Trying to declutter toys in a family home is quite a daunting task. If there’s one thing that accumulates quickly when you have kids, it’s toys. It can feel overwhelming to try and keep on top of the number of them coming into your home. As children grow and their interests change, toys can multiply! From birthday parties, Christmas, and well-meaning relatives, it can seem that they come into our homes in a steady flow.
We’re joined by Suz Sawtell from Declutter and Breathe, who is here to share her top tips for decluttering a family home of toys.
1. Choose Your Moment
The end of the summer holidays, the beginning of December or a few weeks before a birthday can be great moments to declutter the toys in your home.
Most importantly choose a time when you can bring a positive, focused attitude into your decluttering session. If tackling all the toys in your home feels like far too much at once, set a timer for 10-15 minutes to start with. As you succeed in decluttering it will spur you on to tackle sections which previously felt like a challenge.
2. Go For The Easy Wins
To get off on the right foot, start by decluttering toys that are broken, that have been outgrown or that you’ve not seen your child play with for a while. These are all categories that may require less thought before letting them go and are therefore the ‘quick win’.
3. Work With Your Children
It can feel quite challenging to involve your child in the process, but giving them ownership over their toys will help to create good habits young.
Help your child to focus on the toys they have outgrown or have broken beyond repair. Encourage your child to identify the toys they love and want to create space for. Talk to your child about passing toys on to younger children they know who might appreciate them or to children who might not have as many toys.
This can be a really powerful way of helping them to engage in the process.
4. Create Your Exit Strategies And Plan Them Into Your Diary
Before you begin to declutter the toys in your home, identify how you can get rid of your toys, and which ones are correct for each. Items that are broken and need to go in the bin are easiest to sort. But if booking a trip to the recycling centre / a charity shop drop / donation to a local toy drive is needed, then book a date into your diary at your earliest opportunity.
You would be surprised the toys that children suddenly find interest in again when they know they need to leave the house! Aim to have the decluttered toys out of the house as quickly as possible.
5. Toy Rotation Can Help
If your child is struggling with overwhelm when it comes to playing, consider whether you could rotate the toys that you have available for them at any one time. Reducing the number of toys your children have ready access to can help them to focus in their playing and fully explore a toy. Rotate toys periodically to keep their interest in the toys they have available.
6. Categorise Your Toys
It’s a great idea to have a basket for each toy type. Think cars in one basket, animals in another, dolls in yet another. Using picture labels with a descriptive word of what is inside can not only help increase your child’s independence in accessing their toys but also hopefully in tidying away after a play session.
Having your child’s toys categorised will also help you to notice whether you have too much of something. If this is the case, using a ‘one-in-one-out’ rule can be helpful. This means that as a new toy is brought into your home, you use it to replace something you already had.
7. Organise Them With Your Child In Mind
Consider how best your child plays and how they like to access their toys, make it easy for them as this will increase independence as they grow. You may also have toys that you are happy for your child to access without supervision. Whilst arts and crafts (for example) might be kept separately to avoid these being used without support. Make it easy for your child to put their toys away and it will help you to reset their toy area at the end of the day.
Finally, creating a decluttering routine can be a helpful way of preventing overwhelm and ensuring your home remains manageable. And don’t forget to reward yourself with your favourite snack or self-care routine after your declutter!
Thanks To Suz – Declutter And Breathe
Declutter & Breathe is a Professional Organising Service providing support to busy families, helping them to create a space in which the whole family thrives. Founder, Suz Sawtell, is a registered Social Worker and Trauma Informed Practitioner with extensive experience in supporting families through transitions, working with parents and children aged 0-18. Declutter & Breathe provides compassionate and non-judgemental support to families in person, throughout Essex and online across the UK.
Check Out Suz On Instagram, Facebook, and her Website
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