Top Tips for Organising and Decluttering Your Child's Toy Collection

Your child's toys can be very important to them, sometimes making the organisation and decluttering process difficult. This could be for many reasons, as they might not like their toys out of place or be hidden away in storage, causing them not to enjoy a more organised approach to their play. Our top tips below will help you out when it comes to organising your little ones ever growing collection of toys. We will also discuss ways to make it fun for them too, by encouraging them to enjoy the process of keeping their play area tidy.

How to declutter toys

There are plenty of techniques to use in order to start the decluttering and organisation process of your child's collection. Below are the most critical steps to take in your journey.

Usage: First it's best to determine what toys are being used and what toys aren’t. Knowing which is your child's favourite toy to use during playtime is vital as the ones not being used should be your first targets in this process. These types of toys could be broken or have missing pieces, might need new batteries or could simply just have even been outgrown. Taking action on these types of toys should be your first priority.

Sorting: The next step is probably the longest but most productive one. Organising all your child's toys into specific categories can help you or your child find them easily, whilst avoiding any stress during playtime. An example of this could be having all your child's toy cars in their own box, stuffed toys, board games in the next, and so on. As mentioned before, this process is a long one, but it can vary depending on the amount of toys your child owns and it is worth it once it's done.

Decluttering: Now that you've sorted all your toys into categories and noted the ones not getting any use, it's time to get rid. Declutter any duplicates, broken toys, toys with missing pieces, and toys that have been outgrown to narrow down the number of wasted toys. Finally, to dispose of them, you can sell them online, donate to a charity shop or recycle them to stay green.

How do you teach children organisational skills?

It's not a good idea to completely take over the process and make your child feel like they don't have a say or are left out. These methods can help them understand why you might be organising and decluttering their toys and also help make it enjoyable too.

Discuss First: Setting aside some time to talk to your child about the process before you actually do it is a great idea to help them be happy with the organisation and decluttering process. Explaining to them why you're going to do it and how can help them better understand the positives behind it.

Make It Fun: Who said the organisation process had to be boring? Whether it's making it a fun game or coming up with ideas for the different categories to be called, kids love this type of excitement even in their day-to-day lives. Be creative and approach it with your child's best interests in mind.

Take Your Time: This process could vary in difficulty depending on how your child reacts, which is why patience is key. Whether your child warms up to the decluttering and organisation process quickly or not, understanding that they might have difficulty understanding everything is a way to improve the process slowly but surely.

What are the benefits of decluttering and organising toys?

Now that you know how to declutter and organise, why must it be done? There are many positives to this so don't be afraid to try it out.

Easier Cleanup: Fewer toys to tidy, less time to tidy up. It sounds so simple but it makes sense, and it's one of the biggest benefits of organising and decluttering your child's toys. This also encourages them to have a more organised approach with fewer toys which could make cleaning up after themselves much easier. 

More Play, More Imagination: It sounds silly, but it has been proven that the fewer toys a child has, the longer they will play. If they are surrounded by endless clutter they could be overwhelmed or distracted by the number of options they have to play with, this also encourages imaginative play leading to happier results.

Lessons To Be Learnt: Your child is growing and learning every day, so learning about the importance of getting rid of toys they may not have a use for can be vital in their everyday learning. It also helps them be smarter with birthday/pocket money when it comes to getting a new toy and considering purchases.

Now all your child's toys are sorted, it’s time to put them into their designated boxes. Here at Maqio, we have a great selection of storage boxes to help keep toys tidy and safe. Or if you are looking for something to replace the old toys, browse our new arrivals online today.