MAKE ROOM FOR MERRY

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

-  A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clark Moore

Don’t you just *wish* the holidays could go like this?  Here in the real world, Christmas Eve is anything but a Silent Night and the creatures? Stirred.  And definitely not dreaming of waking up to sugar-plums.  If your kid fancies a traditional candy made from dried fruit and nuts over the new doll with 200 accessories, 500-piece Lego kit, or the Play-Doh pasta and pizza maker set with 20 little plastic pieces…IDK, I’ve never heard of such a thing.  What’s your life like?  The rest of us will be spending the late evening assembling Barbie Dream Houses, doing last-minute wrapping, and wondering “where will we put all of this?!” With the first two activities on that list, you’re on your own – I have my own issues with assembly instructions and gift-wrapping procrastination – but I do have some strategies for keeping the toy collection from overtaking the entire house.

Pre-holiday Toy Edit

Mid-November is a fantastic time to take stock of what’s in the playroom.  If your children are old enough, including them in the process and respecting their choices is a must.  This is an opportunity to talk about what they’re currently interested in, what they have grown out of, what items mean the most to them, and maaayyyybe they’ll drop some hints about what they’d appreciate for Christmas. 

If your children are too young to participate, set aside an afternoon to have someone else look after them for a few hours while you roll up your sleeves.  It can be difficult to know with small children what toys will suddenly become their favorites or which ones they’re totally over, so when in doubt, use the quarantine method: place the toys in question inside a plastic tote with a lid and store it out of view.  Give yourself a deadline of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, whatever you’re comfortable with, and if your child hasn’t asked for what’s inside, you’re probably home free.

It may be beneficial to bring in a trusted friend to help and keep you motivated.  Or maybe call in a professional who can bring a fresh perspective and expertise to the project.  I hear those exist.

Toss out any toys that are damaged beyond use.  Donate gently used toys that no longer interest them.  Keep in mind, you’re making space for all those toys you’ve already squirreled away in your own closet and the giant, loud, 150-piece whatever the grandparents have undoubtedly already decided your household needs.

Speaking of Boundaries…

Set some.  Now.  No time like the present. Ok, maybe after Christmas.  Definitely for the new year. Be thoughtful about what items enter your home.  Not just toys, but especially toys.  Kids grow out of toys almost as quickly as they grow out of shoes.  Their developmental needs change and their interests evolve. Don’t invest excessive money and space into passing phases.  Quality over quantity.

Decide how much space you’re willing to dedicate to toy storage.  2 baskets in the family room?  One shelf in each child’s bedroom?  An entire room?  Whatever you decide, stick to the plan.  If the toys do not fit, you must ed-it. (That’s an OJ trial reference, younglings.)

Contain and Maintain

Containing toys in a way that is easy for children to maintain is key.  For younger children, wide, open storage pieces work best. Think extra large cotton rope baskets and open shelving.  Remove any barrier that little hands may find challenging – if tidying up involves opening a lid or a cupboard, they’re less likely to do it.

As kids get older, the toys become more complicated and each of them comes with 25 pieces and no way to contain them together (ARE YOU LISTENING, MATTEL?). Clear pencil pouches are great for doll accessories and all those little foam darts scattered throughout seemingly every home where school-aged children reside.

There’s no reason to go overboard on brand new containers, but the *right* containers matter. 

When Christmas morning finally hits, embrace it. We only have so many holidays with young children.  During that squishy week between Christmas and New Year’s, maybe the living room looks like a toy factory exploded, maybe there are 47 Lego pieces under the sofa and slime smooshed into the rug, but if you’ve planned ahead, all those new toys will find their homes by New Years Eve.  Or Valentine’s Day.  Spring Break for sure.