Need help purging toys, crafts, stuff- moving.

[indigomama]

We are making our hopefully final move in two months. We are buying a house that is 1500 sq ft. There are 7 of us! I need to make this house functional and organized! To do that, I feel like I need to purge, but I'm having a hard time :o . 

 

We will not have a designated school area, so I will be lining one wall of the garage with storage cabinets. Those cabinets will need to hold all our school supplies (books with be on shelves in living room), all our craft/sewing stuff, and most of the kids' toys. 

 

My trouble is figuring out what I should get rid of, examples:

 

Trains/train tracks (not played with too often, but a big nice set)

Blocks (huge box of blocks of all kinds, played with only occasionally, but really enjoyed when we do have them out)

Tons of dress clothes and paraphernalia (younger kids love dressing up, but it's hard to store)

Fabric (I don't sew often, but every once and a while my fabric/sewing stuff really comes in handy, ie Halloween, Christmas)

Lincoln Logs (same as blocks)

Games/Puzzles (we have a ton, and they get used, but do I really need them all?)

Tinker Toys (2 huge sets, same as blocks)

 

 

So, when you are making purging decisions, what do you think through. Is using something occasionally enough to keep it? Do you keep things for grandkids? 

[Junie]

What I have done in the past is buy a rubbermaid-type box for each set -- trains, blocks, etc.  If there is too much of one thing to go in the box, then I purge and get rid of the least-played-with pieces or any pieces that are broken.

[indigomama]

What I have done in the past is buy a rubbermaid-type box for each set -- trains, blocks, etc.  If there is too much of one thing to go in the box, then I purge and get rid of the least-played-with pieces or any pieces that are broken.

 

I have most the stuff in large totes. But, I hadn't thought about limiting fabrics/sewing notions to one tote as well. Or the dress-up stuff, but that's a good idea. Thanks. 

[TammyS]

We are making our hopefully final move in two months. We are buying a house that is 1500 sq ft. There are 7 of us! I need to make this house functional and organized! To do that, I feel like I need to purge, but I'm having a hard time :o . 

 

We will not have a designated school area, so I will be lining one wall of the garage with storage cabinets. Those cabinets will need to hold all our school supplies (books with be on shelves in living room), all our craft/sewing stuff, and most of the kids' toys. 

 

My trouble is figuring out what I should get rid of, examples:

 

Trains/train tracks (not played with too often, but a big nice set)

Blocks (huge box of blocks of all kinds, played with only occasionally, but really enjoyed when we do have them out)

Tons of dress clothes and paraphernalia (younger kids love dressing up, but it's hard to store)

Fabric (I don't sew often, but every once and a while my fabric/sewing stuff really comes in handy, ie Halloween, Christmas)

Lincoln Logs (same as blocks)

Games/Puzzles (we have a ton, and they get used, but do I really need them all?)

Tinker Toys (2 huge sets, same as blocks)

 

 

So, when you are making purging decisions, what do you think through. Is using something occasionally enough to keep it? Do you keep things for grandkids? 

 

I would get rid of the trains and lincoln logs entirely.  They just aren't that flexible a toy that  they are worth keeping.  I would keep the blocks (unless you also have legos, in which case the blocks would go, too), but you might think about whether you need so many.  If the kids love and use the tinker toys frequently, keep them.  If not, get rid of them.  Puzzles, games, and dress up reduce to only the favorites.  Fabric reduce to a single container, get rid of scraps, you don't need them.

 

 

[Janeway]

When you say 1500 square feet, is there also a basement? Or is that 1500 total?

[Janeway]

I already got rid of the Lincoln Logs. We have k'nex so I figure I should rid of the tinker toys. I think I should perhaps rid of the blocks as we have Legos everywhere.

