![]() For example, we have all our small toy cars zipped into a fabric pouch so they are contained if the large bin of toy vehicles is overturned. If you already have large bins, try subcontainers within. Know that most bins are too big! The problem with big bins is that it’s hard to find a toy within, and when they inevitably get dumped out, they create a huge mess. We use three of IKEA’s Flisat wall ledges for our current reading materials, and we make it a point to rotate the selection every month or so. I’ve settled on a method of two storage spaces for kid books: A small selection of my son’s current faves in his room and the rest stored on a dedicated shelf in the living room. Editing your home library is an easy win for making space: Identify the books your child has outgrown or never liked in the first place, and post the books as a giveaway on your mom or neighborhood group, or host a book swap. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and children’s books often fall into this category. I followed her 30-day challenge earlier this summer and while I didn’t come close to doing all 30 days, the days I did do were game-changing. My friend Shira Gill, a professional organizer, whose home is featured in my book, is the master of these micro-organizing tasks (she calls it the #15minwin). This bite-sized approach works best for me. Tackle the lunchbox containers and water bottles the next. Start with the kids’ sock drawer one day. Chances are the “need” might be less pressing than you think. Here’s how it works: If you see something you really think you need, bookmark it or ask a store to put it on hold for you, and then wait two days to see how you feel. My family used to use a 24-hour rule for all purchases, but I’ve decided 48 hours is even better. It is SO tempting to try to buy our way out of boredom, but more stuff is not the answer. Observe how your kids play with fewer toys, and then you can decide what to do with the excess after you’re sure your child doesn’t miss the things you sent on vacation. But for the ones that your child doesn’t play with often, put them in a place that’s out of reach (and out of sight) for a couple months. Recycle or throw out anything that is broken or trash. When you’re done doing the edit, you don’t need to kick the other toys to the curb. I personally prefer to do this when my kid is not around, so ask your partner to take the kids to the park or declare a movie afternoon. I love the toy editing approach Denaye Barahona offers in her book Simple Happy Parenting: She suggests you tell your child, “We are going to give your play space a makeover so you can easily see the toys and play with them in new ways.” That’s an idea kids can get on board with! She says to tell your kids the toys you’re removing are going on “vacation.” Try to edit down what is stored in your child’s room to the true favorites. ![]() In just a few months, your baby will sleep through the night and can begin sharing a room with your big kid. These seasons are relatively short: the bouncy seat and stroller will be gone before you know it (and they are essential right now!). New parents feel their home is overrun with Baby’s gear and others find themselves wishing for a third bedroom when a second baby arrives. ![]() New mamas, this one’s for you: Children also have a way of making a home feel too tiny. Here are a dozen ideas for a fresh start in your family’s home this year: To get my family and my home ready for the year ahead I’ve been tackling our clutter, reorganizing like crazy, and reminding myself that this strange time shall pass. And this year especially, I long to get back to some sense of “normal” after many days (and months) of unstructured days. Stuff?” I haven’t developed a perfect system, but living in a small space with no auxiliary storage space (and poking around in other small family homes) has helped me to tackle the conundrum that is kid clutter.īack-to-school season has always felt like the real beginning of the year to me. And the question everyone asks is, “How do you deal with All. When I was writing my book The Little Book of Living Small, I imagined that many of the readers would still be in their single or at least in their pre-kid days, but since it came out, I’ve heard the most questions from parents. If you feel like your kids’ toys and gear have taken over your home, you’re not alone.
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