Before
After
I cleared out two reusable grocery bags of books and more than two garbage bags full of toys. Some of the hand-me-down toys had simply been through too many hands. A couple of the puzzles purchased by eager grandparents for preschoolers are stored away until the kids are older. Two dolls remain out instead of 5. The talking Elmo and Lilly are packed away for the moment. (Hana never played with her talking toys as much she did with her simpler, more adaptable toys anyway.) I was always skeptical of the "Baby Einstein" sales pitch so there weren't any of those "educational" toys to throw out. And the fragile yet obnoxious sounding birthday gift that didn't have an off button? Not in our play yard- I have my sanity to consider.
According to Dr. Payne, too many toys cause children to become overwhelmed and emotionally disconnect from toys and play. There weren't very many recommendations with numbers so I made those up. I stashed two or three items in each cubby, less than 10 books in the plastic container, and 5 items per drawer. It felt barren, but Hana seems to find plenty to play with. Most of the toys are now in the garage in the circulating toy stash, but some of them have left the Walker household to explore green pastures and more distant vistas.
It's a strange equation, but less toys = more time enjoying toys. Originally I thought we hadn't done too bad in creating Hana's play area given our resources and limitations, but I definitely witnessed a shift in her play after cleaning up and clearing out her area. There was more depth and suddenly forgotten toys triggered new adventures. In one cubby there was just a ball and two mats, but she dragged those mats all over the place for a myriad of activities I never anticipated. She also hasn't really missed the fancy stuff I thought she'd miss like her "laptop". Of course that might be because she still has her cell phone . . .
There are a few other bonus as well. Less toys mean faster cleanup. Less clean up also means that Hana's not overwhelmed by the mess and can take more responsibility for picking up her toys. Since she becomes more involved in her play for longer periods of time, I have a bigger block of time to handle other things, like dinner and laundry. Less mess, more time, happier child . . . what more can a mother ask for?
Of course we're not quite done yet. I have a list of things to get over the upcoming year since our budget is too small to fit them all at once. Dr. Payne explained that echoes from bare floors and walls can confuse young children, and I hope to buy some more rugs. Shoe containers from Ikea with the drawers that pull down at an angle might be useful for books (that's not something Dr. Payne recommended, I just think it might be a good solution for us). Another toy storage unit to replace the cardboard boxes from Costco will also be appreciated, but that's a bit pricy at the moment.
A few last thoughts from of Dr. Payne:
- Some toys are "worth more play" than others, toys that allow for building, imagination, social interaction and engage the sense of touch are wonderful additions
- Sometimes it's a good idea to simplify the clothes and their organization so that there are less choices and the transitions between outfits and activities can go more smoothly
- Scents and lights are another area for simplification and a candle at a specific time or occasion can add something magical
Do I sense a train set and a closet reorganization in the near future? Maybe . . . .
