Photo by Igor Starkov on Unsplash
As a mom of twins, I know how quickly toys can pile up. And around Christmas time the piles keep on piling up.
Leave it to Santa to bring more toys into the house. But look how happy your kids are when they open it. They can’t wait to play with them.
But what does that mean for the countless toys they currently have? What does that mean for the space you see disappearing before your eyes?
The time has come, my friends. It’s time to purge toys and there’s no better time than now.
Rules for decluttering toys
Believe it or not, there’s a right and wrong way to declutter toys.
The right way is to make sure you involve your kids.
But they’ll never let anything go! If you’re thinking that, let me assure you, getting them involved will be a lot less stressful. For everyone.
Why?
Because kids learn from watching. They learn by engaging. If you do everything behind their backs, they’ll do the same thing.
So how can you get your kids involved in decluttering their toys? Let’s look at some steadfast rules.
Have a conversation. The first and main thing you want to do is have a conversation with your kids. Explain the importance of letting go and how it’s time for another little girl or boy to have their toys.
The key thing to remember here is to encourage your child. Don’t command. By making them understand how donations work, they’ll be more inclined to help rather than argue.
Show by doing. I said it before: kids learn by watching us. Before you embark on the toy purge, see if you can declutter some of your stuff. Go through your closet. Do a run-through of the kitchen. Is there anything you can donate?
Show your kids how easy it is to let something go. If you show little sadness, they’ll follow in your footsteps.
Think about their interests. The last thing you need to do before jumping into the purge is figuring out where your kids stand. Are they super into cars right now? Do they have tea parties every day with their dolls and stuffed bears?
You don’t want to get rid of what they’re really interested in. You can limit, yes, but keeping the items they’re most likely to play with is vital to making this work.
Separate toys into categories. You know the saying, “it’s going to get worse before it gets better?” Well, here’s that moment. It’s common practice for professional organizers to remove everything from an area. This helps us see what we're working with. And I mean everything.
You’re about to do this.
Separate all the toys into like categories. Get as specific as possible. Don’t just put cars together. Separate them into big cars, little cars, trucks, construction vehicles, and so on.
Once everything is separated, ask your kids to pick 3-5 items from each pile. Those are the definite keep items. Store them away immediately so they don’t get mixed in with the donation pile.
Remove any broken items. Do a quick search and remove any toy broken beyond repair. Set them aside. Explain to your kids why broken toys shouldn’t stay in the home. They can injure themselves while playing with is a good line to use.
Check to see if there’s a similar toy like the broken one. If not and it’s a toy your child is adamant about keeping, say you’ll replace it for their birthday or a holiday.
Set limits. Giving your kids the choice to pick the toys they want is giving them a chance to take part. But it’s important to set limits. Tell them they can keep no more than five items from each pile. These are extra items than the ones they picked earlier.
This is going to be hard for them. If they fuss, give them a few minutes. Don’t rush this process. Remember, these toys mean a lot to them. Acting as if they’re pieces of junk won’t teach your kids the proper method of letting go.
Create an out of sight bin. After your kids select the toys they want to keep, don’t instantly give the rest away. Tell your kids to select another 3-5 toys from each pile. I know. Bear with me a little longer. Call these “back-up toys.” Whatever they select, store in a clearly marked storage container. Label it “Donate in 6 Months.” Store it somewhere out of sight.
If your child doesn’t ask for anything inside of that bin after six months, donate them. If they do, remove the one item they ask for and keep the rest out of sight.
Be consistent. Consider purging toys once or twice a year. Do it around Christmas time when you know new toys will be coming into the home. The second time could be in the summer. By making this a consistent practice, your kids will grow more accustomed to it. They’ll know every December or January it’ll be time to say goodbye to some toys.
You can declutter toys without your kids. If there’s a toy you’ve watched collect dust over the year, remove it. Don’t toss it right in the garbage. Put it in the six-month bin. If your kids don’t notice it missing in that time, feel free to donate it.
Remember, encouraging your kids to participate in this process is crucial. Make it a learning experience.
Again, understand how hard this will be for them. Be there to comfort them and remind them how happy they’re going to make another little boy or girl.
Where to donate used toys
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Once you’ve gone through all the toys, now what?
Thankfully, there’s plenty of places you can send used toys to. Here is a starter list:
Goodwill or Salvation Army
Veterans of America
Local churches and preschools*
Ronald McDonald House
Toys For Tots
Consignment stores
Local women and children shelters
*Be sure to contact churches and preschools before donating. Since COVID, their rules for toy donations may have changed. It’s good to know ahead of time if you need to do anything — like clean the toys — before dropping them off.
Pro tip: clean the toys anyway.
If you have to drop the items off, consider taking your kids along. Let them experience the pure joy and happiness of someone receiving their toys. It’ll encourage them to do it again in the future and make saying goodbye a little easier.
Schedule your free consultation today and let’s talk about getting your playroom organized. And be sure to follow my Instagram for organizing tips and updates.