Every mom I know gets to the point where they look around and think, “Where did all this stuff come from?” We just want to grab a garbage bag and toss out anything we can pick up. Do we really need this pile of magazines? What about all those little plastic toys the kids collect at birthday parties, fairs and fast food restaurants? And the paper. Is every paper you child colors on really art worth keeping? How long do you keep paper versions of bills?
Oh yes, the list goes on and on. And every one has an opinion about what you keep and what you throw away. So to help you with your purging efforts – I’ve compiled a list of lists and highlighted a few of the “stand out” items mentioned.
From POPSUGAR Moms: Things you Can Throw Out of Your Kids’ Room. Highlight: Toss out those broken toys with missing pieces. You aren’t going to fix it. I promise.
Another great POPSUGAR post (not kid specific): List of Things to Dispose Of. Highlight: DVDs you don’t watch. I hate to admit this – but we still have VHS tapes. (See the proof in the above photo.) This is high on my list of things to purge.
From Monogrammed Magnolias: 60 Things to Toss Out in the Next 60 Days. Highlight: Old school books and belts you don’t wear. I haven’t been in school for over 10 years. No need to still have college books – unless you really, really love the book.
From Livestrong: 50 Things to Throw Out Now. Highlight: They also tell you how to get rid of things – what can be recycled (and what can’t) and how to go about it. Even a tip on getting scratches off your favorite CD!
From The Joyful Organizer: What to Keep, What to Pitch. Highlight: This well designed infographic lays out how long you need to keep documents for tax purposes and what you should keep in a safe deposit box.
I save these helpful lists on Pinterest – and read through them whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed with the stuff in my house. I can always find a pile of stuff to give away or recycle or just trash. And boy, does it feel good!
5 Tips to Get Your Kids Toy Room Under Control - The Organized Mom
Thursday 3rd of November 2016
[…] I know what you’re thinking, the sheer mention of getting rid of any of your kids toys, no matter how little they play with them can put your kids right on the meltdown train. Your kids might fight thinning their toy stash at first, but the lack of clutter will make everyone happier. To minimize meltdowns, it’s best to tell your kids that some toys need to go. Sorting their toys into a “keep” and “donate” pile helps visualize what you’re going to get rid of. If your kids are too young to handle sorting through toys to keep or donate, start by putting aside their favorite toys to avoid giving away that favorite toy they use most every day and avoid sorting when they’re awake. For your donation pile, try to keep like toys together using gallon storage bags or the containers the toys came in. If you are looking to replenish your date night cash flow, list the toys you aren’t keeping in local online yard sale groups or on Craigslist. Just be sure to meet in safe, public places when selling items. Come birthdays and holidays, you’ll appreciate having a more minimal toy room. For more downsizing tips, check out our article on To Trash or Not to Trash. […]