It’s that time of year again. The time when your child’s toys start taking over the house. You can’t walk through a room without tripping over a toy car or a doll. And don’t even get me started on the Legos. It seems like every day, more and more toys are strewn about the house. So what can you do to eliminate all these toys without causing a meltdown? Keep reading for our tips!
How to Get Rid of Child’s Toys?
1. Talk to them about it
The first thing to do when deciding to get rid of toys is not to hide them when your child is out and hope they won’t notice, but rather to talk to them about it. Tell them why you think getting rid of their toys is a good idea. Don’t just think of the problem as a parent. Think of benefits for the child as well. Maybe their room will be less cluttered, and they’ll be able to find their toys more easily. Perhaps they can get some new toys with the money you make from selling their old ones. Explain the reasons to your child in a way they can understand.
2. Get them involved
Once you’ve explained why getting rid of some of their toys is a good idea, get them involved. Have them help you sort through their toys and decide which ones they want to keep and which they wish to donate or sell. This will help them feel like they’re part of the decision-making process and not just being forced to get rid of their favorite things.
3. Make the toy purge engaging and fun
If there’s one thing kids love more than their toys is having fun with them. So make the toy purge into a game! See who can find the most toys to donate or sell. Maybe race to see who can pack up their toys the quickest. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that will get them excited about getting rid of their toys.
4. Give your kids a choice
Give them a choice when getting rid of their toys. Ask your kids about the toys they want to get rid of. However, make sure you set boundaries. For example, if your child has too many barbie dolls and outfits, narrow down the number of dolls and outfits they can keep to a fixed number. In addition, talk to your kid about whether they want to donate their dolls to a local charity or sell them at a garage sale. This way, they’ll feel like they have some control over what happens to their old toys. And who knows, maybe they’ll even make some money from selling their toys.
5. Don’t rush the decision process
Like everything that involves kids, you cannot rush the decision-making process. It might take a few days or weeks to get rid of all the toys finally. And that’s okay! Remember to be patient and keep the lines of communication open with your child throughout the process.
6. Don’t throw away toys
The worst thing you can do with your kid’s toys is to dump them in the trash bin. The last thing kids want to see is their favorite ride on toy in the bin. After some discussion, most kids will warm up to donating their toys to someone else. If your child is particularly attached to their toys, you can explain to them that by donating the toys, they will be making another child very happy.
7. Keep the memory of the toy
While this is something that most parents don’t do, it’s a great way to keep the memory of the toy without having to keep the toy itself. Take a picture of your child with their favorite toy and then donate or sell the toy. This way, they’ll still have a physical reminder of their favorite toy without having to keep it around the house.
8. Donate or sell
Now that you’ve sorted their toys, it’s time to decide what to do with them. You can either donate them to a local charity or sell them at a consignment sale or online. If you choose to sell them, you can use the money to buy your child new toys or put them away for a rainy day.
9. Never get upset during the process
This is probably the most important rule of all. No matter what happens during the toy purge, never get upset with your child. They’re just trying to help, and they’re doing their best. Remember, this is a process, and it will take some time. So be patient and keep your cool throughout the entire process.
The most important tip is to reduce, reduce, and reduce. Remember, your goal here is to eliminate your child’s excess toys. Most parents sympathize with their children somewhere down the line and let them keep more toys than essential. However, in such situations, be firm and explain why they need to get rid of some of their toys. They might not like it at first, but they’ll appreciate it in the end.