[Upptacka]

I have been purging a ton this spring.....it feels great! I started with the stuff my kids only played with occasionally -- dress up clothes (all of it!), play kitchen and play food, 3 out of 4 of their doll strollers, our wooden train set, most baby toys. I have one Rubbermaid bin of toys that I am keeping for grandkids. I don't want to keep more than that. I figure I will want to buy new things at that time, and my kids might prefer new toys, too (safety standards seem to be changing all the time). We have a lot of storage space, so a bin isn't a huge deal. If I did not have the space, I wouldn't save any toys for future generations. I would rather have my sanity now even if it means I end up buying a new train set later.

 

I kind of had to be firm with myself, because it is SO easy for me to justify keeping all of our toys. We had a lot of dress up clothes, which my kids did enjoy, but at the same time they haven't missed them at all. If anything, they are enjoying all the other toys they have (which often get neglected because they have too much to play with).

 

I did get the kids involved for some of it, but I make more progress without them around. I have found that it is much easier for all of us to pull everything out, and rather than trying to eliminate, we prioritize. So we set an amount (either a number or whatever fits into a bin) and then purge whatever doesn't make the cut. In our case, we use the bottom half of our linen cabinet for games and puzzles. I told the kids we can only keep what fits in the cabinet (not overstuffed). So they took turns each picking out their favorite and putting it in the cabinet, then second favorite, third favorite, etc. until the cabinet was filled. Anything left got sold or donated. I have an easier time making cuts going from that angle (rather than looking at a pile of toys and trying to figure out what to get rid of). Decide how much you want to keep, whether it is "one bin of dress up clothes" or "one storage drawer of fabric" or "one bin of blocks" or whatever. And then prioritize what you want to go in to set space. Sometimes it is easier for me purge an entire collection (take Lincoln logs, for example), rather than cutting down on the amount we have. I found that my kids didn't want to play with Lincoln logs at all with a smaller amount of them.....they couldn't build as much, I guess.

 

There is definitely a balance, but I am feeling weight off my shoulders with less stuff! And my kids are no less happy.....they will play with things if I bring them out, but at the same time they don't miss them when they are gone.

 

We still have work to do here.....l can look around and I know we have way more toys, books, puzzles, games and "stuff" than we need.

[indigomama]

When you say 1500 square feet, is there also a basement? Or is that 1500 total?

 

 

In CA, no basement :) 1500 sq ft total.

[momacacia]

Ummm, go to Ikea and line all your was with Besta cabinetry. I'm just sayin'. :)

Edited June 10, 2016 by momacacia

[indigomama]

I would get rid of the trains and lincoln logs entirely.  They just aren't that flexible a toy that  they are worth keeping.  I would keep the blocks (unless you also have legos, in which case the blocks would go, too), but you might think about whether you need so many.  If the kids love and use the tinker toys frequently, keep them.  If not, get rid of them.  Puzzles, games, and dress up reduce to only the favorites.  Fabric reduce to a single container, get rid of scraps, you don't need them.

 

 

 

Thank you, this was helpful. I really just need someone to give me permission to get rid of things! I think trains and Lincoln logs could totally go, they just aren't played with that often. We have a ton of legos, but might keep the blocks for the younger two who aren't yet into legos. 

 

 

I have been purging a ton this spring.....it feels great! I started with the stuff my kids only played with occasionally -- dress up clothes (all of it!), play kitchen and play food, 3 out of 4 of their doll strollers, our wooden train set, most baby toys. I have one Rubbermaid bin of toys that I am keeping for grandkids. I don't want to keep more than that. I figure I will want to buy new things at that time, and my kids might prefer new toys, too (safety standards seem to be changing all the time). We have a lot of storage space, so a bin isn't a huge deal. If I did not have the space, I wouldn't save any toys for future generations. I would rather have my sanity now even if it means I end up buying a new train set later.

 

I kind of had to be firm with myself, because it is SO easy for me to justify keeping all of our toys. We had a lot of dress up clothes, which my kids did enjoy, but at the same time they haven't missed them at all. If anything, they are enjoying all the other toys they have (which often get neglected because they have too much to play with).

