Beating Christmas toy clutter in 4 easy steps
Bean is an incredibly blessed little girl. She is the first grandchild on both sides, so you can about imagine how many awesome toys and fun things she gets during the holidays. It gets to be a bit of a challenge after Christmas to figure out where to put all of her new “friends” and toys. After 3 years of holiday madness, I think I finally have a system to declutter kids toys post Christmas!
Stock up on containers
Decide what stays and what goes
Grab 2 boxes and label them donate and toss. Proceed to the toy box and ask yourself these questions:
What doesn’t get played with often but is still in good shape? Put it in the donate box.
What has seen better days or just plain is broken? Put it in the toss box.
What has sentimental value or what is still a favorite toy? Put it in a pile that will later be put back in its place.
Give everything a home
A place for everything, and everything in its place. This saying rings in my head any time I tackle an organization project. It really helps. If you can’t find a home for something, is it really necessary to keep? Repeat the 3 questions above and if you answer “yes” to the last one, create a home for it. That’s what all of those plastic bins are for 🙂
Schedule a pick up
Take your pick, there are so many different charities that will come right to your door and pick up your unwanted items. Plus, it’s a tax write off 🙂 Google “at home donation pick up” and your state to find an organization that is doing pick ups in your area. Most have online scheduling, so all you have to do is pick a date and leave the boxes on your doorstep. Make sure you keep track of the value of your donations for tax purposes.
That, in a nutshell, is how I tame the toy clutter around our house. In typical kid fashion, as soon as I was done organizing Bean rediscovered old favorite toys and just had to “play with this one!” (as she puts it). Hope my system for organizing after Christmas toy clutter helps you see that it’s not too overwhelming, if you take it step by step.
I just got done doing this! I boxed up the toys that are too “little” for him in a plastic bin and am storing them in the garage for (hopefully) another sibling someday. I think we've tried really hard to tell family not to buy him too many toys, which has actually helped. We suggest books or something instead. But I know how it goes! Our son is the only grandchild on my side of the family so the spoiling definitely happens! 🙂
We did too, but I know it's hard for family not to go for the toys when there's so many fun options!