https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 20:46:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2891161 Mon, 15 Jul 2019 13:27:13 +0000 MrsSRS 2891161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: way to go!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2891065 Sun, 14 Jul 2019 23:15:03 +0000 Corduroy 2891065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did it! Thanks for all the input. Things are looking good today.</p> <p>Friday night during dinner I brought up the topic of cleaning (like I had done a couple times this week). I had the kids make a list of their favorite toys to assure them they would be safe. We actually had a lot of fun helping each other with the lists. Maybe it built trust to have us say "and remember doggie and your motorcycle". After dinner the kids and I gathered all their stuff except clothes and outdoor toys in one spot. We spent a good chunk of time Saturday going through it. Boredom ended up being very helpful. Every time DD asked to be done sorting I'd remind her that we could be done anytime she decides to get rid of the rest of the stuff. During one portion the TV was one which was helpful because the kids would say donate to more things to get back to watching TV. DH and I did make some cuts after bedtime but it was all things we had mentioned repeatedly that it was time to go (play kitchen and some ride on toys). </p> <p>We got a Kallax storage shelf for both kids today. The kids have both needed book shelves or some storage for a while. I was always hesitant to get storage before because I didn't want to store junk we weren't using. It was a relief to see how little room their stuff took up once we put them in. </p> <p>I feel re-energized to finish tidying the rest of my stuff. We stalled in the process because the kids stuff took over every space we made. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890927 Sat, 13 Jul 2019 08:07:02 +0000 MrsSRS 2890927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are the same age as yours and we sort the toys together twice a year. They have summer birthdays so we do it around birthday time and around Christmas time. Usually right after the influx of gifts but sometimes before. The narrative looks something like this, " we have some fun new exciting things! But remember that we only have a certain amount of space for our things. So if something doesn't fit in a container we don't need a bigger container we need fewer things. So we're going to look at your box full of cars. Look they don't all fit. So we need to move enough of them to this bag that they all fit. Then this bag can go to other kids who don't have as many cars." </p> <p>If there's a protest my response is a matter of fact, " part of my job is to keep our house clean and safe for you. Keeping our house clean and safe means not having too many things. I know that you like your toys but we are going to make them fit in our space now. If it's too hard for you to help me that's fine I can do it without your help and you can play in the other room. I will do my best to keep all the ones that I think are your favorites"</p> <p>And I don't expect them to stay with me through the whole process. Usually I turn on some music and they help with some of the sorting and then eventually they sort of drift off and play together while I keep plugging away at it. I might do the final tidy up after they're in bed but they've seen enough of the process that it's not a shock and that they're learning that this is a thing that people have to do. I think the key is to really try to not make it emotionally laden. This isn't a huge deal, you haven't done anything wrong, I'm not being mean and getting rid of the toys we just need to make them fit in our house. It's just another chore.</p> <p>Sorry for the novel 😆 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890733 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 20:00:39 +0000 Mama Bird 2890733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've done it two ways. We put the toys in a pile once in a while, and sort into three piles: keep, put away for later, and give to day care. The day care is happy to take a small bag of toys, and it doesn't bug the kids the way throwing toys away would. </p> <p>Or, if there's some really horrid toy I want gone, I hide it in the closet, wait a few weeks to make sure no one asks for it, and throw it away when the kids are asleep or not home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890676 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 13:53:57 +0000 Littlebit7 2890676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do sort of a combo-approach to this. My kids are younger so I can still make decisions for them and not feel too badly about taking away their ability to make independent decisions but I try to turn it into a teachable moment as well.</p> <p>We do the whole "these are going to go to kids who don't have toys thing". I have my 4 yo old pick a toy or two to give away. And the next day I purge out a few things and keep them put away for a few days to see if panic sets in with the realization they are gone. Then I donate. She hasn't gotten upset for anything I've ever taken away; if she asks, I say that the toy was given to kids who don't have toys. So I just stick to my donation party line. I know this will get more challenging as they get older, but I'd like to think I'm going to keep a firm grip on this one because in no way will our house every get inundated with toys or crap. We live in a big city and space is at a premium so marie kondo method or not, we *HAVE* to keep on the things that spark joy or have an identifiable purpose. Plus clutter just puts me in a bad mood. I am reminded of this every time we visit my SIL in the burbs or some of my friends houses. They have SO MUCH SHIT that never gets played with. Actually what works best is getting rid of stuff before it ever gets played with. I guess I filter what even attempt to enter the house from family gifts, birthdays, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890668 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 12:42:43 +0000 pachamama 2890668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on how old the kids are- sounds liek youre are older and would know and miss their toys? My mom used to "reorganize" my room if I was ever away as a kid and I cannot tell you how traumatic it was. I seriously think it scarred me and made me the control freak I am today. Can you involve your kids? I heard if they're over 4 they can decide what to keep and what to donate tho realistically it will probably be a struggle. I went HAM on my son's toys bc he was 3 then and I want to get rid of even more!!. We are of the mentality toys add visual and emotional clutter (obnoxious but I think it's pretty valid). I give the toys (and clothes and knickknacks) all away on our local FB mom page and it feels AWESOME. KonMari changed my life, I even think about becoming a consultant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890665 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 12:35:40 +0000 catgirl 2890665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When DD was little I was constantly sorting out toys to get rid of. I always did it when she wasn't around. But once she turned three or so it became much harder. So now, at 4.5, we do a couple of things. I still occasionally sort toys without her but I put them in a box in the garage for 3 months - if she asks for something in those 3 months I bring it back in but if she doesn't, I get rid of it. I am generally pretty tuned in to what she cares about/plays with so I have only had to rescue a few things from the box. We also will ask her to pick "x" number of toys she no longer plays with or wants a handful of times a year. We started small, just one