Help Your Child Downsize Their Toy Collection

Remember, the holidays are coming and you’ll need extra space for those new gifts in your home.  Time to get room cleared out so you’ll be prepared!  Did you step on a Lego this morning?  Did you stub your toe for the millionth time on your child’s favorite toy?  Maybe you tripped on a dollhouse that was left in the middle of the hallway.  You might have even found yourself stepping in craft supplies that were discarded on the floor.  Regardless of your trigger point, you may be finding yourself overwhelmed with the amount of toys and craft supplies your child has.  If you’re feeling stressed, it may be time to help your child downsize his toy collection.

Avoid simply cleaning out your child’s room without his say.  Many kids are sensitive about their toys and become very attached to their belongings.  This is natural!  Think of how much you love your favorite dress.  What would you do if someone simply got rid of it without asking you?  Talk with your kids about their toys and find out if there are any they can live without.  Open communication is incredibly important when it comes to downsizing your child’s belongings.  Your little ones need to know why you’re getting rid of toys and not just that they have to say goodbye to something precious that they love.

Once you pick the toys to get rid of, consider choosing a charity to donate to.  Maybe there’s a local daycare in your area that can use extra toys.  Perhaps there’s a women’s shelter nearby that would appreciate those craft supplies.  You might even know of a family without much money who would really love to get some new-to-them toys.  Sometimes knowing that their toys are going to a good place to be loved will help your children say goodbye to their important possessions to make room for new ones.  My 7 year old loves to give his smaller sized toys to his class “treasure box.”  It makes him very proud to contribute to his classroom on his own.