How to Declutter Toys: The Only Ten Minimalist Toys You’ll Ever Need
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Fed up with toys cluttering your living room and the overwhelming clean-up task? Minimalist toys can be an ideal solution!
They allow kids to explore their creative side without creating a mess in the house. Give them as gifts for development and fewer headaches everywhere else! But, shopping for toys can be an utterly daunting experience.
The good news is that there’s a solution to this!
With the industry bringing in a whopping 90.7 billion US dollars last year, parents and children alike are faced with endless advertisements of “shiny new things” to buy – despite many being unnecessary or downright wasteful! Instead, why not try minimalist toy shopping?
By opting for fewer items that still provoke creativity and exploration from kiddos without breaking the bank (or your sanity!), you’ll end up living in a much more relaxed environment while saving money too.
Know That Toys Aren’t a Necessity
Many are misled to believe that expensive and trendy toys will make a child happy, however this couldn’t be further from the truth. With their imaginations running wild, children can find joy in crafting castles out of sofa cushions or creating dollhouses with boxes and markers – proving that no toy is necessary to bring them happiness.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with adding some extra fun into your little one’s life by buying them special treats now again! Investing in our children has become increasingly important, but parents should avoid the potential trap of overindulging. We get it though, sometimes it can be hard when friends and family spoil the little ones for birthdays and holidays and fill your home with more clutter.
Enter toy minimalism – an approach which encourages reconsideration and limits excess. By strategically organizing toys into those seen as meaningful or loved by kids, we can better prioritize what is kept and cultivate a sense of appreciation for their few possessions.
If left forgotten after two weeks they can be recycled, or you can choose to donate or sell to others who may benefit from them more than ourselves. You can also talk to your kids about minimalism and ask them to help declutter their toy collection; if you want to read more tips on teaching minimalism to children, read this article.
What are the benefits of toy minimalism?
Toy minimalism can be intimidating for many parents, fearing the inevitable child meltdown.
But there are so many rewards to embracing it and reducing a toy surplus – stimulating imagination, enhancing creativity, and fostering respect between siblings.
With fewer toys in reach of grabby hands (and minds!), children learn to get creative with their playtime; inventing new games out of existing ones or forming stronger bonds by sharing resources!
Reducing the number of toys your children play with can have all sorts of benefits, from providing a more balanced focus to limit distraction and allow for better organization when studying or memorizing.
Not only will this free up time for quality moments together as parents, but you’ll also save money by avoiding unnecessary purchases that won’t be remembered down the line.
How to declutter the toys?
It’s time to take the plunge and declutter kids toys – it can be a scary task if there are many, but have no fear! Involving your children in this decluttering process is usually beneficial – just start by yourself for now.
You’ll feel accomplished afterwards when all of that toy chaos dissipates, and trust us: life will get much easier once you regain control over clutter.
Gather all the toys.
Gather the toys in a household together and Marie Kondo your child’s bedroom. Seeing all of them at once will give you perspective on how much they have – take a picture if it helps! This can help avoid over-purchasing, so you won’t find yourself overwhelmed by clutter again. It will also help you get rid of toys you don’t see your little ones play with.
Declutter the toys.
Bring order and joy to your kids’ play area! Start by sorting their toys into neat piles, then tossing broken toys or toys with missing pieces. See if you have any duplicates they can part with – toys in good condition can be passed along to others who might enjoy them more than yours do.
By keeping only the very best of what’s left, you’ll create a minimalist oasis sure to bring smiles all around!
Sort out everything.
With the initial clutter cleared away, it’s time to sort out which items are still in good condition. To make this go faster, here are some great tips and tricks!
Is the toy age-appropriate?
A 3-year-old toy may not be a necessity for school agers, so it’s time to say goodbye and make way for new learning experiences.
Is the toy sentimental?
For those moments when sentimentality trumps practicality, a treasured memento can be stored away to ward off any future regrets.
Whether it’s just one of many or as unique as snowflake – if you have an emotional bond with a toy, don’t let go!
But please, not all toys should be sentimental, keep a few and treasure them.
Does the toy come with maintenance?
Purchasing toys is much more than choosing a fun item – beyond the price tag, there’s an often overlooked expense of battery-operated gadgets.
Even rechargeable batteries can add up over time!
Our kids will benefit in multiple ways if we prioritize buying items that don’t require energy sources; not only does it save money but also encourages children to be tidy when putting away their playthings afterwards.
