Day 15 Speed Decluttering my home before Christmas

[@MickeyC321]

You have said everything that Moms experience. Too much? Donate? Toss? Never ending little bits!! Clutter? Emotions? Only you know your kids well enough to make those decisions. You acknowledge that there is enough but??? What to do? Rotation sounds good. It’s new all over again. Love all their books. That is lovely. Good job.

[@natrobb]

Thanks so much. Yes I think I need to find a way to make a proper toy rotation happen 👍

[@emmawedge5097]

Children are never too young to learn that they need to look after their toys and that includes putting them away before they get more out and putting them away at the end of the day. Children do not need 'everything'! When they have too much they become overwhelmed and do not learn to respect them. You don't need to get rid of a lot, but perhaps rotate what they have every few weeks, you will quickly learn what they love playing with. I'm a EYFS teacher, I just wanted to help, I think you are doing an amazing job at calming down your home, which is critical for children's mindfulness. You would definitely get a sticker in my class for excellent tidying.😊

[@natrobb]

Aww thank you so much ☺️ I really want to get a proper toy rotation in place, I need to think about how that happens 👍

[@kellymaskery7065]

I am really enjoying this series 😃 perfect content to watch x

[@natrobb]

Thank you so much ☺️ I'm really enjoying the process 😄

[@kimberlywatts3402]

Another thought on toys is that you can put them in a tote with a date on it. Then if after 3 months they don't specifically ask for a toy donate the entire contents of the container. There's so much!😅

[@natrobb]

Great idea 👍

[@sharonwengler3225]

This will not be forever 💕 Once my kids were older we did and still do. experiences instead of things.

[@natrobb]

I know I'll miss it when they're not so little anymore ☺️

[@CharleneEvenson]

The Minimal Mom explains how kids play better when they have less stuff because if you get overwhelmed with too much stuff why wouldn’t your kids get overwhelmed too. I highly recommend watching the minimal mom.

[@natrobb]

She's great isn't she. Kids really do get overwhelmed with lots of stuff 👍

[@3TXSisters]

The closer I get to Christmas, the fewer "housekeeping" chores I want to do. I'm giving myself a cut-off date, and then I'll devote myself to only Christmas-related activities. It's the only way I'll retain my sanity this Christmas, lol. You're making progress. That's the most important thing. Take care, Linda 🦋

[@natrobb]

Oh that's a good idea! That will be me soon!

[@ladyinblack1964]

My mom used to collect our unused toys occasionally and put them in the attic. Then she'd bring them out later and it was like they were new! We never even noticed they were missing.

[@natrobb]

Yes I do this... except I move them on to the charity shop if not missed!!

[@Julie-n9b]

I’m really enjoying this decluttering series!! If your budget permits, I think storage cupboards (ikea or similar) would be perfect across the back wall. It would hide everything - just close the doors!! Riding toys on the bottom shelves and the bins on the shelves. Install a clothes rod for the costumes. Sell the cabinets when the children are grown.

[@natrobb]

That's a good idea, I hadn't actually thought about different units entirely. Thank you ☺️

[@Weejen-t3p]

If you got the taller kallax you could put the open shelves on the bottom and then visually you would see the top row which could be nice boxes this could help you maybe rotate the toys too.

[@natrobb]

Oh that's a good idea - I like it! Thanks ☺️

[@RaeC5280]

Something that may help when you feel like you don't want to break up a set, unless it's a puzzle where missing pieces are obvious, no one will know that more items went with something.

[@hellosteph9206]

Hi! What if you get a closed storage system to add alongside the kallax system? That could be your closed/locked toy storage. Then the toys that are in rotation can be on display in the kallax shelf

[@natrobb]

I really like the idea of this - not sure where I'd put it but I like it. Perhaps all books could go upstairs but I do like having some downstairs 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@trishhorton6514]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@sarahvine3895]

You could get a bigger kallax then use the the extra two rows as your toy rotation. Plus it would visually look less cluttered. In the early yrs toy rotation worked really well for us. It was like having new toys and encourages play. Also time will tell bins are great my son would never agree to declutter anything so would just put things away for a few months then if it was never mentioned I got rid. He only ever mentioned 1 toy and I just said "oh yeah it must be somewhere " and he wasn't sad and never mentioned it again

[@natrobb]

Great ideas. Thank you ☺️

[@SallyLovejoy]

It might be worth trying to involve the children in another declutter after Santa's brought more. Explain that there's only so much room and other children have no toys at all. The easiest way to start is to gather up a few, then ask them "Which is your least favourite?" That's not my idea, but don't remember where I saw it. Good luck

[@natrobb]

Thank you, I like the idea of framing it about their 'least favourite' 👍

[@catfish9539]

The more toys the less children get board and start to find their own amusement. Take a look at the minimal mom and madisun grey. Having said that my daughter has all the toys I never had!! I always start with getting rid of anything free. I look what she plays with as it’s on the floor so I go through boxes. You could always have a taller box unit and toy rotate through the top drawers. I find it sad when schools are more focused on screens than creativity. As much as my daughters bedroom and little playroom is a mess and it drives me insane I feel this phase in her life will soon go and she won’t play with any toys.

[@natrobb]

So true, it's overwhelming at the time but soon enough the younger kid phase of toys will be over 😞