This #NewYear, apart from the tons of resolutions I have set for myself, there is this one thing I want to do with my child. As parents, we need to resolve to teach our kids to be more responsible for what they own and be organised, starting young. When the world talks about minimalism, even if I am not yet there, I want to make sure my son learns the values of the toys and clothes he has and how he is accountable for them. It is essential that we take the lead and teach the kids to sort and categorise their toys that will help them in the long run. That said, how do we go about it? Where do we start from? We at KSP give you simple hacks and ideas to nurture these habits in your little ones!
1.Designate A Play Area
Assign your kids a designated area in their house for play time and a place where you can keep all their toys handy. That way you can ensure toys are not strewn all over the house. In space-starved cities, your houses can have a corner of the living room or bedroom assigned to your child’s toys or you could even consider a separate room for the toys!
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2.Tidy Up Routine
Make tidy up time fun by singing a song as you put your child’s toys away. Build a routine that will ensure your kids tidy up the place every day, by habit. To start with, start dividing the chores and show your kids that will help them. For eg, if they are putting away the cars you put the Legos away. Set up a timer to make it fun and you will see the little ones hurriedly making the place cleaner. It is also a great way to get the kids moving and develop their gross motor skills.
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3.One In- One Out Rule
When the child is done playing with a particular toy make sure you train them to pull out another toy only after they keep the previous one back to where it belongs. This rule is quite practical and ensures that the toy goes back to its original place resulting in a more decluttered and organised home. This way, the kids will also learn to play with minimal toys with better focus.
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4.Clean The Toys While Bathing
This one is a personal favourite. Kill two birds with one stone! Add a few of your child’s toys to the bath and let them scrub them down. You could give them an old toothbrush and a scrubber, some soap and voila! Clean toy and an hour of fun guaranteed!
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5.Limit the Number of Toys
Children only need a limited number of toys. Stay strict on this rule. If you insist on buying, make sure you at least store it in a place and hand it over gradually to the kids and not all at once. To reduce the number of toys in the home, begin by eliminating duplicate toys, broken toys and toys that children no longer use. Not only does this help minimise the toys and clutter in your house, but it helps teach their valuable life lessons in the long run.
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6.Sorted Storage
Simply put- start by sorting according to categories you see on online shops or stores! For eg. cars, puzzles, action figures, dolls etc and store them accordingly. The transparent tubs work well as kids can see what is inside each tub and it makes finding the toys you want so much easier. If you don’t have clear tubs, you can always take a photo of the contents or simply label them with the contents inside. Doing this reduces clutter while giving children more options when they decide what to play with.
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7.Set a Toy Rotation Schedule
When dealing with excess toys, periodically set a toy rotation schedule involving your child to express their preferences and at the same time ensuring that none of the toys is left unused lying in one corner of the house. This eases the storage issues in your living space and also helps renews the interest when the stored toys re-enter the play areas and grab your child’s attention.
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8.Donate Toys
Periodically go through toys with your kids rooting out toys they haven’t played with in a while and encourage them to donate those to the needy. Allow them to select toys they wish to donate. Do not forget to take your children with you when you drop the items off at the charitable destination. This way, your child learns a great lesson and a memory to cherish.
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9.Reward Them For Their Efforts
We all love to be rewarded for our efforts and so do the kids. Motivate them to keep up with their toy organising skills by regularly rewarding them. Trust us, this works best!
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Mansi Zaveri
KSP Team
