Do Your Kids Have Too Many Toys?

by Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger

When my kids were little, we lived in a house where the front porch had been converted into a sun porch--this wonderful, sunny room was long and narrow and it immediately became the playroom. With thick kid-friendly carpet and a door that could close it off from the rest of the house if things became too noisy--this was the perfect space for three busy kids. I bought some heavy, old, low shelves from a church rummage sale and they lined the three walls along one side. Those shelves were absolutely full of toys.

Being the organized sort that I was, every type of toy had it's own labeled bin or basket--play food, legos, blocks, doll clothes, toy cars--there were dozens of puzzles, books, dishes and stuffed toys. Anything you could imagine a child wanting to play with, we had in abundance. When the playroom was clean and orderly, it looked like a miniature preschool. WHEN the playroom was clean and orderly...

As preschoolers and young school-age children, my kids tended to play with things by dumping everything they wanted to use in a big pile. With vivid imaginations, they used blocks and books and pencils to build big cities and then everything and everyone became participants in that floor-covering city. Just about every evening, I would go into the playroom and try to inspire them to help me clean up (by then, they'd moved onto a dozen other projects and games) since I was determined to maintain order and teach them organization.

The simple reality was that my kids had way too many toys. They could have made do quite creatively with less of just about everything. The abundance was actually overwhelming and once they started to get things out, the idea of putting them back was way too daunting for a four-year-old. And while I was motivated to stimulate their energetic, creative selves with educational and interesting toys and I'm certain "no harm was done." I think life could have been a bit more peaceful and simple if we had toned things down a bit. If I had the chance to do it all over again--I think I'd keep things basic and manageable, and try to avoid the trappings of having way too many toys...

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