Why simplifying your child’s toys is important….and how to do it.
When my eldest little girl was a baby we only had a few simply toys. Toys were so novel in our house, tidy up was so easy. One day in conversation with a mother of two older boys, she said a recent birthday in her house was like the toy store exploding into her living room. Toys multiply fast! My baby girl just had her 4th birthday and I thought of that toy shop explosion story. More kids, more occasions can result in just too much stuff.
Instead of enhancing play skills and enjoyment this can have the opposite effect. Now, let me be very clear, I LOVE toys and am culprit number one for wanting to buy my kids lots! However, I practice (some) restraint and ensure I do my part in simplifying things for them.
In this short blog I will tell you my why and my how. Hope this is helpful for you. As always, happy playing, Denise x
01.
Simplifying increases play and creativity
As the old saying goes: less is more.
You know the times you have gone to your wardrobe and even if it is bursting with clothes you feel you have nothing to wear. You might throw loads of different options out on to the floor or bed. Ultimately you end up feeling overwhelmed and the place is a mess. Simplify that same wardrobe with careful thought into the categories of clothes you need and how they can be mixed and matched and hey presto (well hey a good bit of effort but worth it presto!) getting dressed becomes so much more pleasurable.
Well lets now take that analogy and apply it to each of your children, whatever their age or stage. Less allows your child see what is available easier. It reduces overwhelm and the tendency to jump from one thing to another which ultimately only leads to mess and chaos. Less gives breathing room and space for pleasurable and meaningful play to unfold.
So how does one go about reducing the ever increasing avalanche of toys? This can be hard. Here are some tips.
- Start the decluttering by first getting rid of broken or completely unused toys.
- Then look at where there are multiple or similar toys and consider donating some of these.
- Now look for toys that can’t be used in alternative ways and consider eliminating these.
- Are there any annoying toys that can go? Complicated or very high stimulation toys need to be few and far between.
02.
simplifying toys allows them be Categorised
So let’s continue the wardrobe analogy. Imagine you have seventeen coats but only one pants and no nice jumpers. How is that going to work out for you? A bit useless!
More toys doesn’t necessarily mean more play opportunities if the toys are in a similar category. To support your child’s development they need to have a varied and wide play diet. Variety of play materials and play opportunities is key, not excess.
Of course you follow your child’s interests but within this ensure their play can continually expand. Like instead of adding another coat to a wardrobe that has enough (no matter how lovely that coat is) how about you buy some new accessories to allow that coat be worn differently. So instead of buying more of a similar toy can you look at what your child has and think what would enhance these and make them work in other ways.
Remember different categories are important to have but you do not have to have everything within each category just a selection will do.
Categories:
- Building materials (lego/blocks/magnetic tiles)
- Small world toys (little figures, little furniture, little animals, vehicles, a simple dolls house)
- Dress up and role play materials (some costumes, a wig, a scarf, some funny glasses, a doctors kit, a toolbox, a shop till, a toy kitchen)
- Art materials (some can be left out available like a few colouring books, paper, colours etc some packed away for days when it is a good time to paint/do collage..)
- Messy/sensory play (some left out like fidgets and squishes and others like slime making, playdoh, bubbles can be in a place where they are taken out when appropriate)
- Games and jigsaws
- Outdoor/gross motor toys (think anything where the whole body is involved like cycling, trampolining, kicking a ball, skipping or just getting out running)
03.
Simplifying toys gifts your child time and space
Too many toys out at once can lead to play that lacks focus and depth. Play needs to deepen and expand for the real learning to emerge. Jumping from one toy to another can result in play that lacks meaning and instead of stimulated your child might end up bored.
So, after you have reduced and categorised toys, then toy rotation is your friend. Within each category, take away some toys and put away out of sight. Think about it, If you are in the habit of putting away your winter clothes for the spring/ summer months you will know how those same clothes reappearing in the autumn will seem fresh and interesting. Same goes with toys. Rotating toys is magic.
Some last tips
Remember toys are only one part of play. Play is also in the everyday opportunities and engagements with others. It is simply not necessary to have loads of toys but it is vital that a child had loads of playfulness and play opportunities in their every day interactions. For example cooking with a parent can be engaging, connecting and fun. These interactions are so meaningful and often inspire your childs play later on.
When looking at the toy categories do not worry if it is a little off balance. Work with what you have and build from there. For birthdays and Christmas if toys are going to be bought by relatives maybe you could consider letting them know what would be useful to get.
If possible, take away some presents from your child’s birthday pile and put away for a rainy day. It is such a lovely treat to give your child a new toy/activity on a day they are not expecting it.
Some questions for you to consider and reflect on:
- Am I overwhelmed by the amount of toys my child has when it comes to tidy up time?
- Do I feel my child has a varied play diet?
- Could I try toy rotation?