Talk to Me about Streamlining Toys

[NEastMomma]

Hi Mamas,

I've read a couple times here about "removing" all but a few toys for the toddler set.  I'm so tempted to do this (once I figure out where to put all the stuff).  I know *I'd* appreciate having a more streamlined home, but what are the benefits you've seen for your toddler?  DS is 18mos and has been gifted roughly 1million toys - some nice wooden ones and some junk.  I notice that he barely even plays with any of them!  Does having only a few out mean he might actually play with them?  What have you noticed?

Thanks in advance!

[physmom]

I'd highly recommend getting one of these: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103086 , laying it on its side and putting one toy in each cubby hole. Then either store the toys and rotate them out every week or get rid of the rest.  When we did that DD started playing with her toys A LOT more.  Toddlers basically want whatever is right in front of their face (well, except ice cream... DD can ALWAYS remember that she wants ice cream) so it's really important to organize the toys so they are easily accessed. 

Oh, we also found using one of those cubby holes as a snack/drink tray that can be accessed during the day when ever DD wants really helps to regulate moods!

Lately we've been gifted an infinite number of cheap plastic toys from relatives.  I have to admit that when I saw DD dragging around this toy phone on that floor that played extremely annoying and loud music I just let her go for it in hopes that she would break it (and she did! ) because trust me they ask!  We keep telling everyone not to buy anything for her but nobody here actually listens to what we say.  We ALWAYS asks for books and do we ever get any, nooooooo!  We're about to move away from the vast majority of DH's family (well, to a city that's still in driving distance but far enough away) so you better believe all the cheap plastic toys are going to be thrown away/given away.  I'm not 100%  against plastic (I like Little People, for instance) but I have no tolerance for the cheap, loud plastic ones. 

[starling&diesel]

Right now we have a few things out in the living room (play kitchen, puzzles, books, doll, animal figures) and then DD also has a phalanx of beloved stuffed animals on her bed. Other than that, when something new comes, she needs to choose one thing to part with.  She's used to this, so no big deal.  We recently had a bigger influx though (Christmas and birthday, even though we asked for no presents) so now when she abandons a toy for more than a few days or so, I put it in her toybox in her room (she never goes in there, sleeps in our room) and what stays in the toybox for more than a month or so gets taken out of the house (to the thrift store.)  Anymore toy clutter than we already have and I go crazy and DD doesn't know where to begin or end. 

ETA: The benefits are many ... DD can focus on what she's doing, choose from a simple few rather than a confusing myriad, the toys we do have are open-ended in terms of imagination so that keeps her going, the house is easier to keep clean, it's more pleasing on the eye, fosters tidiness (everything has a place, everything in it's place), the house is not dominated by children's things (we have a very small condo), and I don't feel bad about investing in quality items (or I do, but less so). 

[crunchy_mommy]

Yes, my 2yo DS definitely plays more with his toys since we streamlined them about 9mos ago. He still isn't big on toys but it's way better than before when everything was completely ignored! We don't keep toys DS doesn't play with, and we don't keep noisy plastic toys or toys with very limited use. It's hard especially to get rid of gifts but it's for DS's sanity (and mine as well!) so I just do it (and I've told everyone what kinds of toys we prefer for him, so if they totally disregard that & get him a noisy plastic robot that he is absolutely terrified of, I have fewer qualms about returning/donating it right away!! Plus I suspect they aggravate DS's sensory issues.)

Having the toys organized is huge... It actually makes it look like we don't have many toys -- and it's true that we probably have fewer than most do -- but there are a lot still, it just doesn't look like it. Most of the toys have spots on certain shelves amongst the books, and we group similar types of toys together, so there is a basket of play pots/pans/food that he'll take out & play with & then put away, and a basket of little animals, a stack of puzzles, a basket of musical instruments... He likes keeping it all neat and although a few toys get strewn around at times (mostly when DH is playing with him ) for the most part it stays pretty tidy. In fact DS has been home all afternoon & evening and the only things on the ground right now are a little doll, 2 magnetic letters from the fridge, and his hockey stick.

OH and DS has a 'bedroom' upstairs (has no bed in it since he sleeps in ours still!) that we are using as an occasional playroom. The upstairs is gated off due to construction, so he only goes up there a couple times a week, if that. Many of the overflow toys (the ones I'm not ready to get rid of but don't want out in the main part of the house) go up there and they seem more 'new' to him since he doesn't see them often. This was our alternative to rotating toys (which for some reason seemed stressful to me!)

So yeah, I absolutely 100% recommend streamlining as much as you can and setting up some kind of rotation with what remains so there aren't so many toys out. Just start by getting rid of things that are broken or annoying... those are the easiest to part with, and kind of get you in the groove. Also, I've made a good amount of money selling stuff on CL which is a great side benefit lol!

[elizaMM]

...Many of the overflow toys (the ones I'm not ready to get rid of but don't want out in the main part of the house) go up there and they seem more 'new' to him since he doesn't see them often. This was our alternative to rotating toys (which for some reason seemed stressful to me!)
 

This is my problem too. If I put toys away, that means I have to get them out again at some point.

Also, one of ds' shelves full of toys is hidden behind furniture. There's a little walking space between the furniture and the shelf, but visually its not very apparent.

I think I'll send a link to this thread to DH and maybe he'll help me pair down.
 

[NEastMomma]

Thanks all!

I took your advice and jumped right in this morning.  Culled all broken toys/toys with missing pieces.  Went back and on 2nd sweep culled ones that are in good condition, but just too loud, plastic, or just not for us.  These ones I'll sell at a local consignment sale in the spring (but was able to put them away in a convenient spot for short-term).  Took everything else but the "essentials" and put them in the toybox that DS never goes in. 

As for the remaining toys?  I divided into two small baskets: First holds just toy cars/planes.  The other holds the magnadoodle, shape sorter a couple of balls and the wooden blocks.  

I am amazed at how much more roomy our small condo feels after this.  Next project - buying a bookcase for DS's huge collection of books that is overflowing out of their place in a couple of additional baskets.  BUT I'll never complain about being gifted books - ever! 

Again, thanks for your help.  You all are an inspiration to me!

[crunchy_mommy]

Way to go!!!

[physmom]

Great! We've always had space issues too so it really does make a difference once you purge out the toys!  I hope he starts playing with them more because of it and again I can't recommend those IKEA shelves enough when you do get more shelves.

[PatchChild]

We use our coat closet for extra toy storage, so they aren't all out at once. Now, at age three, DS will ask to trade toys. He'll bring something to the closet and trade it for a different toy. It's worked out really well for us.