With the holiday season here, we know our kids are getting excited about making their lists for Santa and finding out what the big jolly guy is going to bring them on Christmas morning … but many of us are dreading the mess afterward. It's not the wrapping paper (or even breaking so many of their new toys free of their very frustrating packaging) that stresses us out — it's more about figuring out how to find space for all the toys that are about to come into our homes when our kids already have so many.
Fortunately, we don't have to let our home become totally overrun. With a little bit of planning ahead and time spent organizing (and a couple of trips to the nearest donation center), it's easy enough to make room for the new toys before they arrive.
Need a little help in getting the toy situation under control? Read on for some ideas on how to make room for all the new toys that are about to move into your home. It can be done!
Get Rid of Anything You'd Trash
The easiest way to get started making room is to get rid of anything you already know is headed for the trash. Puzzles that are missing pieces, toys that are beyond repair, piles of old artwork that need to be sorted through and stored. Once that kind of stuff is organized, the rest suddenly becomes that much easier to sort through.
Do a Toy Cleanout Alone
Before you take a pass at the toys with your kids, do one yourself, without them getting involved. You know what needs to go, so make it disappear — they probably won't even notice. They'll have the chance to contribute later, but using your wisdom to sort things out first will save you time and space.
Then, Get the Kids Involved
This is a great exercise in instilling the spirit of giving in your children. Help them figure out which toys they'd like to donate for other children to enjoy, and let them be a part of that process. It may help motivate them to let them know that they're making room for new, fun things.
Organize the Rest of the House, Too
As we all know, toys are never confined to our kids' bedrooms or playrooms. They end up all over the home — after all, they live here, too. It's not a bad idea to do a general sweep of the house to get rid of any clutter lying around, especially in areas where you expect your kids to play a lot.
Create a Rotating Toy System
Now that you're sorting through toys and getting rid of some of them, it's not a bad time to institute a rotating toy system if you haven't already. That means only a certain number of toys stays in your child's room, available to play with. The rest get packed away, and you swap them out every so often to keep the toys fresh (and the complaints about boredom to a minimum).
Get a Better Storage System
You may suddenly find you have a lot of room for new toys if you buy new storage to hold them all. One big toy box usually doesn't cut it; we're talking shelves, a bin system, or even something more elaborate that will allow you to organize toys into baskets. Get the label maker out if you're feeling wild!
Buy Fewer Gifts
Of course, the easiest and most direct way to make room for new toys is to have fewer toys to make room for in the first place. Some people follow this methodology to cut down on clutter after Christmas morning when it comes to gifts: "Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read."
Ask for Experiences
For those of us with large extended families, a lot of our kids' new toys will come from excited grandparents, aunts, and uncles. A good way to cut down on this is letting them know ahead of time that your kids would like experiences instead of things this year. This would include things like tickets to the zoo or the movies, plans to go out to lunch — anything that leads to quality time with family.
Rethink the Layout
You might be able to make more room for toys just by adjusting the layout of your child's room. By moving furniture around (or getting rid of pieces that go unused), you may uncover more space for storage — or where you can keep an extra toy box or install some new shelves.
Take Stock of What They Use
In the weeks before the holiday, pay special attention to the toys you see your kids coming back to again and again … and the ones they totally ignore. Don't just use this to inform your gift shopping, but also use it to decide what toys can be donated and which definitely have to stay.
Get Creative With Storage
If you're working with a limited amount of space, you may need to get a little creative with where you keep your child's toys. Maybe buying a bed frame that includes drawers or shelves would be helpful — or buying under-bed containers would work just as well.
Put Away Toys They've Outgrown But Still Love
This is also a great time to grab those toys that hold sentimental value to your kids (and to you!) and pack them up for storage, where they'll be safe. If your kids have outgrown them, there's no sense in letting them clutter up the bedroom, so why not store them somewhere until they're old enough to appreciate the memories?
Organize the Closet
Whether or not you currently use the closet as a space to store toys, it's not a bad idea to consider using it for that purpose now. Maybe you can clear off a shelf to store toys that aren't used as often, or find room on the floor for a few plastic boxes for storage.
Consider a Playroom
If your child's bedroom is feeling maxed out, it might be time to think about a playroom. Of course, this isn't possible for everyone, but if you have a spare bedroom — or living room or basement area — that's going unused, maybe it's time to turn that into a playroom that can help cut down on toy clutter in other areas of the house.
Put a Hard Limit on Toys
If toy clutter is really becoming an issue, consider limiting the number of toys your children have. Pick a hard number to stick to, like 20 (or more or less, depending on your situation and available space) and together, cut their collection down to that number. Remind them that when a new toy comes in, an old toy has to go — Christmas gifts included.
