Welcome to the 30-Day Organize-athon!
In today’s 5 minutes we’re going to express-declutter the kids’ toys.
Inhale: clarity, freedom, order. We’re gonna need it!
Day 17: Declutter The Kids’ Toys
Note: Decide on the extent to which you need to consult/involve the kids. This will depend on their ages and your family style.
Step 1: Grab a large bag or box. Depending on which option you choose in Step 3, you may need additional boxes/bags.
Step 2: Gather all the kids’ toys into one location. (If this alone takes more than 5 minutes it doesn’t count!)
Choose one of the following options:
Option A
Step 3: Quickly going through the collection, toss into the bag/box any toys that:
- Your kids have outgrown
- Are broken or dangerous
- Have been divested of batteries because they’re so annoying
- Are in poor condition
- Are doubles.
Step 4: Extract any toys that are safe and in good condition for a charity bag. Toss the rest.
Option B
Step 3: Give each child a large bag/box and ask them to fill it up with their favorite toys – the ones they want to keep. Explain that the rest can be given to kids who don’t have so many toys and would really love some more. (This may take more than 5 minutes, but perhaps you can go do something else while the kids ponder their collections?)
Step 4: Of the remaining toys, extract any that are safe and in good condition for a charity bag. Toss the rest.
And you’re done!
Got an Extra 5 Minutes?
Check your own toy collection (um, please keep comments G-rated for this blog 
) for:
- Ancient, out-of-date or falling-apart board games
- Surplus packs of playing cards
- Previous versions of games consoles
- Computer/video games no one plays anymore.
Now won’t everyone have more fun with the good stuff that’s left?
The 30-Day Organize-athon Mantra
Move fast. Don’t overthink. Let it go!
Leave Your Comment Below…
Pease leave your comment below and say you’ve completed today’s task.
See you tomorrow!
[Image by aussiegall]
No kids, no toys!! I cheat, I’m done!!! hahahahaha easy one
Done.
I have no kids so I cleaned my whole room instead.
Done!
No children, so I cleaned out the fridge instead.
Checked expiration dates, etc., tossed and reorganized, then made the gorcery list.
Today’s tasks completed- although, admittedly there wasn’t that much for me to do as far as what are traditionally “kid’s toys”. My kids are either already grown, or are growing up…and it was a matter of going through video game junk and CD’s, music paraphernalia. They “let go” pretty easily…seems I’m the one burdened with overwhelming sentimentality about everything..such that it makes me want to hang onto everything they might have *touched* throughout their young lives. I have kept stuff of theirs that they could care less about…I’m the one who has trouble parting with anything (and it’s embarrassing to admit all I’ve kept….anyone else have a collection of dried umbilical cords?…..never mind..forget that I asked 🙂 )
no kids so rounded up the dog’s toys & DONE!
Done – although the 4 year old was not really included in the decision making. He is a pack rat and wants to keep everything. But, I know what he really plays with and what he doesn’t, so I think I made very good choices.
No kiddos left, so the pooches toys fell victim. 🙂
Decluttered a bunch, gave them away to a younger family member (cousin). Makes a great difference. Going to try again in a few months. The giving away this time was hard on the kids. Dont want to make it too big in the beginning.
I am proud of my 7 year old. He helped and gathered two trash bags of stuff (now I just have to sort it out.. the trash from the give aways…) Awesome!! Thank you 🙂
No kids. So I clearedcout the pups toys instead. Done.
No kid involvement, done.
I do this often, but did more today.
Ow! This was the basement for me today. I took 8, 5-minute sessions and got 3 contractor garbage bags for the trash and 2 for the Goodwill. So many broken/dirty toys that the boys no longer play with. Now to get the bags out of the basement and TO Goodwill. Still a looooooooooong way to go, but at least I did something!
No kids, but I took time to do yesterday’s challenge
I don’t have kids, but I revisited my cookbooks again and eliminated some cooking magazines.
No kids. Done!
Toys toys toys. We’ve still got too many but it’s looking better!
done