As if minimizing your home wasn't challenging enough on it's own, add kids to the mix. Every commercial, store advertisement, radio ad eggs them on to want more. On top of expert marketing targeted to children, other kids are happy to show you what they have that you don't. It's horrible. Candy by the checkout line horrible. Kids want to collect everything from pet rocks (we have a collection outside - visit them there!) to broken jewelry to stuffed animals (one of the most worthless collections in my opinion) to anything they can find. Changing these habits is a pain in the butt but worthwhile.
At first, we were just downsizing. I cut the toys in half on the first sweep by getting rid of things that aren't age appropriate, collecting dust, broken, etc... Then it got more difficult. We went from TWO big, silver garage shelves to one in a blink (yes, the shelves were in our home). And it was still ridiculously out of control. Then we really, really whittled it down more when we moved. Now, I've changed how I look at things even more. Since discussing downsizing into a tiny home and the shift in attitude that takes, plus the downsizing we've already done, I looked at toys the same way as everything else. When we moved into this home 9 months ago, our bedroom closet and bathroom were only so big. I had to take the space and only keep what would fit. If it didn't fit in the space, it had to go. Toys are easy to stack and put in corners and shove to the side and move around, but no more. Here was the process:
- First, we had a shopping ban. Nothing could come in the house until we got it under control. Period. That took time and a move
- Second, we initiated a "one in, one out" policy. If a toy was desired, something had to go. Our kids have learned to give away with love knowing that their once precious belongings that they have grown out of, will be loved by someone else
- Next, we used smaller shelves and in this final sweep, it had to fit. If the toys didn't fit, we needed to scale things down. This final process took place with our 6 year old, one of our teenage girls (who's great at minimizing) and myself.
- We asked the neighbors who have smaller girls if they wanted anything and loaded the rest up in the car to donate.
Books, DVD's and a couple games for learning plus Tavin's photo album
There were two things we kept that don't fit on the shelves because they can't. The doll house has a place designated and the dress up bucket also has a designated spot. I didn't want to keep that one, but Tavin plays with them a lot and there has to be balance.
I went through all the art supplies and got rid of all the broken, dried up, yucky stuff. The coloring books that were ripped, used up and old. It's amazing how much accumulates and we keep. We have one small container for play dough, one container for all the rest of the art supplies, fewer, nicer coloring books. We kept the toys that encourage learning through play and filled my car with donations. Having kids be a part of the process, and letting them know the space they have to work with helps them to make their own decisions.