Kids and Clutter

As parents, we love to be able to give our children what they want. Toys make them happy and we want happy children. But before we know it, their rooms are cluttered with toys, books, and other childhood gadgets. Still, our children will want more like the newest toys or the toys their friends have. Not out of greed, of course. They are just being kids. Their attention spans are short and they don’t understand the concept of money.

But take a look around. Are your children still saying they are bored? Do they have toys they haven’t touched in months? How hard is it to get them to clean their room? If any of these things are a problem in your home, here are simple solutions to keep clutter to a minimum and your family happy and playing nicely.

1. Children only need 6-8 toys in their rooms. Really! Especially with young children, the more toys they have, the more they get overwhelmed and end up not playing with them. They will play for a few minutes, drop them, and go on to something else. Pack up all the extra toys and tuck them away in a closet. You will find that they will actually enjoy playing with the toys that are now displayed in their rooms. In a few months, switch them out with others in the closet. They will feel they have “new” toys and you won’t have to be buying more to keep them entertained! Another quick and fun solution is to swap them out with friends or families.

2. Children can have a hard time relaxing or sleeping in their rooms when their rooms are cluttered. Their bodies may be at rest but their minds are still active. In an uncluttered room, children only need 5-10 minutes before bath time to pick up their toys if they don’t have an overabundance of them. So, again, clear out the excess and you will be amazed at the changes you see in your child.

3. Get involved with your children! Children normally play with their toys alone. Riding bikes, board games, playing hopscotch are family activities. Instead of rewarding them with toys, keep a jar filled with ideas for family fun. When you want to reward your child, have them pick a slip of paper from the jar. Children are excited to have family time. Whether it’s going for an evening walk or playing checkers, everyone has fun and toys will be forgotten.

4. Books are wonderful and I applaud every parent who reads to their children until they are old enough to read by themselves. However, the same rule applies. If children have too many books, they start one book and then start another one that looks more interesting. Limit the books, encourage them to finish the books they have, then get more! Too many of anything is not a good thing.

By following these simply solutions, you may see a happier, more relaxed child. In addition, you will be saving some money and spending quality time with your family. Everybody wins.


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