As parents, we are drowning in stuff. Just watch a few “pregnancy and birth, and baby must-have videos on Youtube and you’ll see – that’s a LOT of stuff.
As our kids grow, it doesn’t really get better, because we have to deal with the influx of toys, sports equipment, school supplies, craft supplies, and more.
However, studies consistently show that fewer toys are better for our kids. With less distraction, our kids have more creativity, learning, focus, and can handle being bored – an important life skill!
So imagine that you went into work one day, and there on your desk were three laptops, five smartphones, two ipads, and three printers. How would you get any work done?!
Playing is our kids’ work. It’s how they learn about the world. With too many options, playing is too complicated. We need to make it simpler to do.
If your kids struggle to pick up, it could be that there are just too many toys. It could also be that there isn’t a clear home for the toys.
You’d think a big toy box they could just dump everything in would make things easier, but kids have a very strong sense of order. Having a specific spot on the shelf for their toys or clearly marked labels on separate bins actually makes it easier for them to clean up, and A LOT easier to play.
Listen: you’re not a victim in this scenario. It’s easy to see the mountain of rainbow-colored plastic-light-up toys and throw up your hands, but I encourage you to take ownership of what comes into your house, and what stays there. You’re the boss! You decide what comes into your house and stays.
In this video, I discuss the types of toys to get rid of, what kinds to keep, and how to determine if you should declutter with or without your kids.
What will your kids learn from the process of decluttering? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Related Posts:
- 10 Sneaky Ways Your Clutter is Costing You
- 3 Reasons We Can’t Get Organized (And How to Fix It)
- 5 Signs You MIGHT Have Too Much Stuff
- 4 Ways to Get Your Husband to Declutter
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