at a time, but now we have her do more. </p> <p>I try to stay on top of toys throughout the year but we do a big purge in November, right before DD's December birthday and Christmas. </p> <p>Also, we have really been pushing family to give less toys. We encourage them to purchase experience gifts, art supplies, or books. Thankfully many of them are willing to do that. We have found that the more we can prevent things from ever coming in, the easier it is to deal with what we do end up with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890660 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 12:22:17 +0000 brownepiano 2890660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To answer one of your questions more directly, when we switch out toys we gather all the toys in the living room and bring up the totes from the basement. Then I have the kids take turns choosing what they want to keep out (on our cube shelf so specific numbers and spots) and everything else gets packed back up. It IS overwhelming, but a good way to see everything and see what they are regularly interested in and what they never choose. The only other toys we have are outside toys and a few in DS5 room. He's only been allowed to have toys in his room for a year so he still has lots of space. Most of the toys are kept in the living room to share. </p> <p>I think you could do it in phases. Gather all the shared toys and have them pick out the things they love. Bag up the rest and see if they actually care about it. Then work through their rooms. That's the harder part. </p> <p>I wanted DS5 to tell me what he wanted to keep when he was selling stuff, but he actually responded better to asking what he was done with. I was surprised once we got through DS5 wanting to just sell his brother's favorite toys, our thoughts about what he was done with were actually pretty similar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890659 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 12:14:09 +0000 brownepiano 2890659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I regularly go through toys and get rid of some but now that my oldest is 5 it doesn't work as well anymore. Thankfully I stayed on top of it when he didn't notice as much. </p> <p>One thing that worked well was letting him consign toys this spring. He really wanted a train set but it was after his birthday and he had already spent all his birthday money. He's 5 and doesn't earn money for chores so he was really having a hard time finding a way to get more money. I told him he could consign toys. We wound up cleaning out a lot of big stuff the kids were done with and only ended up with one small (expensive! ) train set in return. </p> <p>We have two plastic totes in the basement to keeps extra toys in (for rotation). I also use that as a place to set aside things they are done with and donate. I try to do a big purge before Christmas and birthdays to compensate. Plus we've encouraged grandparents to give activity gifts instead and they have been willing to oblige.</p> <p>For a treasure loving kid, I think I'd create a special treasure box. When it is full she could pick something to take out to make space for the new. Whatever toy limits you set, you just have to stick to them but make room for your kids to choose what stays and goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890653 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 11:32:44 +0000 erinbaderin 2890653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can’t imagine putting all the toys in one spot - it would just make me feel guilty about our over-consumption. I tend to just occasionally go through areas of the house and pull out things that they don’t use anymore, and throw them in a closet in the basement. After a few weeks if they haven’t asked about it (and so far they never have) I donate or list on kijiji. Actually yesterday a lady showed up to pick up some things I’d listed and my son demanded an explanation - I said “this lady is going to take some toys you don’t play with anymore because she has younger kids who would love them.” I was a little worried he’d put up a fuss but he looked at what I was carrying and said “oh yeah, we don’t need those.” PHEW!</p> <p>We just sold our house so I’m currently Kondo-ing like a maniac, nothing is safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890652 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 11:12:04 +0000 LemonJack 2890652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @KT326 in that I have the most success in doing this when my kids are gone. I also keep a big diaper box in my younger daughter’s closet, and am constantly adding things to it. It’s rare that they ask for anything after I’ve gotten rid of it.</p> <p>I also took a bin of toys I didn’t want to get rid of and just put it in the basement a couple months ago. I plan on rotating that out with other toys at some point.</p> <p>Edited to add that I’ve never taken out all the toys at once because I would find it overwhelming, but I go through our toy spaces regularly. If you were able to get an entire day to do it I’m sure you’d make great headway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890651 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 10:52:08 +0000 graceandjoy 2890651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have limited space at home, so the girls (at least my older one) knows that for the most part, one toy in, one toy out (more true for bigger things). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890650 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 10:50:06 +0000 KT326 2890650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I can only sort through toys when they are out of the house. I take anything they haven't played with in awhile and it either gets donated or tossed in the trash (only if broken or missing pieces). Back in February I sent both kids to my mom's house for the week since I was redoing their room (getting rid of the crib and putting in bunk beds). I took out all the toys and dumped them in the middle of the room to sort. I got rid of three trash bags worth of toys and I feel like I didn't even make a dent! </p> <p>I did tell DS what we were doing, that I was going to donate toys he didn't play with anymore so that he wouldn't be shocked when he got back. But honestly, it took months for him to ask about certain toys. Luckily he never really got upset over anything. </p> <p>I'm actually getting ready to do this again since we got a bunch of toys from my in-laws when they moved! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-konmari-toys-or-whats-your-big-clean-out-method#post-2890647 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 10:32:00 +0000 Corduroy 2890647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I have found joy (and some success) in tidying since we started in January. But we haven't touched the kids' stuff. Their rooms and our house have reached the point where we need to intervene. I'm sure we should have done it sooner. DS is 4, DD is 6 and by far a worse offender as she is a massive collector of found objects and can see anything as a treasure.</p> <p>I know Marie Kondo is adamant that you shouldn't get rid of other people's things but no amount of cajoling has gotten my DD to get rid of anything on her own. We've reached stressful, hazardous (to our feet) levels so KonMari or not we're cleaning out.</p> <p>Has anyone actually gathered all the toys around the house in one spot and sorted? I think it would be enlightening for us and the kids. DH called it traumatic and cruel. I'm considering trying to do it when the kids are out of the house (which would mean taking a day off). DH wants to secretly cull certain toys but we've done that before and we don't make deep enough cuts and the kids always figure us out. </p>