How to Declutter Your Children's Toys

My children are hoarders.

They save broken crayons and dried up markers, old Happy Meal toys that are missing parts and those little plastic bubbles that come out of vending machines. This, combined with my own less than fabulous housekeeping skills, creates the potential for "a perfect storm" in their bedrooms.

Toys get taken out, played with, left on the floor or tossed carelessly in a toy box and never played with again. Their rooms become so cluttered that they don't want to be in there and I don't blame them. If I tell them to clean up they just look at the mountainous mess with horror, uncertain even where to begin.

I know where to begin. The holidays brought a whole new treasure trove of bright, shiny, whirling, singing, many-pieced toys from loving and well meaning friends and family. It's a brand new year, and a little decluttering never hurt anyone. There is no need to keep all of these toys! I know just how to solve this problem.

I'm throwing it all away.

Well… OK. Probably not ALL of it, but 99%. The truth is that my daughter has a tiny handful of toys she truly enjoys. There are some Littlest Pet Shop dolls and a few stuffed animals that she loves. She's got a set of stacking cups that she likes to play with.

My son has a Mickey Mouse Playhouse that he lugs around and a box of cars and trains that can keep him busy for hours. However, when the mess gets out of control even those toys don't get played with because the pieces are lost in the rubble or there's simply no space to spread out.

The result of all this is that I end up with children who have access to a veritable mountain of toys but who will complain about being bored because they are totally overwhelmed by what's in front of them.

Here's the plan for ridding our lives of this particular first-world problem:

Start with three piles.

Pile #1 - Put the toys that will be kept away neatly.

There should only be a few. I will be truthful and ruthless. Yes, I know the little wooden food is just the most adorable thing you ever saw and it seems like it should be great for imaginative play but since my kid hasn't played with it since 2011 they're not going to start now. It's clutter. It's got to go.

Pile #2 - Put any toys that are in GOOD CONDITION WITH ALL THE PIECES into a box to be donated to the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul or another charity that can get them to other families who can make good use of them.

No one wants a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle with only 476 pieces or a Barbie doll with one arm and a dog-chewed foot. Note: many charities will come right to your house and pick items up if you just call and ask!

Pile #3 - Everything else goes in the trash/recycling.

If you, like me, are far past ready for the big purge here are a few tips that might make it easier:

Dealing with the exceptions:

• The sentimental stuff - You know what I'm talking about. Things like the stuffed bunny came from Aunt Louise who was everyone's favorite aunt and she passed away last year. It's OK to keep a few things!

TIP: Put them in special places on shelves or have a small "memory box" where they are stored safely to be taken out and treasured from time to time.

Just don't go overboard. Did grandpa buy that awesome dump truck that no one has ever played with? Well, the thought was lovely but the truck's got to go. Grandpa will understand.

• The occasionally interesting - These are they toys that your child may get totally obsessed with for a few weeks at a time and then not touch again for a year, only to become totally obsessed once again. There are a few ways to handle this. You could put those toys in a box and store them away in an attic or closet. Once every month or so take one out and put it on the "active" toy shelf, being sure to remove the old ones when the new ones emerge.

Another idea may be to donate it to your church, nursery school or library. Your child will still get to play with it some times but it won't be taking up space in your home.

Or you can find a friend and do a toy rotation. Swap a box of toys with them every so often. Your child will always have something new and interesting to play with and, when they visit their friend, they'll get to play with their old toys that they enjoy.

Calm your fears. 

You're not going to scar your children by reducing the amount of clutter in their world. Rather, you are teaching them the value of quality over quantity. You're going to give them a cleaner, more organized space to play in and easier access to their favorite things. They will be better able to care for their own space which is great for building confidence. They're going to be OK.

If you are really truly worried that they are going to be traumatized by the loss of their stuff wait a few weeks before dragging it to the curb. Hide the boxes and bags in the garage, attic or basement and see if out of sight doesn't just turn into out of mind with surprising speed.

Look to the future!

You've made great progress! You've gotten the kids' rooms clean and clutter free.

They're enjoying their favorite toys and finding it easy to clean up after themselves. All is well with the world and then… Christmas morning strikes! Don't panic! It's OK to add a few new toys into the mix. After all, you just created all this space in your world, right? But also, consider letting the grandparents and others who may be buying gifts for your family in on your plan to de-clutter.

When they ask what your children want for Christmas, perhaps you could suggest games that the family can play together or, instead of toys, experiences - a family membership to the zoo or the YMCA, tickets to a play or concert, or gift certificates to a restaurant you wouldn't normally go to so that the kids can experience something new and exciting. You may just find that the whole family benefits from expanding their horizons!

As one mom, easily buried in clutter to another, I'm curious to hear. What other strategies do you employ to keep your children's play spaces tidy and enjoyable?

Elizabeth Comiskey has a true passion to care for the planet, promote world peace and raise her children to be productive citizens. She's also a normal working mom - exhausted and constantly pressed for time - so she seeks out the most efficient possible ways to do these things.  Her blog, Lazy Hippie Mama, was born of her certainty that she couldn't possibly be the only one who cares a great deal about improving the world around her and connecting with others in meaningful, inspiring ways but lacking in time and energy. Visit her blog, Lazy Hippie Mama or join her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Elizabeth is also a Sverve Influencer - connect with her here.

Want more articles from the Sverve community? 

DIY Holiday Bootcamp

5 DIY Beauty Gift Ideas

How Wearable Electronic Activity Monitors Help You Reach Fitness Goals