Every year before birthdays and Christmas, we do a major clean-out. It saves time and money when you go to buy gifts. You know what you already have and you know what you will and will not use.
There you have it! My tips for keeping toys at bay!
What are some of your favorite tips for storing toys and keeping them organized?
Happy Cleaning!
The Queen
Sarah, I just got caught up on your blog. I love it. I am loving all your handy tips and tricks. Can't wait to try your laundry soap! Keep at this blog. You are doing a great job!!:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement, Gina! It makes it easier to keep posting!
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