How We're Keeping Toy Clutter to a Minimum: A Simpler Christmas

It's every kid's dream.You wake up Christmas morning to stacks of presents so high you can practically swim in them. You open them to find toys galore. And in those glorious morning hours, you play and play next to the Christmas tree to your heart's content.

In reality, half of those toys will be shoved aside, hardly used, and clutter up valuable real estate in your home. I can tell you that Totally Hair Barbie (my Must. Have. Toy. in third grade) lasted about a week (if that) before she was set aside. After all, how many different ways can you style Barbie's hair before it gets old?

Also, you should definitely check out the commercial linked above. Pure 90's cool. I'm pretty impressed that I still remembered the jingle over 20 years later. Great marketing, Mattel!
But I digress...

So, how DO you keep the toy clutter to a minimum? These are the tips and philosophies that I've found work best for us.

• Save the toys for Christmas, birthday, and Easter. When Kiddo was little and we had next to nothing, I purchased several toys at yard sales. Since then, however, I limit toy purchases to special occasions.

Grammy loved buying him toys for his firs "big boy" Christmas.

• Don't buy (many) toys.
  Leave the toy-buying to doting grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We try to limit ourselves to one gift per special occasion, and it doesn't necessarily have to be a toy. 
  On a related note, try not to buy something just because it's on super-sale. The deal might be tempting (who doesn't love the rush of paying pennies on the dollar?), but I always try to ask myself this: will it be used or will it be clutter? No matter how amazing the deal, if it brings mess and chaos to my home, it's not worth it.   

• Purge regularly. I try to go through our play room a few times a year. As I notice a toy that is outgrown or neglected, I pack it away to donate, sell, or save for baby girl.

• Think quality, not quantity.
  It's better to give one really great-quality toy that will stand the test of time than to give a bunch of inexpensive toys that won't hold up. For example, this Christmas, I knew I wanted Kiddo to have a nice set of large wooden blocks to replace our very worn yard sale-purchased alphabet blocks. After looking online and reading a boat-load of reviews, it became clear that our best choice was to go with this Melissa & Doug set. It certainly wasn't the cheapest option, but knowing that it's a timeless and well-made toy that should hold up to a lot of abuse made it a worthwhile choice. The best part is, after much deal-hunting, my mom was able to pick the blocks up for half price on Amazon last week. (Score!)

• Add to an existing collection.
  I picked up this tip from Jen at I Heart Organizing and it's been wonderful. If your child already has a themed toy that he or she loves, add to the collection. Her example was legos, but for us, it's been Kiddo's Thomas train set. My parents have been adding track pieces and trains for Easter, birthday, and even a special reward for being potty trained. :-) The great thing about this is that I don't need to find a place to store these new toys - they just go into the bin already designated for that kind of toy!

• Go with a useful "big gift."
  This goes along with the quality vs. quantity example. Sometimes, if you have the space, a bigger toy can have a huge impact. Past big toys included a play kitchen, t-ball set, art easel, and bicycle. This Christmas, Kiddo is getting a trampoline from my in-laws to help him exert some of that abundant energy on cold winter days. 

• Think outside the (toy) box.
  Kids can get just as excited about non-toys as toys. Last year, Kiddo was tickled to open his own kid-sized shovel and snow boots for Christmas. Books, stickers, art supplies, and play dough are always well-received. And I can't tell you how excited Kiddo was to get a gift card to Chick-Fil-A for his birthday. Experiences, lessons, and memberships are also great options that we are keeping in mind for the future. 

Putting his boots and shovel to good use after last year's big storm.

Ultimately, on Christmas Day or any day, your child's joy will come from receiving things they really love and will cherish rather than just the sheer abundance of toys, which may be exhilarating but short-lived. Gift-giving is a display of love, and certainly not a competition (even with yourself) to go bigger and better each year. If we spend more of our time and money on traditions and togetherness, we are doing what really matters. We can express our love by giving gifts, but we must also make sure this motivation isn't lost in the "to-buy-list" frenzy. After all, at its core Christmas isn't about quantity; it's about quality--the quality of time spent together and the thoughtfulness of our gift-giving.

Unless you don't have children, or you get rid of your child's toys, there is no way to completely eliminate clutter. I'm by no means an expert on toy storage and clutter. Our play room is currently in need of another purge, and there are days when toys are left scattered on the floor, a total cluttered mess. I also know things will get more complicated with the addition of baby #2 this spring. However, with the above plan in place, I feel confident that our toy situation can be managed effectively without driving Hubby and me crazy!

How do you handle the toy clutter, especially around the holidays? What was your favorite Christmas gift as a child?

I'd love to hear from you in the comments in the comments below!

I link up at these fabulous link parties.

 This is a part of my series on A Simpler Christmas.

    

 

Our Favorite Battery-Free Toys: A Simpler Christmas

 

As part of my quest for a Simpler Christmas, I'm talking about toys today. Lately my Facebook feed has been filled with deals on toys, toys, and more toys. It's actually quite overwhelming for a girl like me!

