I skimmed though a book by Lori Lippincott yesterday at the bookstore and she gave 5 different suggestions on how to cut down kid's toy clutter and decide if it should go or not. I don't know if I got them all in the right order, but these were the main points I could remember, along with a comment or two of my own.
1. Is it broken or missing pieces? This is a no brainer. Let it go. Maybe if you are just sitting there in the room while your child plays, you can get out games, puzzles, etc. and see if they are missing pieces.
2. Do they play with it any more? If they haven't played with it for a while, think of letting it go. Usually kids choose a few toys they really like, so get rid of the other ones that don't catch their interest.
3. Does it drive you crazy? Whether it is pounding or musical toys or toys that talk, sometimes you just have enough of it. We have had a few of these...they found a new home pretty quickly!
4. Is it a duplicate of something you already have? Why do you need two of the same item? Legos are an exception, of course. But, you don't need two of the same sets!
5. Is it age appropriate? If your child is eight years old, you don't need to keep his baby toys.
When we had all our 5 kids at home, toys were the biggest source of clutter. I didn't get many toys growing up, so I think I tried to make up for it with my kids. I could have saved a lot of money as well as a lot of time picking up and taking care of all the toys we have had through the years if I had been wiser.
There are a few timeless toys I don't regret getting at all: Legos and Playmobil. I do regret not making or buying some dress up clothes or costumes for the kids to pretend in.
What are the toys that you kids play with the most?
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