About six months ago, I read a blog about a mom who
packed up all her girls’ toys one day. Her daughters didn’t seem to mind, actually helped her. I chatted with friends and family about this idea. The main concept is to encourage imaginative play. As well as help your kids have an easier time cleaning their own room.
A couple of months ago, I decided to try it. It wasn’t a punishment, it was something the boys and I sat down and talked about. Each chose a toy collection they didn’t want to part with. Dain, the legos and Jackson the Chevron
cars. So we kept both of those out and put everything else in the crawlspace. It was great! The boys loved how easy it was to clean up and how organized their room was. Over the past few months, the toys have snuck back up stairs gradually.
This morning I was being hounded by two “bored” little boys. I went into their room and looked around. TOY EXPLOSION! The room was a disaster. Toys, clothes, you name it, everywhere and they are BORED. So, I once again, started packing up toys. Guess what? They didn’t care. They shrugged and picked up one small truck. They’ve been playing with that one small truck together for the last hour.
Less is more. That’s
what I have concluded. Children need less, to have more. I want my children to cherish the special toys they have. Right now they seem to have so many toys
they could care less about them. Serious red flag.
Birthday season is coming up and I know more toys are going to make their way back into our home. It’s inevitable. In the meantime, I’m going to really clean out their room this time, nothing gets left out. Except the Logos, of course.
We haven’t done this but regarding the birthday thing, this coming year I am going to request people only bring gift cards or money for my boys, that way they can learn how to spend money and we don’t get a ton of unnecessary toys. Toys are way too overwhelming when you have a small home and multiple children.