How to Declutter Toys Without Tears!
Are you drowning in kids toys and clutter? Would you like to know how to declutter toys without tears, tantrums, and time outs? Then you’ve come to the right place! I’ve touched on decluttering in this post, and how it is beneficial to people and kids with adhd. It’s actually beneficial to everyone, regardless if they have adhd or not.
I started my decluttering and minimalism journey almost 2 years ago, when I did a challenge called “Declutter Like a Mother!” on facebook. Even before that challenge though, I was seeing the effects of too many toys and things to manage for my newly 11 year old daughter. Her room was always a wreck, which I understand most kids rooms are. However, with a high energy 2 year old at the time, I didn’t have the time to help her manage it, and make sure it got cleaned up weekly.
So one Sunday when she was at her dads house for the weekend, and Landon and my husband were napping, I got busy! I didn’t get rid of everything, but I did take most little things out of her room, organize it in ziploc bags, and stored them in several big boxes in the building behind our house. She was unfazed because most of the toys I took out she hardly played with, but they still ended up all over her room. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it did help.
What is Clutter? Are Toys Clutter?
The definition of clutter is “to crowd something untidily, fill with clutter”, and “a collection of things lying about in an untidy mess.”
Now, let’s look at the word decluttering. The pre-fix “de” means to do the opposite of. So when you declutter, you are ideally having the opposite of clutter. Which is a decluttered home! That is the goal!
If there are so many toys that they never get put away because they don’t have a place to go, then yes, toys can become clutter!
Why Does Toy Clutter Happen?
I don’t know about you, but this is how clutter ends up at my house. Landon’s preschool papers and stuff. Little toys from a birthday party or prize box. Cheap little toys he begs me for in a store that I know will break in 10 seconds. Arts and crafts projects that were never finished, so there they are laying out. Mocking me, telling me to finish it and that I’m not a good mom if I dare throw in the towel and throw it out. Procrastination also plays a big role in clutter. The put it off mentality and not wanting to think and deal with things in the moment, ends up wasting much more of our precious time than if we had just put something away or dealt with something right away.
I am still a work in progress at this, but this year, I have developed some mindset shifts that have really helped me. These are 4 rules I have adopted into my everyday routine, and little by little, I am changing. Thinking about the items in my house (camper at the moment) as inventory I have to manage, *trying to only touch an item once so I don’t have to move it later, not leaving a room empty handed (this is so true for the camper and my parents house which is right next door), and decluttering a little bit every day. I might not get to all 4 actions every day, but I am more intentional about keeping it at the forefront of my mind.
Like I said, this isn’t something I have mastered. As I type, I’m sitting in the camper we’re living in, (more about that in another post), with Landon’s toys scattered about all around me. I let him play while I write blog posts. And…. it gets a little out of hand sometimes, and I end up frustrated, mad, short tempered, and irritated. Which leads me to the benefits!
The benefits of Decluttering Toys
- The kids know where all of their toys and things are
- A cleaner bedroom
- A cleaner playroom
- There is less to clean up
- Less to manage for the kids
- More time spent with family or a hobby instead of us parents helping them clean up
- Being more mindful about your toy purchases
- The toys that are left get played with more often
- The kids learn how to take better care of the toys they have
Now that we know what it is, why clutter happens, and the benefits of decluttering, let’s learn how to declutter those toys!
10 Best Tips to Declutter Toys Before Christmas
Tip 1: Involve your kids!
- If they are under 5, you may want to consider decluttering toys without them present, unless they are already used to you decluttering consistently
- Brainstorm with your kids before you even begin
- Get your kids help and input
- Make a list of organizations like the Salvation Army or a local thrift store or shelter where you can donate it
- If they want, they can even come up with specific names of cousins or friends that they would like to give something to
- Print off a picture or word of the goal in mind for when it gets hard for them to let go
Tip 2: Use Other People’s Stories and Videos on Decluttering Toys!
- Let other people do the hard work so you don’t have to
- Use other peoples stories of decluttering toys to help inspire your children
- Show them a video on youtube of kids giving or donating to a shelter
- Show them a video of the benefits of decluttering toys from a kids perspective
Tip 3: Get Prepared to Declutter!
- Have trash bags handy because even though you will find things to donate, you will still probably find random legos, or parts of a car that you can throw away once and for all
- The trash bag needs to be black so they can’t see inside it, because if they can see inside it, they might decide to keep what’s inside
- Have ziploc bags handy for little items that go together that they want to donate
Tip 4: Make Labels
- Have your kids make the labels if they are old enough
- Label them keep (or just keep the things your keeping where they go), trash, or donate/give
Tip 5: Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle!
- Look for any small toys that they could make a gift tag with or put on a gift tag, or a Christmas present to dress it up and personalize the gift
- If their cousin really likes legos, attach a lego man to the gift tag or the wrapping paper
- If someone really likes pokemon, and you find pokemon cards, make a card with it, or attach them on the wrapping paper in a cool design
Tip 6: Remember The Decluttering Rules!
- If it’s broken, throw it away
- If something is torn, throw it away (you’re not going to get it sewed back, trust me)!
- If a part of a toy or a figurine has been lost for more than 6 months, I give you permission to pass it along anyway! Someone will enjoy it and will use it
Tip 7: Have 1 Extra Hidden Box
- Label this box “time will tell”
- If they seem unsure, or if you’re unsure about an item, put it in a bin and wait it out
- Keep it for 6 months
- After some time, if its missed, then keep it
- If your feelings haven’t changed, pass it on
- See how it feels for you to not have to see it or clean it up and manage it every day
Tip 8: Set a Timer
- If its a lot of toys, time yourself
- Work in 15-20 minute intervals
- Take frequent breaks and then get back at it
Tip 9: Set the Mood!
- Make a decluttering playlist
- Listen to Christmas music
- Turn on a favorite Christmas movie in the background
Tip 10: Make It a Game!
- Whoever finishes their toys or space first gets to pick supper tomorrow night!
- Whoever finds 10 toys or games to declutter first, gets to pick the dessert tomorrow!
Tip 11: Reward Yourself
- Have a yummy snack for you and your kids when your finished decluttering
- Wine or kombucha in a wine glass is highly acceptable
Tip 12: Tidy Up!
- Get the bags and donations out of your house as soon as you can!
- Take it to a donation center or specific person as soon as you are able
The last thing you need and want is trash bags full of broken toys or boxes of toys to donate in your already decorated for Christmas home!
Conclusion
Now you can enjoy the fruits of your labor! Hopefully your home isn’t messy now, but if it is, do a quick power tidy and bask in the clean, uncluttered playroom, or wherever the kids keep their toys.
Maybe now that it’s clear, you may feel inspired to decorate the playroom or the toy space for Christmas.
Or… not. Maybe not. Go sit down, get cozy, put your feet up, and sip your drink by the Christmas tree watching Hallmark Christmas Movies!
If you know another mom that is drowning in toys before the holidays, please share this with her! Also, if you like this, then you will probably also like my Christmas School post!
Catch you on the flip side! xoxo, Tara
