Over the course of the year, your children are getting more clothes, toys, and games. That means it’s always a great time to declutter and to clean. This is the perfect opportunity to get rid of old clothes and toys your child no longer uses. In this article, we share how to get rid of childrens’ things they’ve outgrown or no longer use, and how to do so without a fight.
It’s that wonderful time of the year when even more toys invade our homes at once. Now’s probably the best time to declutter the existing stash of toys to make room for the new. One good way to get your children to give away the toys they don’t play with anymore is by explaining that you are sharing with other kids who don’t have any. And keep in mind that things in gently used condition can be given a “new life” when donated. Donating old items also teaches them about how good it feels to help others.
Another option is to get rid of toys right after the holidays or birthdays when your children have new toys. This will make them more willing to get rid of their old toys since they’re excited about their new ones.
One mistake parents make is by donating things without asking their children if they are okay with what’s getting donated. Not only will doing so prevent meltdowns, but it will also teach your kids how to routinely declutter in the future.
The 1-for-1 rule
One idea for getting rid of old toys is the 1-for-1 rule. For every new toy or every new piece of clothing, we gave away an old one. There are many benefits to cleaning out the toy bins. According to recent studies, having too many toys might be overstimulating and can make it harder for kids to focus on tasks and things they should be learning at a particular age. By having fewer toys, kids can learn to become more creative in coming up with games to play.
To make it easier for both parents and children, here are ways to take the drama and tears out of getting rid of old toys. This needs to be a conversation you have with your kids. When you talk to them you can convince them to get rid of their toys by saying some of the following:
- “you will have more space to play”
- “you will not have to clean that much”
- “you will always find your favorite toys, because they won’t be cluttered under the ones that you don’t play with”
- “you will always be playing with your favorite toys”
- “you will feel awesome to give that toy to someone who really wants it.”
Make it playful
You can make the process of getting rid of toys playful. You can have a pretend garage sale or donation in their room by laying out the toys and clothes they don’t need anymore and putting fake prices on them. Parents can then play the “shoppers” and bargain the prices. It can especially help if you use their favorite snack or sweet as the currency.
As we’ve discussed before, everyone wants to feel a sense of independence. Give your child a choice between what they want to keep so they feel like they are the ultimate decision-makers.
Don’t rush it
Another tip is to not rush the process. Give them time to decide which toys and clothes they want to part with. Lastly, don’t openly throw away anything. Kids will more likely give away their toys to someone rather than see them in the trash bin. Find places to donate all the toys, clothes, and other belongings.
