How to Simplify & Streamline Kids Toys: Mom Tips & Tricks | Simple Purposeful Living (original) (raw)

If you have kids, you have toys. I have four kids, so I could swim in toys, especially with all the doting relatives who bring gifts through our doors anytime they visit. It’s easy for our living rooms to become overrun with toy clutter, and managing the toy collection can feel like an overwhelming, neverending, and sometimes painful task, especially when you step on a Barbie shoe or Lego.

If you have kids, you get it. Toys are a fact of life with kids, but with a little time and effort, you can make peace with them. Simplifying and streamlining your toy collection doesn’t have to be a daunting chore. With practical tips and tweaks, you can reclaim your living room space and create a more purposeful environment for your family.

So, how do you organize toys?

Assess and Declutter

The first step in simplifying anything is to get rid of the excess. Clutter is defined as any extra and unnecessary items taking up valuable space. So, a great way to start clearing the toy clutter is to take stock of what you have. Set aside time to go through the toy collection during your morning routine or when the kids are occupied with free play.

As you evaluate each item, ask yourself: Does this toy serve a specific purpose? Is it age-appropriate for my child’s developmental stage? Do they even play it? Is it broken or missing pieces? If not, consider donating or selling it.

Declutter toys before you organize. Do not organize toys you don’t need. Grab two bins and a garbage bag. It’s time to sort your toys into three categories: keep, sell/donate, and toss. You know your kids don’t play with certain toys. Make room for them to see and play with the toys they play with easily. You can donate unwanted toys to a local charity, church, or family friend. You can consign them as well. Every time I take time to declutter toys, our kids end up playing more with the toys they have.

If you have multiple toy areas, make a to-do list of them to break down the task into bite-size pieces. Set a timer for 20 minutes daily or weekly and get to work. A little bit of daily and weekly progress will add up to purposeful progress over time.

The Power of Thinning Out a Collection:

By far, this is the most challenging part of the process for me, and maybe you too. Your kids have a collection, but it’s overtaking the boundary you have for it. At our house, top offenders include Barbies, Legos, and Playmobil. Determine the space available for the collection and then thin it out to fit.

We’ve had to do this with our play kitchen collection. It had just gotten to be so overwhelming that the kids stopped playing with it. Once we thinned it out by 30-50%, our kids started to play with it again. We’ve been conditioned to think that more is better, but that’s untrue.

If you don’t want to get rid of a whole set of toys, such as Barbies or baby dolls, thin it out on a regular basis.

Embrace the Power of Fewer Toys:

It’s tempting to believe that the more number of toys you have equals more fun, but in reality, an excess of toys can lead to overwhelm and decreased engagement. Research has shown that children benefit from having fewer toys, as they encourage deeper play and foster creativity. So don’t be afraid to pare down your toy collection to the essentials. Your living room will thank you for it!

I am sure you’ve found your kids in a sea of toys, and they are “bored.” They struggle with decision fatigue just like us. Kids have a hard time knowing what to play with. Curating a space with less stuff fosters more play.

When adding new toys to your collection, resist buying everything in sight. Instead, prioritize quality over quantity. Invest in well-made, durable toys that serve a specific purpose. This will save you money in the long run and ensure your house remains clutter-free. Look for toys that promote imaginative play, such as a play kitchen or dress-up clothes. Here’s a link to some of our favorites.

The next time birthdays or holidays associated with gifts roll around, consider gifting or asking for experiences like a trip to the zoo, art classes, piano lessons, or an overnight with Grandma and Grandpa. You can enjoy some quality family time without adding to your toy clutter.

toys sorted into clear plastic storage bins

Implement a Toy Rotation System:

I remember the first time I did this. I moved my girl’s doll house to a different room, and suddenly, it became new again. Sometimes, simply changing location can breathe new life into toys, and it doesn’t take much time. A toy rotation system is another easy way to keep toy clutter at bay. Instead of maintaining all toys out immediately, store some in bins or storage spaces and rotate them regularly.

We have a basement toy room where we keep all the toys. When my kids were little, we’d pick a toy to pull out and play with. When they grew bored with it, we’d pack it and store it in the closet. We also have a small cabinet upstairs for toys, and when toys stop getting played with, I rotate those out for new and different toys. This keeps the living room from overcrowding and ensures that toys remain fresh and exciting for your little ones.

Get the Whole Family Involved:

Streamlining toys shouldn’t be solely the responsibility of one family member. Make it a team effort by involving all family members in decluttering. Assign specific tasks to each family member, whether sorting through toys, organizing storage bins, or finding creative ways to repurpose items.

Working together will speed up the process and instill valuable lessons about responsibility and organization. You can invite your children into the process and ask them what they want to let go. You might start by having them eliminate one item from a collection, say one stuffed animal. Make it easy for them to start. Letting go and purging is a good thing to learn and an important life skill they will need in the real world.

Plus, make tidying up a regular part of your play routine. Turn on some great music, set a 5-minute timer, and get to work. We can demonstrate cleaning up and having our kids assist us with routine tasks like this. They will need to know how to clean up for their entire life, so tidying toys is a great first step.

Regular tidying means less time cleaning, which keeps overwhelm at bay and promotes more play. It’s like giving kids a white sheet of paper and having them color. The blank canvas is theirs, the same as a tidy toy room. It’s a blank canvas for imaginative play and creativity.

Our current living room cabinets serve as toy storage on the main level.

Think Outside the Box with Toy Storage:

Look around your house and determine a logical place to store toys. There are lots of different ways to maximize storage in your home. You might have to think outside the box. Do you have some cabinets you can clean out in your family room or kitchen?

In both homes we lived in, I turned our main floor coat closet into a toy closet. It was being underutilized as a coat closet, but it could also be a powerful tool for toy storage. When guests are over, we invite them to hang their coats on a coat rack (like this one).

The next step was to add some shelves and create a toy closet. This idea has worked for us in the long term. When we built this house, we created cabinets for toys in our living room and a toy closet for larger toys in the basement.

Promote Independence with Toy Storage:

Consider creating designated zones for different activities to further streamline your living room space. Have a corner for reading, a space for imaginative play, and an area for building blocks or puzzles. Establishing clear boundaries will reduce toy clutter and encourage children to engage in various daily activities.

Now that you have thinned out your toys sort them into logical categories. Once you determine the amount and the boundary you want to give each item, find the shelf space, bin, or basket. Clear plastic tubs (like these) work great because everyone can see what’s inside. Kids can easily ask for that toy; when a missing toy is found, it’s easy to put it inside the right tub, with no reading labels required.

Above all, my goal is not to take much work for toy storage. It has to be functional long-term and for the kids to pick up independently, so make the organization easy enough for your child to put a toy away. You will not keep up the organization system if it’s tedious, no matter how cute it starts. Trust me, I have made that error.

Make sure to place items kids frequently request in a place that is easiest for them to access independently. Place items you want to help with, items with little things or pieces, up higher. Stuff like games with a million pieces you don’t want to lose.

Just Remember…

Simplifying and streamlining toy clutter is important not only for us as moms but also helps our kids enjoy and play with their toys more. Make regular decluttering and tidying of toys a part of your daily life and routine. By implementing some of these tips and tweaks, you can create a living space that fosters creativity, connection, and quality time with your family. Remember, it’s not about having the most toys but creating an environment where your family can thrive.