When kids are young, they develop most of their creativity,
awareness, and even social skills by learning through play. Far from
just keeping them amused, toys and the games can literally prove
invaluable for every stage of their lives.
But, as we're quickly coming
to learn, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
According to a research study conducted at the University of Toledo as outlined on http://news.utoledo.edu,
kids with fewer toys generally enjoy better play benefits.
In fact,
when they offered a group of toddlers just four toys to play with, the
researchers unanimously found that children were more creative, played
for longer, and generally had what they termed as 'richer play
experiences'.
As a parent, this is probably music to your ears.
After all, toys have a habit of taking over. They also have the downside
of costing a not-so-small fortune when your kids beg for something new
every time you head out.
Now, you have a valid reason to say no! The
question is, how exactly can you put this rule of fewer toys into
practice for kids who are guaranteed to miss its value? I've shared my ultimate guide to toy decluttering before, but here are some more great tips to put into practice when it comes to taking control of the toy situation.
Develop a one-in, one-out rule
Many of us do this kind of
thing with our wardrobes, yet surprisingly few parents think to
implement one-in, one-out rules for kids' toys.
Luckily, a child
pleading for a new toy is guaranteed to agree to get rid of something
they don't love anymore to seal the deal. As simple as that, you can cut
down at least some of their overall supply, thus ensuring new toys lead
to maximum benefits while they last.
Start a toy rotation
Many parents are also now choosing to begin toy rotations, which often
involves switching toys every season to add interest without adding more
items.
Simply get into the habit of putting half your kids' toys into
the attic or alternative storage solutions like those found at https://keepsafestorage.com.au/
the moment their attention wanes.
You can bet that, by the time you get
those supplies back out in a few months, your kids will play with them
like they’re brand new, and enjoy all the play benefits of doing so.
Encourage care
As well as leading to better play experiences,
evidence shows that kids typically keep smaller toy supplies cleaner
and feel prouder of each item.
As such, our last pointer is to encourage
that caring streak in your kids. You can achieve this by investing in a
limited number of high-quality toys, or even just providing them with a
display case rather than a piled-up toybox.
Either way, learning to
care for and feel pride regarding their limited collection is guaranteed
to stop them from asking for 'more, more, more' where toys are
concerned.
Admittedly, if your kids are used to a lot of toys, you might need to
make these changes slowly. But, as you do, you should soon start to see a
shift in their attitude and their development as a result.





Great ideas. It's right, you take a toy away for a few weeks or months, and then introduce it back, they play with it more!
Not my idea but a friend's that I think is wonderful. She has her kids sell their old toys at their annual garage sale with the promise they can use that money to buy new toys they want.