Sometimes we do things for our kids because it is good for them, but there are other times when we are actually helping them out and making life easier for them today. Toys is definitely an area where it is helpful to your kids to limit their choices. Today I wanted to share three areas that limiting our toys has helped my children.
1. Less Stress
Do you know that having too many toys is actually stressful to children? I am not talking about the clutter aspect, although that is certainly true as well, but more about the factor of the multitude of choices. Have you ever had to make a decision, however simple, that caused you to have a moment of anxiety? Sometimes I have those moments of anxiety or stress just over deciding what to choose on a restaurant menu. I am an adult, and I can reason through that, but a child can’t. The vast amounts of choices give a child that same overwhelming feeling. So many good options, they don’t know how to decide! It is stressful.
2. Play Better
I have seen this over and over with my kids. Many times my kids can get lost in their world of play without any help on my part. There are times, though, even though we limit our toys, that Stefan has a difficult time honing in on something he wants to play with. He picks up his blocks, then glances over at his cars and wants those, then sees his Legos and wants those, etc. He can’t decide. I know we have all experienced those times when our kids say they are bored or have nothing to do. This is not because they don’t have enough toys, or even because they don’t like the toys. Usually, this is just a matter of not being able to narrow down their choices and really start playing. Real play.
I have found that when my son gets like that, I can tell him to pick one box. I let him choose which one, but I tell him to only pick one and then go to another room where he won’t see the rest of the choices anymore. More times than not, he will get lost in his world of play. The problem was not the toys, the problem was the choosing of them.
3. Easier Cleanup
I want my kids to learn to pick up there own things right from the start. Having fewer toys helps them in this process. There have been times when we have been somewhere and I have asked Stefan to help clean up. Often I will go to help as well, and when I walk in and see the deluge of toys covering every square inch of the room, I am overwhelmed. No wonder my four-year-old is overwhelmed!
Having fewer toys with a very easy system to follow makes cleanup time easier for the kids and me. 
I showed you How I Organize My Kid’s Clothes and mentioned that the bottom containers are toys. A simple system means even my two-year-old knows exactly where things go.
Have you found that limiting your kids actually helps them? Tell us how in the comments!
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We limit toys as well. We also have started rotating toys in and out on a monthly(ish) basis. My daughter plays so much more peacefully and independently when her toys are limited. However, I haven’t been so good about having her help clean up from the get go and now we’re battling that some…
Toy rotations are a great idea!
We’d just recently started “rotating toys”. My daughter gets to pick from board books, a car, a stuffed bear, and a box of real life items like ribbons, colorful spatulas, stuff that has different texture etc. I’ve noticed significant change is that she actually plays longer now. How and when do you train “clean up”?
I think I will write a post sometime on children helping. Usually if they can pull toys out on their own, then it is time to start teaching them to put them away–but not on their own.
You’ll have to do it with them, but it is still good to have the helping alongside you than just doing it all yourself, even when they are young. It starts creating the habit.
Thanks for the reminder about the busy box! I have not done one yet for Silas (my 10 month old) and I know he would love it!
This really makes a lot of sense even though I have never thought of it that way. I do notice that my kids don’t play with half of the toys they do have. My oldest either plays with transformers or hot wheels cars. My daughter my little pony or doll babies. And the littlest one doesn’t really play with toys yet. This has inspired me to give some things away!
Isn’t it funny how kids only play with a few of their things? I guess we can learn by that that they do not need as much as we think they do! Good luck, getting rid of stuff!
I agree with you completely on limiting toys. We hardly buy our toddler any toys because we found that he’s quite entertained by the simplest things. Since we don’t feel compelled to buy a ton of toys, we can spend more on quality ones, or buy him more books.
Have you read the book The Paradox of Choice? It’s an amazing book that talks about how having *too* many options actually prevent us from making decisions and can cause us anxiety.
I have not read that book. Sounds intriguing! Thanks for the recommendation!
I totally agree, but HOW!!? How do I decide what to get rid of? We have been given so many cool toys because cousins have outgrown them, or grandparents like to spoil us (rescue heroes, little people, geo trax). I’m talking huge rubbermaids full of these toys. We have lots of other toys too. We have way too many toys, and I worry that what the older one likes will not be what the little one likes. I don’t know how to decide because I don’t know if some of the toys are not played with just because they are not even noticed with all of the other options, but we REALLY need to declutter around here. Any ideas?
I have really appreciated your blog. I was able to get rid of over 31 things in March thanks to you. I also put all of the little guy’s pj’s, socks, and onesies in a bin on our bookshelf in the family room since that is where we get him ready for bed, and it has made things so much simpler. Thank you!
Hopefully an upcoming post will give you some ideas.
However, if you are not sure what to get rid of, you might could try a toy rotation. Put some of the rubbermaids of toys in the attic or basement where the kids can’t access them and then put it on your calendar to switch the rubbermaids in a month or so. That might also help you determine if they just aren’t being played with because there are so many, or if they really don’t like to play with them. I will have tips on purging very soon, so stay tuned.
I’m so glad you got some decluttering and simplifying done! It really does make life easier, doesn’t it? Yay~
Thanks for reading, Jenny, and thanks for your comment!
I definitely agree and see a difference, too. The book Simplicity Parenting (brief review here) has suggestions for what toys are helpful to keep (like stuffed animals/dolls, wooden blocks, cars), what are helpful to get rid of (noise makers, overstimulating toys), and what may even be helpful to add (dress up clothes, textured toys).
Our toys still make a mess (well, our little people are the mess-makers), but our biggest messy right now is craft stuff. It’s limited and accessible, but the cutting of paper that took an hour or the beads that go everywhere still get messy. But for now, I think those are probably good messes.
A helpful playtime concept that is emphasized occasionally on another blog (Play at Home Mom) is to introduce each toy to the child and spend time playing together with the toy and the child(ren) when it is first introduced. Of course, they may eventually deviate from the “expected” way of use, but that’s hopefully what we’re wanting as they develop and use their imaginations.
Your post also reminds me about how beneficial it is to keep reading about simplifying–now I’m more motivated to find yet another item that we don’t really “need.” Thanks!!
I’m just seeing this! For some reason it went to spam. Anyway, yes, I agree to all the above. We choose toys that are interactive toys, no battery, and very few single item toys (i.e. not part of a collective set).
I have done the idea of starting play with my kids, when they are having an especially difficult time getting into play. I do try to be careful, though, not to impose my imagination on them, because kids imaginations are hands down more creative. We adults have too much “real life” in the back of our minds that it sometimes colors our “imagination.” (I speak for myself anyway). I am going to check that blog out, though. Thanks!
Yes, to the reading about simplifying. I am always continually inspired by others, because it is amazing how quickly I become accustomed to what I have in my home! And that book is on my list thanks to your review.
We definitely limit toys: We just don’t have the room in our house for a bajillion things! I have a box and as things are not played with or outgrown they get put away to be brought out at some other time.
I totally get you about the no space! We live in a small apartment so I have to keep the toy clutter under control!
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I am working on this now which is difficult after Christmas.
I’m having the same problem after Christmas! It’s such an ongoing process!