I'll begin by confessing that I can be a bit of a "toy snob." By nature, I don't do well with a lot of "stuff" because it overwhelms me and gets messy... fast! For my sanity, everything needs to have a place and be easily managed.

To limit the clutter, I try to keep the number of toys to a minimum and purge our play area several times a year. (While I have donated and sold a few, most of the purged baby and early toddler toys are saved and packed away for baby girl.)

Having fewer toys means less mess and less stress for both Kiddo and myself (fewer tripping incidents and power struggles about picking up toys). With less toys to play with, I have chosen to be very purposeful about what is in the playroom. They need to be enjoyed and used regularly. For this reason, the toys we request for his birthday and Christmas wish lists rarely require batteries.

I prefer battery-free toys for a few reasons:

• More opportunities for creative play.
• Less opportunity for sensory over-stimulation .When Kiddo plays with a lot of toys with all the bells and whistles.
• Not as annoying. (If I have to hear that Laugh & Learn Puppy sing "If You're Happy And You Know It" one more time...)
• Less expense. (The cost of batteries can really add up!)
• Kiddo plays with them longer.

To be clear, electronic toys aren't banned at our house. Sure, we have a few fun battery-operated toys, but they are most certainly in the minority. And to be honest, they are also the toys that are least-used. Kiddo definitely seems to prefer the open-ended play found in his battery-free toys.

Our Favorite Battery-Free Toys:

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• Blocks (He loves both wooden blocks and MegaBloks)
• Wooden Train Set
• Cars (We started with chunky cars like B. Wheee-ls and Tonka Chuck, but now he's really into Hot Wheels)
• Wooden Puzzles
• Play Kitchen with Dishes, Utensils, and Empty Food Containers
• Little People (At 3, he rarely uses the play sets, but he still likes to play with the figures on occasion)
• Lacing Cards
• Toy Tool Set and a small working tape measure.
• Books
• Stuffed Animals
• Blankets (I put play silks to this year's Christmas list, which I know he'll love.)
• Art Easel with Crayons (Crayola, of course!)
• Play Dough (He loves this no-cook Kool-Aid play dough too!)
• Pom-poms (Some of the best money I've spent at the Dollar Tree.)
• Stickers

I think my favorite thing about battery-free toys is how versatile they are. A blanket or play silk can become a cape, picnic blanket, or fort. Blocks can become buildings, fences for toy farm animals, or a garage for toy cars. And who needs play food? Kiddo loves to use empty spice containers to pretend that he's pouring and mixing things in his kitchen. Or he loves to use play dough or pom-poms to make something extra-special.

If I can encourage you to try one thing this Christmas, it would be to go battery-free with your small children. It's completely worth it!

What are your kids' favorite toys, or what were your favorites when you were a child? Did they require batteries? Tell me about it in the comments below!
 

I link up at these fabulous link parties.

This is a part of my series on A Simpler Christmas.

Simple Fall Leaf Suncatchers

  

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Every fall I think of my college roommate, Anne. Growing up in the desert of central California, she had never before experienced the seasonal changes that much of the country takes for granted. I had the privilege of seeing her encounter the chill in the air and rich colors of the leaves for the first time, and it gave me new appreciation for one of my favorite seasons.

One of my fondest memories from our freshman year was surprising Anne that first fall. While walking back from studying at a local coffee shop, a friend and I gathered the most vibrant leaves we could find. Anne was delighted to find a beautiful display of fall colors on her desk when she returned from class that day.

Unfortunately, after a day all those beautiful leaves curled up and their bold colors faded. If only I had thought to preserve them somehow!

These days, whenever we're out in the yard, Kiddo has to gather a collection of leaves to make a picture (just like an episode of Daniel Tiger). While most of the time we just glue the leaves on a piece of paper, I also wanted to find a way to preserve the beauty of autumn for more than a day or two so they don't end up looking like this:

Back when I was in elementary school, we used to seal leaves between two sheets of waxed paper using an iron, but I like this idea even better. One of my co-leaders found it when looking for a craft for our Pioneer Girls group, and I was excited to try it at home. This craft was simple enough for Kiddo even last year at age two.  The leaves actually stayed where we put them (unlike with waxed paper), and there was no hot iron to deal with. It's a perfect simple fall project!

Here's What You Will Need:

• Clear Contact Paper (I usually get mine at the Dollar Tree with the shelf liners)
• Fresh Fall Leaves (they need to be fresh and lay as flat as possible)
• Hole Punch
• String (for hanging on the window)

To Make The Suncatcher:

1. Cut a piece of contact paper to the desired size.
2. Fold the paper in half, and then pull back the paper liner (sticky side facing up) to where the crease is.
3. Arrange leaves onto the contact paper, preferably all facing one direction. We chose to face them down toward the sticky part. (The leaves will stick, but if you're gentle, you should be able to re-position if necessary.)
4. Remove the rest of the paper liner and carefully fold on top of the leaves, smoothing it out as you go to seal the leaves in. (This is a good part for an adult to do first and then let kiddos smooth afterwards or you will get lots of little creases and bubbles.)
5. Trim the edges as desired, punch a hole in the top, and hang with a piece of string. (I love the festive look of baker's twine.)
6. Hang the suncatcher in a window and enjoy the fall colors!

