Tips to Organize Kid's Toys: Declutter Your Child's Toys (part 1)

While listening to a few mamas share their desires for the home, one theme stood out: how to hide all the toys that seemed to spread over the entire house. Words like overwhelmed, anxious, and no energy came up again and again. In response, I decided to write a 4-part series on How to Organize Kid’s Toys, including articles on decluttering, organizing, and preventing overwhelm. First, let’s start with how to reduce the quantity.

Let’s face facts. Your baby or toddler is not just your child but also someone else’s grandchild, niece, nephew, or godchild. That’s a lot of love for one little person. And in today’s world, love often shows up as gifts. Gifts are wonderful, but when toys outgrow the space, adults in the home need to step in and declutter children’s toys for the good of everyone.

How to Organize and Declutter Your Child’s Toys

Decide on toy types. Choose the toys you want your child playing with based on what they enjoy and what you believe benefits them (e.g., educational, imaginative, motor skills, musical, art, building, sensory, independence). This first step helps you intentionally declutter your child’s toys by focusing on what truly matters.

Assign a toy space. Select a room or area for all the toys: maybe your child’s bedroom or a game room. Call it the “Toy Room” or come up with a fun name together. Having a defined space makes it easier to keep toys organized and in one area.

Gather the scattered toys. Collect toys from the living room, dining room, office, and other spaces. Move them into the Toy Room so you can clearly see what to keep, donate, or toss as you declutter your child’s toys.

Start decluttering. As you sort, touch every toy in the Toy Room and ask:

• • • Does this toy align with my vision for my child? If not, add it to the donate/sell pile.
    • Does my child play with it? If not, donate or sell it.
    • Is it complete and in good condition? If broken or missing pieces, donate, sell, repair, or repurpose for crafts (only if you’ll actually use it).
    • Could this toy be used by a future child? If so, keep it in storage…but remember, future children will receive new gifts too.

Keep what matters. If the toy aligns with your vision, works well, and your child loves it, place it in the keep pile. These intentional decisions are what truly help you declutter your child’s toys successfully.

Donation and Repair Options

• Where to donate: children’s hospitals, shelters, daycares, preschools, thrift stores, families in need, pediatricians, or community toy swaps.
• Green City Recycler (Houston): accepts toys with missing arms or incomplete games (as long as the game is somewhat usable).
• TerraCycle: offers a Toys Zero Waste Box for recycling.
• Manufacturers: Little Tikes, Mattel & Fisher-Price, and LEGO can replace or sell missing pieces.
• Antique toys: consider toy repair shops in the US. Compare repair costs with buying new.

Next Article: Tips to Organize Kid’s Toys: Organizing Strategies

Congratulations! You’ve decluttered your child’s toys and reduced the toy load in your home. But piles of toys are still everywhere (in the Toy Room) and there’s no organization to the madness. What now?

Next week’s article is, Tips to Organize Kid’s Toys: Organizing Strategies (part 2)

Want to know more about planning, prepping, scheduling, and keeping track of your child’s education? read How to Get Kids Organized for the School Year.