Make room for new toys and finally get them organized

We all know this situation. Even when we are determined not to go overboard with toys, we soon realize that just one Christmas and one birthday a year are enough for them to multiply uncontrollably. Besides us, the parents, grandparents and Santa Claus also bring new toys. However, children enjoy their toys the most when they don’t have too many and can easily find what they are looking for. That's why it's a good idea to go through them at least once a year and give the ones that are left their place.

Practical parents know that sorting goes the smoothest when the child isn’t present. They can easily estimate which toy their child hasn’t thought about for months and won’t notice if it disappears. However, if you choose to complicate the process voluntarily and tackle the decluttering together, you may ultimately discover how beneficial it can be for your child.

What does a child learn from decluttering and organizing toys?

• to know the value of things
• to appreciate quality over quantity
• to organize their belongings and take care of them
• to not cling to something that no longer has meaning for them
• to manage emotions related to letting go and giving things away
• to make decisions
• to think of others, develop empathy, and compassion

There are many options for what to do with toys you no longer want at home.

Sell them

If the toys are still in good condition, you might be successful in selling them. If there isn’t a flea market or swap meet happening in your area, the easiest option is to use an online platform. You can sell toys on Kidly.co.uk, Vinted, Marketplace, or in Facebook groups. It’s practical to look for groups that connect parents in your local area—who knows, you might even make some new friends!

Donate them

Donating toys between families isn’t very popular because almost everyone struggles with toy clutter. Unless it’s a family in financial hardship who would genuinely appreciate any help, be cautious.

If there is a shelter, children's home, hospital, or pediatric rehabilitation center in your area, consider asking if they could use some toys. Plushies are usually in abundance, but high-quality and creative toys or games may be more welcomed.

Also, check with your local charity organization. They often have insight into specific families who would truly benefit from donated toys.

Sometimes a child doesn’t grow fond of a toy, and even though it has been sitting in the closet for a while, it’s still practically new. Such a toy can bring joy again at Christmas if you donate it to charity projects like Operation Christmas.

Charity containers are often not just for clothing. You can also use them to dispose of unwanted toys and books. However, it's always best to check directly on the container you've chosen to see if it accepts these items.

In larger cities, you can also find charity shops that sell your toys and use the proceeds for charitable purposes.

Sort them out

If the toys are in such a condition that they need to be thrown away, don't forget to sort them properly. Especially those containing electronic components should not go into mixed waste but into electronic waste. If the toys have batteries, be sure to remove them. Plush toys should be placed in textile containers. Plastic toys are more complicated. Toys made of PVC and those with additional metal or glass parts do not belong in plastic waste. However, you can remove these parts.

Give toys their proper place

We have sorted the toys. Now, it's important to organize them in the room so that children can easily find what they want to play with and put everything away without any trouble. There’s no point in forcing them to neatly stack everything on shelves. The most practical solution is to get plenty of boxes or baskets and sort everything into them.

And how do you know what belongs in each box or drawer? Our small and large Montessori organizational stickers will help you—and especially your children! With them, kids can easily recognize where to find building blocks, writing supplies, or even a little doctor’s kit. We also think about keeping clothes neatly organized, and our stickers can help with that too. Thanks to the pictures, even children who can’t read yet will have no trouble tidying up.We have stickers in two sizes so you can mark any storage space with them.

And here are a few more tips for keeping toys organized:

• Sort individual building sets into separate bags.
• Take board games out of their boxes and store them in folders, envelopes, or bags. This will save a lot of space.
• Regularly throw away broken crayons and dried-out markers.
• With transparent boxes, you can see what’s inside, but they often look messy and chaotic. It's better to use opaque boxes and clearly label them with stickers.
• Place toy storage areas within children's reach so they can access them on their own.
• A small broom and dustpan can help with cleaning up LEGO bricks.

Wishing you lots of fun in a tidy room! Your Mama Labels Team.