 

I did get the kids involved for some of it, but I make more progress without them around. I have found that it is much easier for all of us to pull everything out, and rather than trying to eliminate, we prioritize. So we set an amount (either a number or whatever fits into a bin) and then purge whatever doesn't make the cut. In our case, we use the bottom half of our linen cabinet for games and puzzles. I told the kids we can only keep what fits in the cabinet (not overstuffed). So they took turns each picking out their favorite and putting it in the cabinet, then second favorite, third favorite, etc. until the cabinet was filled. Anything left got sold or donated. I have an easier time making cuts going from that angle (rather than looking at a pile of toys and trying to figure out what to get rid of). Decide how much you want to keep, whether it is "one bin of dress up clothes" or "one storage drawer of fabric" or "one bin of blocks" or whatever. And then prioritize what you want to go in to set space. Sometimes it is easier for me purge an entire collection (take Lincoln logs, for example), rather than cutting down on the amount we have. I found that my kids didn't want to play with Lincoln logs at all with a smaller amount of them.....they couldn't build as much, I guess.

 

There is definitely a balance, but I am feeling weight off my shoulders with less stuff! And my kids are no less happy.....they will play with things if I bring them out, but at the same time they don't miss them when they are gone.

 

We still have work to do here.....l can look around and I know we have way more toys, books, puzzles, games and "stuff" than we need.

 

Thank you! I like the idea of prioritizing. We will have a finite amount of space, what do we really want/need to fill that space. That's a better way of looking at this.

[indigomama]

Ummm, go to Ikea and line all your was with Besta cabinetry. I'm just sayin'. :)

 

I was planning on getting 5 or 6 of the Pax cabinets for one wall in the garage. I like them because I can custom design the insides with shelves and drawers.

 

Awkward indoor wall space that already has to hold piano, two large bookshelves and then some built-ins we're having put in for entertainment and books. 

[Ausmumof3]

Have you thought about involving the kids with the purging? It is slower but surprising what sometimes they will happily part with. I am trying to do this with my kids in part because I have some bad memories of coming home to find stuff gone and in part because I want my kids to learn the art of purging and decluttering.

 

Also get hold of the life changing magic if you haven't already. It's not perfect but definitely helps. It helps not to keep anything because you think you should but because you want to.

[indigomama]

Have you thought about involving the kids with the purging? It is slower but surprising what sometimes they will happily part with. I am trying to do this with my kids in part because I have some bad memories of coming home to find stuff gone and in part because I want my kids to learn the art of purging and decluttering.

 

Also get hold of the life changing magic if you haven't already. It's not perfect but definitely helps. It helps not to keep anything because you think you should but because you want to.

 

 

Having all the kids in the room with me while I am sorting/packing is not good for any of us  :w00t: !  But, I do try and get their general opinions on things they would like to keep or things they are done playing with. DS 7 is a major pack rat!!!! He will cry if I try and throw out a piece of paper he once got to color on at a restaurant! He can not be with me while I'm cleaning. 

 

I've heard about that book, but haven't read it. That is a helpful thought though. Thanks!

[Ausmumof3]

Having all the kids in the room with me while I am sorting/packing is not good for any of us :w00t: ! But, I do try and get their general opinions on things they would like to keep or things they are done playing with. DS 7 is a major pack rat!!!! He will cry if I try and throw out a piece of paper he once got to color on at a restaurant! He can not be with me while I'm cleaning.

 

I've heard about that book, but haven't read it. That is a helpful thought though. Thanks!

Ha my dd7 is like this too. Must be something with the age. I get that, it's easier in a non pressure situation than a time limited situation too.

[lllll]

nm

Edited November 30, 2016 by cathey

[indigomama]

How old are your kids?  If they're still young I'd keep most of that stuff and find a way store it so the kids could get it out when they wanted to play with it. 

 

My kids are 12, 9 (almost 10), 7 (almost 8), 6 and 4 (almost 5).  Three boys, then two girls. 

[lllll]

nm 

 

Edited November 30, 2016 by cathey

[TammyS]

My kids are 12, 9 (almost 10), 7 (almost 8), 6 and 4 (almost 5).  Three boys, then two girls. 

