Decluttering and Donating with Your Child
Declutter with kids may seem impossible! These four easy steps make it is so much easier, but you have to be patient. Telling your child, “You have too many toys. I am just going to give them away or have them consigned,” sounds pretty cruel. The toys they have comfort them, but too many may also distract them from using their imagination and creativity. Like any other major change in their life, you want it to go as smoothly as possible. By the time you are done, they will feel proud that they completed the task and your child will now be able to help declutter and donate.
How to Declutter Kids Toys
My kids actually like helping me organize, now. I have been doing it so much that they say, “Mom let’s organize!” And it is great because I have helpers and the process of deciding what gets donated or consigned is much easier. Here is some more declutter motivation.
1. Teach Respect when Decluttering with Kids
Just remember to declutter with kids: the toys are not yours, even if you bought them! Their toys are treasured gifts from everyone they know and it may be confusing and difficult to let them go. Just be patient, keep ensuring them that it is ok if they are not sure and you will only give it away if the child says it is ok. The more respect you show, the more the child will learn that this does not have to be stressful and be more open to deciding, “hey, maybe I do not really need that toy…”
2. Repeat Many Times when Decluttering with Kids
I always warn my kids when something different will be happening or when we have an event coming up so they have time to mentally prepare.
I start to tell them a couple of days before:
“In a couple of days, we are going to organize the playroom. We are going to take out the toys that you do not play with anymore so we have more room. Also, we can take out some big toys and store them in the basement (or garage/attic/etc) so you can play with them another time. We are going to pick the toys we love the most to stay in the playroom. If there is something you do not really like anymore, we will donate or consign it so another child can enjoy it.”
I am going to be honest. Sometimes they get fussy the first time I mention it so I follow through with:
“(Whatever holiday, birthday party or event that requires them receiving gifts) is coming up. We need to make room for those toys! I wonder what Grandma will get you!!!”
You could also encourage that, “there will be more room for building cardboard houses, forts and castles!”
Then, the day before warn them again.
“Tomorrow we are going to organize the playroom…” with the same above explanation.
Then on the morning of..
“Today we are going to organize the playroom…” with the same explanation.
Then a few minutes before I am ready to organize I’ll say:
“In a few minutes we are going to organize the playroom…” with the same explanation.
It is repetitive but kids love repetition. Declutter and donating toys can be a stressful situation for them but it does not have to be. Giving children advanced warnings will get them thinking, “ok, Mom keeps saying we are going to get rid of the toys I don’t play with anymore. What toys do I like? What toys do I not like?”
3. To Declutter with Kids You Have to Make It Fun!
When it is time to organize, I sit down with my kids and dump a bin of toys on the floor. I pick up two toys, put one in each hand and hold it in front of the one that plays with the two toys and ask, “which one do you like better?”
They may think for a second.
Then I say, “the one that is not your favorite will go to the donation pile.”
Then, they will choose one that they like most, so I put their favorite one back in the toy bin and the other one in a separate pile.
If one of them says, “I love them both.” Be lenient and put them both back in the toy bin.
I usually say, “ok, we will keep them but you are doing so well choosing, let’s keep going.” It is all about encouragement and showing how proud you are of them.
Also, they like being able to make a fast decision, feeling in charge of their play space and what they have allowed in it. Afterwards, they see how much more room they have and how much less of a mess there is, and they can find things easily. Plus, Mama’s happy. I have more of a consignment and donations inventory and that will hopefully be enjoyed by another family.
5. Say “Thank you,” and Offer a Reward when Decluttering with Kids
I always say, “thank you for helping me organize the playroom today. You did a great job deciding what you would like to keep. I think you should get something special because I am so proud of you.”
At this point, I do not offer a toy, duh, since we just tried to declutter and donate the toys. More like a special treat or experience like:
Eat a special dessert at home such as a smoothie, s’mores or perhaps pretzel sticks with chocolate hummus and sprinkles.
Make homemade slime or bath bombs. Find bath bomb molds and ingredients on Amazon.
Watch a new movie.
Supervised tablet time.
Start building that cardboard house.
If you would like an experience away from home, there are always playgrounds, parks, hiking trails, beaches, and even going to your favorite ice cream shop are fun rewards that your child will remember.
