![]() Just create a separate pile of toys for them to consider if you come across an item that you think they will miss. I’d recommend completing what I call a ‘wave 1 check’ first if your children are 8 years old or younger, or if you have a significant amount of toys (this means you go through their toy collection without them meaning: you have great focus and you protect your children from the overwhelm and extensive decision-making). Depending on the age of your children, it’s up to you whether you think it’s best to involve your mini people in the process or not. ![]() Let me guide you through some strategies on how to declutter toys. And I can think of no better time to start working on this category with 5 weeks until Christmas, because let’s face it, we all know that the next influx of new toys is coming very soon… Whatever the reason we have let toys take over our lives and homes, it’s time to do something about it. ![]() We’ve attended too many birthday parties and received our body weight in plastic tat that often finds it’s way into party bags (destined to remain forever in our homes because our children become so attached to that annoying little unicorn that poos out playdough - sound familiar?!) We’ve been given too many toys over the years from well-meaning relatives and friends as presents, or through hand-me-downs. This makes it easy for the child to locate everything they need to work on an activity and appeals to their sense of order.We’ve bought too many over the years and have been unable to invest the time to go through them to consistently declutter and keep on top of the volume of toys, unable to establish the baseline amount that works for us. All the pieces of each material or toy is grouped together using baskets and trays. This set up is simple, clean, and organized, unlike a big toy bin that can make it hard for a child to choose items and find what they're looking for.Ģ. This allows the child to freely take any items they're interested in, as well as put them back when they're done. Placing all materials and toys on a Montessori Shelf (or other low shelf) at a height that is accessible to the child. You can set up your playroom the same way without creating an exact replica of a Montessori classroom.ġ. Try simplifying some of the toys and see if they begin interacting with it.Ī Montessori classroom is designed for independence and aligns with a young child's need for order. Sometimes toys have too many pieces, parts, or functions and it overwhelms the child. One of the amazing things about young children is that they change so much, even in just a month.Ī toy that holds little interest right now, might be just what they need in a few months.Īnother way to pique a child's interest in a new toy is to simplify it. It might not meet their current developmental needs and interests. If your child is not showing any interest in some of their new toys right now, put them away for awhile. Note Your Child's Interests and Abilities If there were some toys that your child was still enjoying before the holidays, leave those out as long as there's still interest, alongside a few new items.ģ. To a small child, it can be confusing and stressful to completely overhaul their playroom overnight. To an adult, it might seem like so much fun to get a bunch of new toys. If you do rotate and limit the number of toys available in your play space, don't remove all the old ones at once and replace them with all new toys. It keeps the environment fresh and interesting, without overwhelming the children.įor more info about how to rotate your toys and materials at home, check out this post: Why Toy Rotation is the Key To a Beautiful Playroom (and Your Sanity!) That's why Montessori classrooms rotate the materials every few weeks. Montessori found that young children become overwhelmed with too many options. Many children get 10+ new toys around the holidays and it's just too overwhelming to have them all out at once, alongside all the old toys.Ĭhoose just a couple new items that your child is showing the most interest in and then put the rest away for now. Here's 4 quick ways you can declutter in a way that encourages focused, independent play: You're overwhelmed, your child is overwhelmed, and even with all these new toys, you're not seeing much independent play. Open Boxes, Demos, and Imperfect ProductsĪfter a whirlwind week with lots of gifting, you might find your play space overflowing with new toys.
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