4 Simple Steps to Declutter Toys (and Keep It That Way)

Inside: Declutter toys for both little and big kids with these four clear steps and be able to organize what they truly love.

If you have children then you know. You know how much stuff and clutter they acquire.

First, it’s traditional toys like puzzle pieces, Hot Wheels and Barbies; then as they get older, art supplies, sports equipment and Lego sets. It somehow seems to grow like weeds and be everywhere!

Although it can be overwhelming to start (plus heaven forbid we remove something they ask for a week later), it’s healthy to declutter toys every so often to make space in their world for non-plastic goods and remove the excess when it becomes too much.

The four-step process used to declutter toys is about finding what your child(ren) truly love so you know exactly what to get rid of and what to keep…plus ways to organize what’s left.

It’s easy to get caught up in the consumerism of kids’ stuff and with birthday parties, holidays, and well-intentioned grandparents, toys can accumulate quickly.

This is where a toy declutter comes in. If you aren’t sure where or how to start, keep reading for a laid out plan on how to tackle the toy declutter.

Benefits of a Toy Declutter

Let’s start with reasons why you want to tackle the project of decluttering toys:

• It lowers the overwhelm of so many toy choices
• It creates more physical space at home
• It can offer donations for children in need — always a great lesson for kids

A toy declutter can be done anytime of year. Naturally, if there was an ideal time to declutter toys it would be before the holidays and gift giving season begins. Of course, the steps below can be done whenever the need strikes.

The 4 Steps to Declutter Toys

Step 1: Observation

Take some time to observe your children play at home.  This could be over the course of a few days or just one afternoon.

What do they gravitate towards?  What do they ask to do?  Take mental or literal notes on what toys or activities they seem to enjoy more than others (you can download a toy declutter worksheet here to keep your thoughts organized).

Conduct a “toy test” by setting out toys in their rooms or play area of the house and see what they are drawn to.  For younger children, ask their teacher what they play with at daycare or preschool.

Step 2: Identify

After a brief observation period you are ready to identify the toys they like.  Perhaps you discover how much they love stickers or see your toddler walk around with more cars in his hand than you can count.  Maybe you realize they are more into outdoor play or boardgames (this is my middle child all the way).

Along with identifying it’s helpful to categorize what your kids enjoy.  For example my children generally love art & crafts, books, music and active (and I mean active) play.  When considering a gift either from me or a family member I look to these categories. 

Step 3: Purge

Now the fun part!  After identifying what toys are being played with (not just picked up then dropped on the ground — don’t you just love it when they do this), purge every item that is not getting attention or they’ve outgrown. 

Tons of LEGO bricks that just get scattered every once in awhile? Bag them up and sell the lot.  Books below reading level? Donate. Board games with missing pieces? Recycle or properly dispose.

Fair warning: purging can be become addicting. The more you purge the lighter you will feel. When you look around and see less “stuff” and create more space in your home, you will find more space mentally as well.

Tips for a declutter toy purge:

• Do it when the kids are not home (this would only be the opposite if you feel comfortable with the fact they will be onboard and not sway you to keep items)
• Purge when you have energy (as a mom I know this can be hard to find) but you’ll make better decisions when you are clearheaded and focused (refer back to your toy declutter worksheet for reference).
• Create three piles: dispose, donate, sell
• Have plenty of bags or sturdy boxes on hand
• Set aside space for the donations of your declutter, perhaps even in your car’s trunk so you’ll be sure to take it to donation center and not leave it at home
• Consider ways to resell gently used, yet usable items. Facebook Marketplace, local or online consignment shops (i.e., ThredUp) are safe choices for getting a little money out of your toy declutter.
• Be sure to responsibly recycle what you can (i.e, batteries, electronic toys), not just throw it into the trash. Here is a reference article for toy recycling.

Step 4: Organize

With what’s left from your toy declutter, an organization system will keep everything in place. 

Important! Don’t start organizing toys before doing your toy declutter. The trap to avoid is keeping too much and assuming if you simply organize it, you won’t be so bothered by it. This is why observe, identify and purge are important steps for how to declutter toys.

10 Ideas for Organizing After a Toy Declutter

• A cabinet or bookcase for puzzles and board games
• Soft storage chests for large scale toys like stuffed animals or dress up clothes
• A shelving unit with canvas boxes for mid-size toys like Barbies and Nerf
• Large plastic or metal bins for balls and outdoor play supplies
• Trays for corralling items that go together (i.e., coloring books and crayons)
• Stackable baskets for loose construction and craft papers
• Vertical file folders for activity books
• Mason jars for colored pencils and markers
• Clear plastic bins for building blocks, play dough and accessories, etc
• A 3-tier rolling cart for smaller items and when floor space is limited

2 Key Organizing Tips

• Organize by category (it’s okay to have broad categories, they don’t have to be super specific) i.e., puzzles stacked together, art supplies all in the same spot, sports equipment in the garage
• Organize by color (rainbow organization isn’t just for looking pretty. It actually helps!)

Future Gift Giving

Now that you’ve gone through the four-step toy declutter and know what your children receive the most joy from, your future gift giving can be more intentional.

Congrats on going through this process! It can be overwhelming to start a declutter project but following a plan can help you stay on track. Remember decluttering toys is not about taking away from your child but providing space, both mental and physical, for your both.