Week Five: Organize Your Kids' Toys for the Holidays

[4 Weeks Before Christmas]

First off, don't have kids? You get this week off! Or you could make this organizer super proud by picking another area that might need attention, like a guest bath.

This category can be tough because it can be so big and overwhelming but it will make the post-holiday time much easier. If you declutter now, you will actually have space to put away the new gifts your kids get.

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I like to break this category down into 5 sub-categories:

Games

Books

Stuffed Animals

Arts & Crafts

Toys

Maybe you only have time or the brain capacity for one category? OK, that's great! Any decluttering you can do now will help you after Christmas. I suggest starting with a category that is not so overwhelming, so you can feel a sense of accomplishment.

Steps & Questions to Organize Your Kids' Toys

For each category, you will follow the same steps and ask yourself the same questions.

The first step is to gather everything in one category all together so you can see everything at once.

Then go through everything one by one asking the following questions:

• Is it broken? If it's broken and you know you can't (or won't) fix it, it's time to let it go. You can post this on a free site for someone who'd want to fix it, or you can just trash or recycle it.

• Is it a duplicate? If you have more than one of the same thing and you don't have an actual need to have duplicates, it's time to donate the duplicate.

• Is it missing pieces that I know we don't have? Kids lose things. A lot. Don't keep the game that is unplayable because you are missing an important piece. Don't keep the cars without wheels. Don't keep the books that are missing pages.

• Has my child outgrown it? If your child is well beyond the age range for a toy or book, it's time to pass it down to a younger sibling or donate it so another child can enjoy it.

Here are some tips for each category:

Books

It can be very hard to get rid of books. Keep sentimental favorites in your child's keepsake box. Only save items you’d cherish for your child or future generations. Be stingy with what you save and ask yourself if you would have wanted the same thing from your childhood for your children.

Stuffed Animals

This is a good one to involve your child(ren) in. If you've pulled some out for the above questions but you think they will miss it, have your child weigh in. If they see that they have 5 Mickeys, you can tell them to pick their favorite 2. You could be surprised at how good kids can be at this!

If they aren't willing to part with some. but you think its still too many, store them out of sight and see if they ask for them.

For beloved animals or ones with memories attached, add them to the keepsake box.

Games

Often, we end up with a lot of games, but only a few of which we play regularly. Ask your child which they truly love. Donate or discard unused or incomplete games.

Arts and Crafts

It’s tempting to hold onto everything, but remember—your house is not a craft supply store! If you haven't used it in the last year and don't see yourself using it in the next year, it's time to let it go.

Those kits that are half done that no one will finish? Toss them.

Fully colored coloring books? Recycle them.

Activity books they've outgrown? Donate them.

A job that you can give your kids in this category is to test the writing utensils! (Unless you're like me and this is your favorite part!) Test the markers and toss or recycle the dried out ones. Same for broken crayons and colored pencils. Still have too many than can be used on a regular basis? Donate to your local school!

Toys

Toys can take over your space!

Give your child parameters for how much they can keep. For example, "you can keep as many dolls as will fit on this shelf." Or "you can keep as many cars as will fit in this bin."

This is not being mean! This is teaching your child how to visually discern what can fit in their living space. This is a valuable life skill! Help them line up like items so they can see them all at once and decide what to keep and what can be donated.

Sometimes we hold onto toys because they were a gift or because we spent a lot of money on them. Be honest with yourself as you are weeding out toys. If there are expensive toys that your kids have outgrown, you can always sell them at a consignment sale or locally on Facebook marketplace if you need to recoup the money.

If you are having trouble getting rid of something because it was a gift, remind yourself that sometimes the purpose of a gift is the joy it brought to the giver. You are not required to keep it forever and ever. If it no longer serves your household, donate it so another child can get enjoyment out of it instead of it collecting dust in your home.

Drop off Donations

This final step when your organize your kids' toys may be the most important! Don't keep your pile of toys to donate. Take it to the donation center of your choice ASAP. Kids will inevitably rediscover something they already agreed to donate, undoing all of that progress.

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Next Up:

Week 6: Entryway