Holiday Preparation with Kids 

Toys. Even after intentionally limiting the amount of toys I buy my children, they still end up everywhere. In the kitchen cupboards, in between the couch, and all over the kids room. I value simplicity, a minimalistic household with just enough toys and variation to entertain my little ones. Managing a balanced variety of educational and kids choice toys can be difficult. During the holiday season, it’s very easy to add new items to the never ending collection of Legos, dolls, and Play-Doh sets and forget to get rid of some of the old stuff. 

In the spirit of the holiday season, I’ve made it a priority every year to give away my children's old toys in order to make way for the new Christmas gifts. It’s my Spring cleaning before Spring. As a mother, you know what toys are getting the most attention, and which ones sit majority of the time. When it comes to decluttering, I start by throwing away dirty or broken toys and getting rid of the ones they’ve outgrown. This is usually easier because these toys are the ones they don’t really care about. After that I typically base the amount of toys I give away on how many new ones are coming in. This is one way I keep the balance in my household.

Toys are not merely playthings. They stimulate creativity, develop physical and mental skills, and teach our children about themselves and the world around them. As parents, it is our responsibility to intentionally create the foundation for our kids which includes the number of toys they are given, and what those toys are. Keeping a limit on this can teach a child to learn to find satisfaction outside of materialistic items, establish better social skills, play outside, and be more creative. I believe that a minimalist approach will benefit them in the long run, and I refuse to let toys overflow my house.