8 Tips to Get Rid of Your Child’s Overwhelming Amount of Belongings
Having babies usually means having to buy a lot of things for them, which means a huge amount of clutter accumulating. Limiting the number of new items will not only help you avoid chaos, but it will also help your kids develop better habits and value their possessions more. While it may seem like a daunting task, there are a few tips to help you get rid of the clutter in your baby’s clothes.
Limit toy purchases to the holidays
It can be frustrating when a new toy comes out and your child starts asking for it, but setting a specific time of year for buying toys creates anticipation and makes your child appreciate the toy even more once they receive it. In addition, a lot of new toys are fashion, and their popularity will fade away by the beginning of the holidays.
Buy experience
Instead of spending $ 10 on another Lego set, try spending the day at a museum or zoo. When family or friends visit your children, ask them to give your children experiences instead of toys that your children may not like. As they get to know your children, they will also appreciate intangible items and activities that are not related to their toys.
Rotate toys
Children can easily get tired of toys, but if you lay out several toys at a time, your child can return to old favorite toys and you can avoid clutter. Much like a capsule wardrobe , it helps you relieve the stress of having too many options and focus on just a few items.
Swap toys with your friends
Instead of spending money on a new toy every few months, keep your kids entertained with new toys by changing them. This can be a fun way to bond with other parents and get rid of toys your child no longer uses. If you can’t find a community of parents willing to sell toys with you, consider visiting a toy library where you can buy toys for a monthly fee.
Donate toys your child doesn’t use
This advice sounds obvious, but toys can accumulate easily. To prevent this from happening, every few months, try to get rid of toys that your child does not use. The best way to tidy up is to spend the day just walking around your child’s room, one section at a time. Divide the toys into two piles, one to donate and one to discard. To avoid temper tantrums and develop better habits, involve your child in the process.
Create a toy budget
Just like budgeting for other aspects of your life , having a toy budget helps you rethink what your child really needs and saves you money in the long run. When shopping for toys, spend your money on a few high-quality toys that last longer, instead of lots of cheap toys that you almost never touch. For example, wooden toys last much longer and break more easily than plastic ones.
Allocate space for toys
Having a clearly marked area for children’s toys will help keep a mess in one place and limit the number of toys a child can have. This can mean anything from a toy cabinet to a small basket. If the space is full, you will have to start re-evaluating the importance of each toy before adding new ones.
Lead by example
Children often imitate the behavior of adults. If you want your child to have fun, you must do that too. Get rid of things that don’t serve you and clean up your space periodically . There are also many books to help you with this process.