Minimizing Toy Clutter in Your Home
Parents and clinicians know: toy clutter can creep up fast! It can also be overwhelming and exhausting to tackle. As pediatric speech-language pathologists, we tend to over-buy in an effort to keep our clients engaged throughout sessions. And as parents, guilt and the fear of establishing boundaries can cause us to accumulate toys. Before more toys arrive this holiday month, here are some ways to get ahead and curb the clutter!
buy open-ended toys
Open-ended toys have longevity and create unlimited play potential.
buy toys with a wide age-range recommendation
Toys with a wide-age range recommendation grow with children.
avoid impulse buying and sale shopping
Sales, impulse buying, and bulk buying can lead to hoarding-adjacent tendencies and causes us to spend more money and buy things we don't need.
take advantage of pre-loved toys
Accepting used and gently used toys from friends, family, and neighbors is a cost-effective strategy for minimizing toy clutter.
consider using common household items
Remember: anything can be a toy!
establish and stick to an organizing and storage system
Establishing an organizing and storage system is half the battle!
think outside the box; play doesn't always require toys
Remember: it’s not WHAT children play with, but the QUALITY of play that matters.