If have been a parent for a year or two, I'm sure you know the feeling of being overrun by toys. Toys everywhere. Toys cluttering the floor. Tripping on, stepping on toys (hopefully not legos. Asking your children to please, pick up their toys.
When I taught preschool (My degree is in Early Childhood Education and Development) I inherited a classroom that had previously been used for storage and was FULL of toys. I spent a good amount of time organizing them and I actually put them in bins up on high shelves. My students were able to focus much better, be less overwhelmed, work together and clean up time was actually achievable for them. It also made it extra fun each day after nap when I brought down a "new" bin of toys for them to enjoy.
Now, as a parent, I'm taking a much more minimal and Montessori approach. Typically we enjoy lots of activities outside our home (church, MOPS, playdates, dance, etc) and my children are exposed to a wide range of toys and activities with their friends. We also do a weekly library trip where we check out at least 20 books to fuel our daily reading time. So what do I, as a parent, want to include in our home collection of toys? What will my children enjoy the most, use the most, and provide them the most value?
This is something every family will need to consider for themselves. However, I've found it helpful to think through the categories of toys that I have out at a time. I keep several bins on the top shelf in the closet to switch out every now and then. I try to have only option falling into each category out at a time.
CATEGORIES:
Building toys (ex. Legos, magnatiles, blocks) Vehicles (cars, trucks, pull toys)
Sensory (music, sensory bin, nature)
Characters (dollhouse, small animals)
Imagination (scarves, blanket, basket)
Gross Motor (balance, trampoline, climbing)
Books (I only purchase our favorites - love the library!)
Arts/Crafts (I have a basket on the kitchen table for crayons, pencils and paper/coloring books)
Doll (or stuffed animal to care for)
I find this so helpful not only when switching out toys, but when purchasing as well!
Tips for buying toys:
Choose toys that you don't have access to elsewhere (EVERYONE we know has a play kitchen so we don't need to) Choose from your children's favorites that they return to again and again Choose toys that can be used multiple ways/open ended toys
Look for quality (wood vs. plastic)
For babies, choose toys with bright, contrasting colors
Less is always more!
As you put toys away in bins, you may find that some bins lose your children's interest much faster than others. This is a good sign that they might be ready to move on and let go of these toys. Depending on the age of your children they can "disappear" or if your children are old enough to have a conversation, you may want to use this as a teaching opportunity to discuss with them how you've noticed this isn't their favorite, how thankful we can be for how much we have, and how we can bless others with the things we don't need.
Picking up will be much less overwhelming!
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