Is it a toy that promotes creativity?
Trendy toys are certainly alluring, but often end up in the bin after only a week of use.
To avoid overspending on these gimmick items, try hiding them away and seeing if your child notices – that way you’ll know whether it is worth keeping!
Remove the clutter.
With an array of choices, it’s important to decide the best route for our toys. Selling seems like a great option if we’re looking to make some profits on them – and donating is also highly suggested as there are many families out there who can benefit from these possessions! Try to get rid of as many small toys as possible that your kids just throw around.
Organize everything.
Keep your playroom under control with a modern, minimalistic toy organizer! The open shelves make it easy to grab what you need and keep track of how many toys are inside.
Say goodbye to the days of forgotten items buried at the bottom of massive storage bins – this stylish design will have everyone in style (and order) for years to come!
Start a toy rotation.
Sometimes, a toy rotation can be a great way to deal with toy clutter. It allows you to rotate around specific groups of toys so your children can see something new and fresh without investing in new toys.
What are the best minimalist toys?
Give your children the gift of simplicity and quality with minimalist toys that last. From hand-me-downs to timeless classics, find high-quality materials you can trust for playtime fun now – or cherish forever.
Character
Social development and creative play go hand in hand! With sets of people or animals, kids can act out scenarios from everyday life such as family activities, problem-solving tasks and even role playing – preparing them for a lifetime filled with essential skillsets. Some great options include safari animals, wooden families, etc.
Build
Architects, interior designers, and engineers of the future are encouraged to start flexing their creative muscles early with building blocks that foster imagination and spatial intelligence.
They can play with simple wood blocks. Other great build toys include Flower Building Set, Streetscape Set, Farm Set, or this clever Stone Balancing Set.
Balls
A toy for all ages, excellent to promote physical activity and social games; a good quality ball can be used to play many outdoor games.
Outdoor
Since we talked about balls, many more outdoor toys and games will promote more physical movement, like swings, balance bikes. Other ideas include gym set or balance boards.
Dolls
Children of all genders can benefit from the unique experience of nurturing a doll.
From fostering empathy and understanding to teaching responsibility, dolls are an excellent toy for engaging with other human beings in different contexts!
Don’t forget that quality matters too: it’s best to opt out from those battery operated singing and crying gimmicks, as simpler models offer a more authentic form of play. Like this plush doll, a cute teddy bear, or these adorable stuffed animals.
Art
A great way to promote creativity and better brain-to-hand coordination, you can get a coloring book, print the drawings yourself, or draw with your children.
To paint, you can use art supplies like colored pencils, crayons, or markers, but my favorite is paint as it provides a richer experience. Just make sure to clean everything up after they are done.
Sensory Toys
All you need is a small table with trays and lids so that the children can play with different sensor items like little dry beans, rice, kinetic sand, or play-doh. They will have a lot of fun because they can customize their entertainment in any way they like.
Books
Get some classic children’s books, promoting good reading habits is critical during childhood.
Fabrics
With their imaginations in full gear, children have the ability to transform into anything they can think of. Unfortunately, buying costly costumes every few months can become a financial burden and produce large amounts of waste as kids quickly outgrow them.
Instead, get a play scarves set and let your children use their imagination to create dresses, capes, tents, flags, belts, etc.
Cars
Whether boys or girls, kids love to play with cars, from construction vehicles, farming vehicles, firetrucks, or even planes.
They can create small cities, race, and really let their imaginations run wild. To complete the set, get a play rug to build their city and use their dolls, characters, and vehicles together to create their own world!
When you buy toys, don’t forget to look for the highest quality possible, and avoid too specific toys that limit creative play.
If your goal is to provide more stimulating, quality play that encourages creativity and focus in children, toy minimalism may be the answer.
Sort out clutter and get your kids minimalistic toys!
With fewer toys comes less noise – but don’t worry – a minimalist space doesn’t have to mean dull! These ten nifty picks are sure to inspire your child’s imagination and aid their development of important skills like reading comprehension and motor coordination.
Do you own any of them? or do you have any other recommendations? Please share them in the comment section down below.
Here are some other Minimalist Lifestyle posts you might find interesting.
- 120 Minimalist Christmas Decor Ideas
- 10 Ways to Have Fun Without Spending Money
- 10 Ways to Save Money
- Minimalism & the Environment
- 11 Questions to Ask Yourself to Shop like a Minimalist
- How to Teach Minimalism to Children
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