 

Oh!  Then get rid of the blocks!  All of your kids are plenty old enough for legos!  They don't need blocks, too.

[Pippen]

Some years back I got rid of most of my accumulated fabric except what would fit in one box that easily fit my storage space. Most of what I kept tended to be either more flexible (muslin) or something pricey (silver lame) that I'd be more apt to use. Larger pieces that I bought for a "future project" mostly went out, as did patterns that when I was honest with myself the kids had outgrown or that no longer fit my style. 

 

Afterwards when I needed fabric for a costume I'd first look around here to see if I could adapt something (sheet, old clothes) that was going out the door anyway, then I'd hit up the thrift shop and sale aisles. That was about seven years ago and I haven't missed most of what I sent out the door. The exception was a stack of multicolored cotton solids in small yardage that I'd used for crafts. 

 

I will say I wasn't totally ruthless. I saved a few favorites. I recently came across one of those favorite "future project" fabrics. I still haven't used it.  :rolleyes:

 

If I was limited for space and wanted to keep more, I'd probably use spacesaver bags.

[tm919]

Our house is about that size (1650 with the tiniest closets). The one thing that wasn't mentioned is that I'd reserve 3 rather small bins appropriate for kids younger than yours (or of things your children will soon grow out of). 

 

We keep: A few dress up outfits in sizes smaller than my younger daughter, stored along with my daughters' favorite dress-up things; one box of duplos; and magnatiles (really my kids still use these...). My kids are only 4 and 6 so what happens is that when their friends bring along siblings -- there's often under 3s in that crowd. it's convenient to have something for those kids too.

Edited June 10, 2016 by tm919

[indigomama]

Some years back I got rid of most of my accumulated fabric except what would fit in one box that easily fit my storage space. Most of what I kept tended to be either more flexible (muslin) or something pricey (silver lame) that I'd be more apt to use. Larger pieces that I bought for a "future project" mostly went out, as did patterns that when I was honest with myself the kids had outgrown or that no longer fit my style. 

 

Afterwards when I needed fabric for a costume I'd first look around here to see if I could adapt something (sheet, old clothes) that was going out the door anyway, then I'd hit up the thrift shop and sale aisles. That was about seven years ago and I haven't missed most of what I sent out the door. The exception was a stack of multicolored cotton solids in small yardage that I'd used for crafts. 

 

I will say I wasn't totally ruthless. I saved a few favorites. I recently came across one of those favorite "future project" fabrics. I still haven't used it.  :rolleyes:

 

If I was limited for space and wanted to keep more, I'd probably use spacesaver bags.

 

I'm thinking I really need to purge the fabric better. It's great when I need something and find it in my stash, but it's not often, and I could easily find it at thrift stores, like you mentioned. Thanks!

 

 

Our house is about that size (1650 with the tiniest closets). The one thing that wasn't mentioned is that I'd reserve 3 rather small bins appropriate for kids younger than yours (or of things your children will soon grow out of). 

 

We keep: A few dress up outfits in sizes smaller than my younger daughter, stored along with my daughters' favorite dress-up things; one box of duplos; and magnatiles (really my kids still use these...). My kids are only 4 and 6 so what happens is that when their friends bring along siblings -- there's often under 3s in that crowd. it's convenient to have something for those kids too.

 

I do have one small basket that stays in the living cabinet of "baby" toys. We host a weekly bible study that has babies and we keep a basket of toys/board books for them.

[BooksandBoys]

I do the one container per type of thing method too, so I'd cull the fabric and toys that way.

 

With kids at those ages, I'd get rid of the trains, blocks, and Lincoln logs, but that's just me. We have kids aged 8, 5, and 2, and we're keeping a large bin of Legos, duplos (these still get a shocking amount of play here), and blocks. We're also keeping a small bin of animals and cars, a small bin of stuffed animals, and a one of puzzles. We're letting the trains and lots of random toys go. Books, though...I'm not good at decluttering those.