How to Handle Toy Overload After the Holidays

There’s so much to love about this time of year, but between well-meaning family members who want to spoil your little ones (rightly so) and all the gifts from St. Nick himself, your post-holidays living room or playroom can look something like a toy hurricane. Everyday clutter is overwhelming enough for parents, but toy clutter can also be overstimulating for children. Research suggests that having too many toys is distracting for young children and that having fewer toys is linked to improved attention span and more creativity. But, try as you might to stop the influx of new toys around the holidays, it seems to be an inevitable part of the season of giving. Here’s how to tackle the clutter before the overwhelm sinks in:

Donate the excess

Every January, you probably find yourself with a small pile of new toys that you know your kids will never play with—-either because they already have it or because they’ll lose interest once the novelty wears off. Instead of letting them gather dust in the playroom for a year before being tossed in the trash, put them aside and, if possible, keep them in their original packaging.

Check with your local children’s hospital, women’s shelters, churches, or non-profit organizations like Toys for Tots, to find out where you can donate your toys. Many places will take gently used items, but new-in-box is always preferred for these types of donation. 

If you have a pile of old toys that you’d like to clear out to make space for the new things, find out whether your city participates in the Buy Nothing Project. You can join your local Buy Nothing group (or start it yourself if one in your community doesn’t yet exist), and you may find neighbors who are more than happy to take the toys off your hands.

Implement toy rotation

Toy rotation is a great way to keep your child’s play space tidy, maximize each toy’s use, and keep your little one engaged. When your child has too many choices, it’s difficult for them to focus and be creative. Narrowing down their options allows them to play with each toy on a much deeper level, and facilitates independent play.

To implement a toy rotation strategy, divide all your child’s things into categories, pick one or two from each category, and put the others away. Every few weeks, switch out each toy with another from its category. It’s a simple strategy that helps even the oldest toys feel brand new, and makes playtime feel less overstimulating. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to toy rotation, so refer to this guideline and figure out what works best for your family.

Be smart about storage

Whether or not your kids’ play area is super spacious or on the smaller side, you need plenty of storage to keep their things organized and the house looking neat. Storage furniture, like a storage bench or storage ottoman, is a great solution to minimize clutter and keep toys out of sight to prevent overwhelm. 

Shelved bins are a popular toy storage option because they keep everything organized while still being visible and accessible. Rope baskets are also a stylish way to store toys without being an eyesore, and may be the preferable option if the toys live in a shared family space, like the living room. Bins and baskets also make cleaning up a quick and easy task—something that’s especially helpful when you delegate it to your little ones. For toys with many small pieces, consider using small, clear, zippered storage bags that help keep them organized by set.

By keeping the influx of toys under control, you can reduce frustration for everyone in the family, improve your children’s play experience, and aid their development!