Today, Carmen is talking about organization, and it got me thinking....
Since I've been redoing the rooms for the kids, I have been going through stuff, purging, folding, stacking....you get the idea. My problem lies right here I'm at, though. I have come to a standstill. Each child is in their own room now, but there is still much to be done. In the last room, the one that the boys used to share, there is a crap-load of stuff left to go through. Oh my Lord. The Toys! The Books! The Trinkets!
In the past I've just hid it all and let it go. I want this time to be different. I want it GONE.
This is where you all come in.
I need your best tips, hints, products, and ideas for going through stuff and purging. What do you let the kids keep? What do you do with the stuff that's in good condition that they just don't want or need anymore? (Read: Legos.) What about the few baby things that a sentimental mom just can't seem to get rid of?
Any and all tips will be accepted. God knows I need the help, and there just might be a few Click for Clutter posts coming up!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Oh the Toys!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
I wish I knew!
I was thinking the other day how much useless, plastic crap is marketed to and accumulated by kids out there - YECH!
do it while the kids are at school, and just get a big garbage bag, done! :P
oh and bring a friend, they will be less sentimental and will ditch it faster then fast!
I always take the stuff that's in good condition to the local food bank or other charity that supports young families.
The stuff that has been used and abused just gets tossed. Sometimes I have the kids go through stuff with me and help me make piles....1 for charity....1 for totally tossing....1 for keep for a week and then kiss goodbye. Some of the stuff my girls know they don't need but they're not emotionally ready to let it go just because I've hit my cleaning spree. Those things we keep for a week and then kiss goodbye.
Good luck!
Since I have trouble getting rid of my own stuff I would be of no help to you. I always held on to the kids toys. I still have the special ones, books too. Now that they are grown, the are really good at tossing things. I guess my own clutter taught them a lesson.
I have memory boxes for all three of my kids. Favorite little first outfits they wore, drawings, a couple of favorite toys... and much more. That's what I do with the sentimental things.
They only get to keep things that they really use, things I've seen them use time and time again.
I also give to the local womans shelters, mostly the domestic violence shelter, books in really good condition go to the school library usually since they have a shortage of books in the schools around here and I freecycle a ton of stuff (trinkets and things of that nature). You can find freecycle in your area by going to Yahoo Groups and search freecycle and the name of the city you live in sign up for their emails and you can send out a "Offer" email.
My kids are older now though, 13 and 18 (my oldest is 24), so I really don't have much to give away anymore, but those are the things I've done and occassionally still do.
Hope this helps!
Twice a year the boys and I go through their rooms. We've decided that someones "trash" can be someones "treasure". We go through everything together and decide if it's worth sharing with another or tossing it out. They seem to like the idea of serving others and tend to be more willing to get rid of the "stuff".
Good-luck!
We've started a system where the toys my daughter plays with rarely go high up on the shelf. If it doesn't get taken down within a 4 to 6 month period, out it goes.
Some toys I donate. Some toys I sell on eBay. It just kind of depends on the shape of the toy and if I think I can get a decent price on eBay.
Oh, and if I'm walking through the playroom and one of the toys just happens to catch my eye because I know it's a.) annoying, b.) junk c.) won't be missed, then I sometimes just make it disappear without bothering to put it on the higher up shelf...
HA! If you read my post earlier this week about siiiinnnnkkkkiiinnngg in STUFF, you know I certainly can't help you! I'm the worst! At some point I'm just going to have to have my mom come in and toss everything because I'm too weak to let any of it go. Good luck!
Post a Comment