Home is where the heart is, and for many of us in the developed world it’s also where a ton of stuff is! Our home environment truly shapes the course of our day (especially as a homeschool family). I try to have a calm space that meets my kid’s creative needs with outlets for creative play, exercise, and learning… while still keeping the kid’s toys and clutter under control.
It’s a huge challenge.
In many ways, homeschooling sometimes seems the opposite of a minimalist lifestyle. After all, we’re trying to fit a classroom in our home!
Whether you homeschool or not, I’m sure all of us grown-ups have struggled with the idea that our kiddos need material “stuff” from us to be happy. And I have NO doubt the very same stuff can make us miserable later when we’re tripping over toys and shoving things into closets when company drops by.
There must be a simpler, better way… right?
Best Kids Toys That are Minimal and Low Clutter
The “right way” can look wildly different for each family and in different chapters of life. Preschoolers have different pretend play needs than 1-year-olds or 10-year-olds. And even if your home doesn’t have tight space constraints, less is often more.
Here are a few basic principles that have helped our family adopt healthy minimalism. I’ve figured out (after some trial and error) what was important and what we could do without.
1. Own Less
I love the classic “Dear Abby” advice:
If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them and half as much money.
That sounds like good advice, but it can feel pretty painful in practice if we aren’t used to saying “no” to ourselves and our kids. We all say we want a simpler life, but when it comes to that look of sheer delight on their faces when we say “yes”… how can we resist?!
I’ve written before about how much more stuff the modern family has than our grandparents did just two generations ago. Video games, remote control cars, and plastic toys with noises and flashing lights have replaced simple toys.
And when it comes to our kids, it gets pretty shocking:
- The average child in the developed world owns more than 70 toys but plays with…wait for it…only 12!
- The average American parent spends $317 per year per child on new toys. Imagine that repeated, year after year, for a family with multiple children.
- Only 3% of the world’s children live in the U.S., but they own more than 40% of the world’s toys!
These are some pretty impressive reasons to reevaluate what our kids really need to be happy. Chances are, their fondest childhood memories won’t revolve around stuff. Family habits won’t change until we’re convinced that buying more stuff won’t make us or our kids happier.
2. Limit Toys (& Kids Will Enjoy Them More)
I love Montessori principles and have found a lot of success setting up small play “stations” in our home. These can be adapted for different ages and abilities. When my kids were younger the 3-year-old could easily play with a tray of her toys and clean them up herself (with a little prompting from mom!). Older siblings from the 4-year-old to my 12-year-old were able to be responsible for their own play areas too.
A home could never look or work exactly like a Montessori classroom. However, the basic Montessori idea of “freedom within limits” certainly comes into play in our everyday lives at home. We limit the freedom a young child has to set them up for success, increasing their freedom (and responsibility) as they age.
There are countless ways to organize toys. Limiting a child’s toys to an amount they can take out and put away independently gives them more freedom and choice.
This doesn’t mean getting rid of all of their toys. It might mean limiting them to a certain number, or only to a specific room, or even rotating small bins of toys in and out periodically.
Physical limits like a closet or box help us know when it is time to rotate or purge toys. Younger kids could each get their own toy box and whatever fits in it they can keep. This helps them to have the freedom to choose what they want, within the limits of a reasonable space. Items like baby toys or toddler toys for a 2-year-old can easily fit in a basket or two.
3. Stick to Low Clutter Toys
I prefer my children’s entertainment to come from the great outdoors (think climbing trees, running, building forts, etc.). Inside, I encourage them to use things I already have in the house and serve another purpose or skill. Things like cooking/baking, making an indoor obstacle course from the couch cushions, or old clothes for costumes.
I’m sure most of us moms have come up with some creative ways to keep a demanding toddler busy with nothing more than a pot, some kitchen utensils, and a little bit of water.
That’s not to say that there isn’t a place for well-chosen toys in the house, especially ones that encourage exercise, fine motor skills, and problem-solving.
4. Make Buying Choices Carefully
It boils down to being extremely choosy before bringing a toy into your home, even if it’s just a dollar at a garage sale. Liat Hughes Joshi, author of the book Raising Children: The Primary Years, gives three main factors to help decide whether a toy purchase will pay off.
These are things to keep in mind for Christmas, birthdays, or during Amazon’s Black Friday sales! Before buying a toy, ask yourself…
Can my child use this with other children? (social value)
Can more than one child use this toy at a time? If so, which ages? Will this toy encourage active play and sharing? Good examples of toys that serve this purpose well might be a dollhouse, a board game, or a kitchen with play food.
How quickly will they get tired of this toy? (versatility)
How creative does this toy allow my child to be? Is it designed for one purpose, or can it be used in multiple ways? How many?
Open-ended toys like Lego sets, Lincoln Logs, magna tiles, or silk scarves allow kids to repurpose them in creative ways as they get older. These will be staples around your house a lot longer than another stuffed animal or a talking toy car.
Is it durable? What materials is it made of and could any parts break?
Although it can mean spending more initially, having a few well-chosen quality items always beats piles of plastic junk.
It’s less to clean up for you, less waste for the environment and will fetch a higher resale value when it comes time to purge… going on to give another child joy. There are whole resale groups on Facebook now just for wooden toys!
So which are the best toys? I have some ideas! These make great gift ideas if you need some ideas for family members at Christmas and birthdays. Some are small enough for stocking stuffers too.
The Best Kids Toys That Last!
Here are some low clutter toys that have stood the test of time for us. I’ve intentionally tried to keep the list short and pared down to essentials. Check out my other posts on the best natural toys and the Ultimate Gift Guide for more quality toy suggestions! These include the best gift ideas for a wide age range from babies to 9-year-olds and beyond.
I’m a fan of creative options like stem toys and collaborative/learning options like a new card game. These top toys made the list!
The Best Kids Toys to Encourage Creativity
Collaborative Toys
Active or Outdoor Toys
Comforting Toys
I really enjoyed this podcast interview with Cas from Clutterbug on how to organize with kids. For more resources check out how to organize the home (for us busy moms!). Or this interview I did with Joshua Becker on how to decrease stress and clutter.
What toys have stood the test of time for you? What toys do you say “no” to? Please share below!
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