There are toys everywhere when you live with toddlers. Toys in the yard, toys in the bedroom, toys in the living, toys in the bathroom. No matter where you look, it’s an onslaught of toys, toys, toys! And while your child definitely enjoys playing with all these toys (and you might even get a kick out of buying them) there reaches a point in every parent’s life where there is simply too much.
What’s the solution? Dump them all? Of course not—unless you want a major meltdown on your hands. But there are steps you can take to help get rid of some of the clutter and reclaim your home from the toy avalanche it’s slowly turned into.
So, this spring, when you’re doing your yearly cleaning, make sure to add one more task to your to-do list: toy management. Read on to learn why it’s important to do this, and what it will look like.
Why You Shouldn’t Have Too Many Toys
Toys, for the most part, are a good thing. They encourage your child to use their imagination, promote fine motor skills, and can even be educational. However, there are some downsides to having too many toys, such as:
- Limits their imagination. It may sound counterintuitive, but too many toys can actually limit a child’s imagination! Children who do not have as many toys will start to incorporate other items and their surroundings in their playtime instead of relying on their various toys and features.
- Creates tension with others. This rings especially true if you have other children around the same age. Research has shown that children with fewer toys are more likely to share and cooperate with their siblings and friends, lowering the amount of fighting and arguing.
- Hurts their attention span. The more toys a toddler has, the more they will negatively impact his or her attention span. If a child has multiple toys at their disposable they’ll never be satisfied with just one toy or activity for too long
How to Get Rid of Toys
When getting rid of toys, what you don’t want to do is start haphazardly stuffing things into boxes before carting everything to the garbage or local charity. You run the risk of accidentally throwing away a toy your child still actively plays with—or even worse, adores. Instead, go slowly, and tackle the process in a few easily manageable stages:
Step 1: Identify What’s Broken
First things first, weed out items that are broken or don’t work. These are easy targets since your child will understand why you are getting rid of them. (Plus, if they’re broken, there’s a high likelihood that your child hasn’t played with them in a while anyway.)
Check to see if things are actually broken or if they just need a few batteries. If they do need batteries, still consider getting rid of them if they’re simply too high maintenance. Keep a particularly watchful eye out for toys that may have broken edges or jagged pieces that could potentially harm your child. You’ll probably be surprised at how many broken toys you actually have once you start taking a closer look.
Step 2: Go to the Bottom
Whether you organize your toys on shelves or in a classic toy bin, there is a reason that certain toys have drifted to the bottom. These toys are ones that haven’t captured your child’s attention for quite some time, and their disappearance will likely go unnoticed.
If you feel uncomfortable getting rid of them right away, try putting them in a box or a container and storing them somewhere else for a few months, like in the basement or the garage. Then, in the rare instance that your child does ask for one of those specific toys, you can pull it out. If they don’t end up asking, feel free to get rid of them.
Step 3: Get Your Child Involved
We know that it probably seems crazy to bring your child into the process, but it’s an important step! Explain to your child that there are other little boys and girls who would love to play with their old toys. Let them rummage through and pick out items to keep or donate. You can even bring them with you to the donation center so they get a better understanding of what’s happening.
It’s a beautiful lesson in sharing and caring and exposes your child to acts of random kindness. Some children might not take this lesson very well at first, but over time, they will start to see how important it is to be nice to others and share their things.
Step 4: Organize Whatever Remains
Now that you’ve narrowed your child’s toys down, it’s time to organize whatever remains! Try grouping them together based on the type of toys, such as having blocks in one area and dolls in another. Use bins or baskets as storage, and then go a step further by putting these storage containers on shelves or in cubbies. If your child can read, consider labeling the containers so that they can easily find what they’re looking for and don’t have to dig around.
If you know that your child reaches for certain types of toys often, put those ones in an easy-to-access area. If possible create a designated “play area” somewhere in the house to prevent toys from slowly creeping into every room.
Use this as an opportunity to teach your child important organizational skills, as well as how to clean up after themselves. Once they get into the habit of tidying up their toys once they’re done playing, you’ll find that your home feels cleaner and more manageable overall.
What Can I Buy That’s Not a Toy?
We understand the desire to buy your children gifts! However, it doesn’t always have to be a toy. If you want to celebrate or reward your child, you can also purchase them experiences, activities, or events to enjoy. For example, try:
- Seasonal or annual passes to the zoo or museum
- Tickets to a professional sporting event, movie, or concerts
- Classes to learn karate, piano, swimming, etc.
- Fun and educational books or DVDs
Toddlers do not need an entire playroom or bedroom filled wall-to-wall with brand-new toys. A handful of frequently used toys is enough to spur imagination and provide the playtime needed for a growing child. Outside of that, extra experiences will be enough to create an enriching experience.
Contact Us Today
If you’re interested in your child further learning about sharing toys and responsibilities relating to clean-up, then consider enrolling them at Cornerstone Academy. Through play-based educational activities and socialization, we encourage young ones the importance of responsibility and kindness to others.
