Downsizing Toys: Achieve a Clutter-Free Life with These Steps

Having too many toys can be overwhelming not just for kids, but also for parents. The sight of toys scattered all over the floor and piled on shelves could create stress and anxiety, especially for busy moms. Downsizing toys can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be here are the steps that we took to downsize our kids toys before we sold everything to travel in an RV. With these easy steps, you'll achieve a clutter-free home and better playtime for your kids.


Step 1: Pull out all of the toys and place them in a room so you can see everything.
The first step in downsizing toys is to gather them all in one place. This will allow you to see everything. 

Step 2: Any toys that do not function or are broken are removed in whichever way you feel best. Broken toys are useless, and some toys are just beyond repair. Do yourself a favor and dispose of them in whichever way you feel is best. If you can, recycle plastic toys, donate toys that still have some play value, and throw away those that have no value at all.

Step 3: Remove toys that are no longer age-appropriate. Children outgrow their toys quickly, and holding on to them can just take up space. Take note of which toys are no longer age-appropriate and put them aside. You can donate or pass them down to younger kids in your social circle or community or if you want to keep them for the future. Put them in the storage room or package them up for a future time. 

Step 4: Consider your goals for this downsize or declutter. Are you moving? Want to improve how the children play? When downsizing toys, you need to consider why you're doing it in the first place. Are you moving soon and want to lighten your load? Do you want to encourage more open-ended play for your kids? Knowing your goals will help identify which toys should stay or go. 

Step 5: Remove or reduce toys that make noise or are too stimulating to the children.
Some toys are just too noisy or overly stimulating for children, causing distraction and hindering their creative play, and if I am being honest...I don't think parents enjoy them much either. I noticed a HUGE difference in the way my kiddos played when I did this step, and I felt much more at ease without all the loud toys. :)

Step 6: Keep toys that are multi-functional- can be played with outside or inside, maybe use for homeschool. Not all toys are equal, and some toys can provide more play value than others. Consider toys that can be played with both inside and outside of the house, and those that can also be used for homeschool. These toys, like LEGOs or building blocks, provides long hours of quality playtime. When we were transitioning to the RV, this was key so that we could have toys that went with us to the beach, outside the RV, and could be cleaned off to play inside with them. 

Step 7: Does everything have a place? When you've teased out what stays and what goes, make sure every toy has a home. If there are some items that you just aren't sure you want to keep or they will play with I left these toys out in the living room for a week. What toys were constantly being played with? Which ones were in the same place day after day? I would pick some up and place them in a box periodically, if no one asked about them then I got rid of them. 

If you aren't ready to get rid of the toys or want to keep some of them for the future get a box or bin and store it somewhere. While our toys are still minimal, we have some toys that I couldn't just get rid of so we keep them in a bin and bring them out when we have cousins or guests over. It's like Christmas day for the kids!

Downsizing toys need not be a daunting task that induces stress and anxiety. These easy steps can help you and your child achieve a clutter-free home and a better playtime experience. Keep in mind, while it's necessary to declutter played-out toys, giving your child's favorite toys away might be quite traumatic. So be sure to go through the selection process carefully and involve your kids as much as possible. And always remember, a tidy home is a happy home.