I posted a little while back about removing almost all the toys from the boys' bedroom, in an effort to get the endless mess under control. With only a few things remaining (blocks, books, favourite teddy bears, a tea set, and their little metal Thomas the Tank Engines) I really thought that they would miss the rest of their toys, and would therefore be eager to keep their room clean in order to get them back. Not a bit of it! Instead, they do not care. At all. In fact, I am tempted to say they are happier with less toys. Really!
Since I removed all the excess toys, the boys have been happy as clams. They have been making castles, roadways, and houses for their trains with the blocks, having tea parties, reading, playing in the sandbox when it isn't raining, splashing in puddles when it is, having fun with homemade bubbles, and producing enormous quanities of drawings. Jasper asked me once, only, where his Fisher Price farm had gone, and since then forgot all about it.
Of course this doesn't solve the problem of the perpetually messy room. It's still strewn with clothes, blocks, Kleenex, and other random objects all the time. But I am so glad to see that the boys don't miss all the other toys. It's nice to know that children really don't need a lot of possessions to be happy and have fun.
Now what to do with all the extra toys which are tucked away? Many of them are beautiful toys that Chris made, so I don't want to give them away...I think probably I will take out various toys on a rainy day for something "new" and different, and then put them back again. I don't think I will ever allow that many toys to be stored in the boys' bedroom again. Having large quantities of toys is simply not necessary, and indeed leads to stress when excess mess is created. Less is more. (And yes, I see the irony of me saying "kids need hardly any toys" when we sell toys for a living! But it's true.)
I know ton's of parents, mine included who used to take away toys and bring them out once they were forgotten about as something "new". My parents used to tell me the "Toy Monster" would come and take my toys away if I didn't clean them up and it did a couple times and that apparently it solved the problem. Just goes to prove sometimes less is more!
Posted by: Molly | May 27, 2011 at 03:19 PM
I knew a mom who had built a "toy library" in her garage. The kids had to "check out" toys in order to play with them; and they had to be returned before new ones could be checked out. Sounded great to me! I've thought about rotating toys out/into the room every six months or so.
You are right: children do play better with fewer toys, less mess, and a less stressed out Momma!!
Posted by: Michelle | May 27, 2011 at 06:06 PM
It really is true that kids don't need all the toys they have. Our girls play most with just simple pens and paper. A while ago they played on a friend's DS, then came home and 'drew' their own DS on paper - and played their own 'computer games' . They had heaps of fun!!
I found you through your etsy interview and love your blog - very interesting, and I will be back to read more! Thanks for sharing!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/ >http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Jill | May 28, 2011 at 01:50 AM
When my kids were young I would constantly rotate their toys, there would be a couple of "constants" but the others would be packed away and unpacked at random, always when they were not around so that I was a surprise. It was like getting new toys for them as things they hadn't seem would reappear instead of just becomming lost in the junble.
Posted by: Brenda | May 28, 2011 at 04:29 AM
I haven't done this recently but I think it's time for me to stash a few toys away too! Thanks for the reminder!!!
Sheshanna
Posted by: Sheshanna | May 28, 2011 at 03:51 PM
That's great! I did the same thing a few years ago. The boys each kept out one favourite, and the rest went into storage/rotation. It was interesting to see what they asked for afterwards- they really preferred the creative, open-ended play stuff (like Lego, costumes) and they basically forgot about the rest.
Posted by: Leah | May 29, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Isn't it wonderful that the boys haven't missed their toys? It gives them time to use their imaginations once again.
I dont know about you, but as a child I only had one special toy at a time, the rest of the time was spent amusing myself and investigating the world, a special time for me as I was a farm-girl, so I had plenty to do...
I find my teenage son doesn't possess the same imagination that I had because of all the electronic entertainment that is around nowadays.
xTania
Posted by: Tania | May 29, 2011 at 09:40 PM