Now, don't think Kiddo was the only one who had fun with this project. Mommy had to make one too! I got creative and decided to make a "wreath" for our front door.

We used the last of our contact paper to make these suncatchers, and almost every day since Kiddo has asked me when we can buy more. He was so proud of his "leaf pitch-ter" and can't wait to make another one!

This is my kind of kids' art project. Simple and inexpensive, with minimal prep or clean-up. Plus, the suncatchers look so pretty that we leave ours hanging in the play room for months!

What fall fun have you been having lately? 

 I link up at these fabulous link parties.

Kiddo's Simple and Fun Birthday Bash

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I love admiring a beautifully decorated and thoughtfully planned birthday party as much as the next girl. I've even been known to pin a gorgeous party or two. But when it comes to my real life, I'm totally fine with simple.

Our Fall Bucket List

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The air is crisp and cool. Our local farms have opened for pick-your-own apples. Pumpkins are on the neighbor's porch. I guess I can't fight it anymore - it's Autumn.

Organizing Hand-Me-Downs (When You Need to Give Them Back)

I currently have a pretty sweet deal when it comes to kids' clothing. For this summer, I purchased 4 shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, and one set of pajamas for Kiddo. That's it.
And no, Kiddo is not hurting for clothes. Family members have gifted him a few items, but most of his (pretty large) wardrobe consists of hand-me-downs.

7 Ways to Save Money at Chick-Fil-A: Tips & Tricks Thursday

Welcome back to Tips & Tricks Thursday! This little corner of the blog is devoted to those simple ideas that make life better or easier in some way. :)

Several times a month on our MOPs Facebook page, you'll probably find a message saying, "I'm going to Chick-Fil-A today at "X" time. Would anyone like to join?" It has become the go-to spot for impromptu play dates, and for good reason.

Create a Toolbox Station - Tips & Tricks Thursday

Look at those chunky little wrists... He's getting so big already!

 Welcome back to Tips & Tricks Thursday! This little corner of the blog is devoted to those simple ideas that make life better or easier in some way. :)

Kool Aid Playdough Mix with FREE Printable!

*Welcome, Money Saving Mom readers! I'm honored that Crystal sent you my way. 

I'm going to be posting a few more crafty (and kid-friendly) stocking stuffer gifts a little later in the week, so feel free to come back and check them out!

I'm really excited to share this creative and thrifty gift idea for the kiddos in your life!
The best part is that kids as young as 2 or 3 can make this gift for their friends and family members for less than a dollar each. 

Toddler Fun: Tape Resist Art

A few weeks ago, we made a birthday card for one of Kiddo's little neighborhood friends who was turning the big 5. I learned this "tape resist" technique in an Elementary Art class in college, and it's great for a kid who only colors by scribbling. It takes a little work up front, but cutting and placing pieces of tape isn't all that difficult.

Yogurt Paint: Toddler Tested, Mom Approved

I'm proud to say that so far I'm making good on my goal to do at least one fun toddler pin each month!
This month I chose another activity from Fun At Home with Kids. This blog is a great resource for relatively simple, low-cost, sensory activities and art projects for babies and toddlers. In my last Toddler Fun post, I tried out her Contact Paper Window Art, and this time I decided to try a variation on Scented Homemade Edible Finger Paint.
Asia's scented paint was made with Kool-Aid and plain yogurt. I didn't have any Kool-Aid, and I didn't want the scent to encourage Kiddo to eat the paint, so I went with food coloring instead.
 

Toddler Fun

I don't know about you, but I have pinned SO many cute toddler activities. They seem fun, but a lot of times they look so overwhelming (requiring me to think ahead and prepare) or messy (like sensory art projects), that I've been hesitant to try them. However, I'm making it a goal to actually USE my pins. Here are two of the of the fun Pinspired activities Kiddo and I have been up to this summer.

First, we tried Contact Paper Window Art from Fun at Home with Kids. Kiddo loves stickers, so this was an instant success. I talked about colors and shapes as he put the pieces of tissue up on the window. While the tissue paper shapes started out in a bowl, he much preferred scattering them all over the floor and stepping on them so they stuck to his feet. : ) It took us a few days to fill the sheet of clear contact paper. The final product looked like stained glass. It was so beautiful, we kept it up for a few weeks.*  I wish I had a picture to share, but I can't find one. (This was pre-blogging.) If I do, I will be sure to add it to this post.