How to Get Rid of Toys Without Upsetting the Townschildren

Getting rid of toys without upsetting your kids can be a real struggle for moms. Inside you’ll see how to have peace of mind about this process and find some practical tips too!

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I have some children who are minimalist at heart. They want their books, a few toys, and life is grand.

And then I have a couple children who are practicing their hoarding skills at a young age. It doesn’t matter if the toy is in 3 pieces and there are cracks and you can barely pick it up…

They’d rather get out the glue gun than part with it.

While I do respect my children’s wishes regarding many of their toys, ultimately, I get to decide the level of mess I’m willing to have in my own home.

You’re the Mom…You Decide

When it comes to getting ride of toys, it’s a good idea to have a game plan. After all, keeping all the toys…ever… will lead to an overly crowded, cluttered, and messy house.

So, the first thing to do is to decide what method you want to do to get ride of the unnecessary toys.

Choose a method that works for your family dynamic and personality. Once you decide, be fair and firm. Your kids will catch on and be better for it.

Be Fair, Unwavering, and Considerate

Don’t rush to make hasty decisions. The last thing you want to do is throw away something of value or an item that has real sentimental value to your little one.

Instead, lay your plan out for the kids. Include them in the planning process. And, of course, stick to it.

Look from Your Child’s Perspective

Children of different ages and personalities will handle getting rid of toys in different ways. It may not be a big deal to throw out a baby’s toy, but older kids may feel violated by this act.

The key here is to get them to buy in to your plan. So, look from their perspective and pick a getting rid of toys plan that works for everyone.

Read: Mindsets All Minimalist Moms Have That Make Life Easier

Use Special Occasions

Out with the old… in with the new. This is what a toy rotation is all about.

If your kids are like mine, they get new toys from grandparents, family members, friends, and more on special occasions. On Christmas especially, use all of the new items to replace some of the older toys.

The principal thing is this – “everything has a place”. A place where it sits when not being played with. SO… in order to keep the new toys, some room has to be made by getting rid of the old.

There’s so much excitement wrapped up in special occasions. And kids get distracted by the new toys and don’t value the ones from last year as much.

Special occasions are perfect opportunities to get rid of toys without a fight or fuss.

Have an Organizing Day (Make it Fun)

Kids room can get seriously messy in a hurry. That’s why its good to have some organization in place for easy clean up after play.

The problem is, whatever tool your using to organize probably has to morph over the years– depending on the type of toys your kid has.

For example, a toddler may have his bedroom organized in wicker baskets for various toys. But an elementary aged kid would benefit from shelves.

So, as your child grows… expect your methods of organization to grow too. What better day to get rid of toys without upsetting the townspeople than a day with a new bookshelf or basket organization system.

This is a great time to remove toys that your child has grown. Toys that are no longer age appropriate have no place in their newly organized room.

Show Them that Less Is More

When there is less clutter, it’s easier to enjoy the things you have. Unfortunately, this precept does not come naturally. To most, it hast to be taught.

When your child relieves a new toy:

A side note– It’s important to model this in your own life for the kids to see. Yes, I know it’s hard. But it’s probably for the best.

Instead of stacking new toys away (amidst the clutter)…

Spend time with the new toys. Spread them out and enjoying them together. Point out to your kids that this fun is possible because you worked together to give yourself that space. It’s a life lesson that will benefit them in the years to come.

Teach Rational Decision Making Skills

Moms are always looking for opportunities to teach life skills. Getting rid of toys is one of those golden areas… so many life skills here.

For example, focus and attention to a task at hand can be taught by having your children go through their toys to discard any toys that are no longer age appropriate.

Prioritizing what’s important can be taught through picking through their toys and discarding ones they don’t really play with. We’ve already talked about it, but organization falls under this category as well. Kids will often enjoy organizing their space to meet their creativity needs.

Make getting rid of toys a real conversation that you have with the kids. It’s not just a crazy clean up day or a day mom finally gets fed up with the clutter. In fact, it’s more than that….It’s a chance to feel happier in a more tidy space. It’s an opportunity to spend some time together doing something productive. Or, maybe it’s a lesson on making decisive decisions.

Here is a fun way to work together during a day of bedroom/toy area purging:

First, dump out all the toys in that area into one big pile on the floor. Then, set up three baskets labeled: to keep, to discard, and to give away.

This not only teaches that it’s not ok to “give away” broken and useless toys. Because… that’s just not friendly. But, it also teaches rational decision making skills.

It’s “OK” to be Sneaky

Whatever getting rid of toys game plan you choose, remember that it’s ok to be sneaky. Let me explain.

If your child uncovered up some unplayed with toys and then decided to keep them- even though they don’t really like them… maybe they should just disappear during the night?

The truth is if they don’t even know their missing, you made the right decision. You never know, that very toy might be a perfect find for another mom looking for her children.

If you feel guilty about this, just keep the toys for a week and see if they notice them gone. Chances are, they are happy to use that space for something they want to play with.