Toy minimalism is hard but now that’s you’ve managed to find a few items you know she loves, don’t buy anymore. Donate all of the unused toys. Leave behind only what is needed.
As for restaurants or car rides or flights, we focus on consumables. Tattoos. Stickers. Water coloring book. Nail decals. Etc.
Lastly, don’t buy anything even when you want to. Reserve it for Christmas and birthdays only. My kids only get new items those 2 times a year, so every toy we do own they have to learn to expand its uses. For example, a Fisher Price laptop is also now used as a grocery cash register. Boredom encourages creativity.
Never had kids but would love to in the future. Right now i’m thinking it would be cool to have a rule where, if the kid wants a toy, and it’s not their birthday or christmas, i would have them first pick a toy we have at home to donate, kinda like in “exchange” for the new toy. Of course i would try to explain to them that it’s going to other kids who can’t really afford it and bla bla.
I highly recommend reading Hunt Gather Parent to inspire you to minimalism with your kid! Do we still have plenty to play with? Yes, but I try to keep it focused and contained.
We visit toys at the library play area, spend a lot of time outside, invest effort into experiences and don’t keep the junky plastic crap.
I’m actually most of the way through it— it’s definitely been having me think about the topic more, and is really highlighting all the clutter in my house
I am drowning in toys too but until my youngest (and last) has outgrown something I will not give it alway. If you are pregnant save all the toys - your new baby will like the things your other kid didn’t. Its a great feeling when my last kid outgrows a toy and I can get rid of it. You will end up buying the same things twice if you get rid of them now.
I overbought for my kids and now (they are all adults) I do look back with regret. I overwhelmed them, they would have been totally happy with several new things and I set up expectations that I felt I had to fulfill each year. Try to resist!
I declutter our toys at least once a quarter (typically around each kids birthday (I have 3) + Christmas) and have really worked to figure out the toys that have staying power; the things that they come back to again and again. For mine, all of the things that get played with are open-ended. A Nugget couch. Animal Figures. Magnetiles. Cars.
New stuff will always come in, especially if you have family that loves to give gifts. In our house, some things that come in will almost immediately go back out, and other things will stay awhile. A FEW things will last longer than a year.
I've recently been reflecting on the idea that "less is more, until MORE is more." If there's something they're really into (like magnatiles), I'll buy MORE of those instead of a different kind of building toy.
Toy minimalism is hard but now that’s you’ve managed to find a few items you know she loves, don’t buy anymore. Donate all of the unused toys. Leave behind only what is needed.
As for restaurants or car rides or flights, we focus on consumables. Tattoos. Stickers. Water coloring book. Nail decals. Etc.
Lastly, don’t buy anything even when you want to. Reserve it for Christmas and birthdays only. My kids only get new items those 2 times a year, so every toy we do own they have to learn to expand its uses. For example, a Fisher Price laptop is also now used as a grocery cash register. Boredom encourages creativity.
We just moved houses and are just blown away how many of the boxes are just full of toys. I swear the kids have more stuff than we do.
My daughter 100% has more stuff than I do
Never had kids but would love to in the future. Right now i’m thinking it would be cool to have a rule where, if the kid wants a toy, and it’s not their birthday or christmas, i would have them first pick a toy we have at home to donate, kinda like in “exchange” for the new toy. Of course i would try to explain to them that it’s going to other kids who can’t really afford it and bla bla.
Before I buy a new toy, I imagine myself cleaning it up off the floor every day. It helps me be more strategic with the toys I get.
I highly recommend reading Hunt Gather Parent to inspire you to minimalism with your kid! Do we still have plenty to play with? Yes, but I try to keep it focused and contained.
We visit toys at the library play area, spend a lot of time outside, invest effort into experiences and don’t keep the junky plastic crap.
I’m actually most of the way through it— it’s definitely been having me think about the topic more, and is really highlighting all the clutter in my house
I have two dogs with thirty toys
I am drowning in toys too but until my youngest (and last) has outgrown something I will not give it alway. If you are pregnant save all the toys - your new baby will like the things your other kid didn’t. Its a great feeling when my last kid outgrows a toy and I can get rid of it. You will end up buying the same things twice if you get rid of them now.
I overbought for my kids and now (they are all adults) I do look back with regret. I overwhelmed them, they would have been totally happy with several new things and I set up expectations that I felt I had to fulfill each year. Try to resist!
I declutter our toys at least once a quarter (typically around each kids birthday (I have 3) + Christmas) and have really worked to figure out the toys that have staying power; the things that they come back to again and again. For mine, all of the things that get played with are open-ended. A Nugget couch. Animal Figures. Magnetiles. Cars.
New stuff will always come in, especially if you have family that loves to give gifts. In our house, some things that come in will almost immediately go back out, and other things will stay awhile. A FEW things will last longer than a year.
I've recently been reflecting on the idea that "less is more, until MORE is more." If there's something they're really into (like magnatiles), I'll buy MORE of those instead of a different kind of building toy.