Home is where the heart is, and for many people in developed countries, home is also where a lot of their stuff is! Our home environment determines the course of our day (especially as a homeschool family). I try to create a calm space where I can meet my children’s creative needs with outlets for creative play, exercise, and learning while keeping their toys and clutter under control.
It’s a big challenge.
In many ways, homeschooling sometimes seems like the antithesis of a minimalist lifestyle. After all, we are trying to fit a classroom into our home!
Whether we homeschool or not, all of us adults have probably struggled with the idea that our children need material “stuff” to be happy. And I have no doubt that those same things can make us miserable later on when we stumble over toys and shove things into the closet when company stops by.
There must be a simpler and better way… Right?
The Best Children’s Toys with Least Disruption
The “right path” can look very different from one family to another and in different parts of their lives. Preschoolers have different pretend play needs than 1- or 10-year-olds. Even if you don’t have space constraints at home, less is often more.
Here are some basic principles that helped my family adopt healthy minimalism. I figured out (after some trial and error) what was important and what I could do without.
1. Own less
I love the classic “Dear Abby” advice.
If you want your children to do well, spend twice as much time with them and spend half as much money.
It sounds like good advice, but it can actually be quite painful if we’re not used to saying “no” to ourselves and our children. We all say we want a simpler life. But when we say “yes,” we see an expression of pure joy on their faces. How could you resist?!
I’ve written before about how modern families have more things than our grandparents had just two generations ago. Video games, remote-controlled cars, and plastic toys with noises and flashing lights have replaced simple toys.
And for our children, it’s pretty shocking.
- The average child in a developed country owns more than 70 toys to play with. Wait a minute… There are only 12!
- The average American parent spends $317 per child per year on new toys. Imagine this happening year after year in a family with multiple children.
- Although only 3% of the world’s children live in the United States, they own more than 40% of the world’s toys.
These are some very impressive reasons why we need to re-evaluate what our children really need to be happy. Perhaps their best childhood memories don’t revolve around objects. Our family habits won’t change until we’re sure that buying more stuff won’t make us or our kids happier.
2. Limit toys (and kids will like them more)
I love Montessori principles and have had a lot of success setting up little play “stations” in my home. This can be adapted to suit different ages and abilities. When my kids were younger, my 3-year-old could easily play with the toy tray and clean it up after himself (with a little guidance from Mom!). Older siblings, ages 4 to 12, were also able to take charge of their own play area.
A home can never look or function exactly like a Montessori classroom. But the basic Montessori concept of “freedom within limits” certainly applies to everyday life at home as well. We limit the freedom that children need to succeed when they are young, and increase their freedom (and responsibility) as they get older.
There are countless ways to organize your toys. Limiting children’s toys to the amount they can take out and put away independently gives them more freedom and choice.
This doesn’t mean getting rid of all the toys. This might mean limiting them to a certain number or only certain rooms, or even rotating a small box of toys in and out periodically.
Physical constraints, such as closets or boxes, can help indicate when toys need to be rotated or emptied. Young children can each have their own toy box and store whatever they can fit inside. This gives you the freedom to choose what you want within reasonable space limits. Items like baby toys or toys for a 2-year-old can easily fit in one or two baskets.
3. Stick to uncomplicated toys
I prefer my kids to have fun outdoors (climbing trees, running, building forts, etc.). Inside the house, I encourage myself to use things I already have at home and repurpose them for other purposes or skills. Cooking/baking, creating an indoor obstacle course out of couch cushions, old clothes for costumes, etc.
I’m sure most moms have come up with some creative ways to keep their fussy toddlers busy with just a saucepan, kitchen utensils, and some water.
That’s not to say there isn’t room in your home for well-chosen toys, especially ones that encourage exercise, fine motor skills, and problem solving.
4. Make your purchasing choices carefully
After all, even if a toy costs just a dollar at a garage sale, we end up being extremely picky before bringing it home. Liat Hughes Joshi, author of this book Raising children: elementary school yearsHere are three key factors to help you decide whether your toy purchase will be a success or not.
Here’s something to keep in mind during Christmas, birthdays, or Amazon’s Black Friday sale! Before you buy a toy, ask yourself…
Can my child share it with other children? (social value)
Can more than one child use this toy at a time? If so, how old are you? Does this toy encourage active play and sharing? Good examples of toys that serve this purpose include dollhouses, board games, and kitchens with play food.
How quickly do children get bored with these toys? (versatility)
How creative will this toy make your child? Is it designed for one purpose, or can it be used in multiple ways? how much?
Open-ended toys like Lego sets, Lincoln logs, Magna tiles and silk scarves allow children to recycle them in creative ways as they grow. This will be a staple around the house for much longer than any other stuffed animal or talking toy car.
Is it durable? What material is it made of? Are there any parts that can break?
You may have to spend more at first, but having a few well-chosen quality items will always beat a pile of plastic waste.
You’ll save on cleaning costs, create less waste for the environment, and when you do, your child will have a higher resale value that will bring joy to other children. There is now a resale group on Facebook that sells only wooden toys!
So which toy is best? I have some ideas! This can be a great gift idea when you need ideas for your family for Christmas and birthdays. Some are small enough to store stuffers.
The best children’s toy that lasts!
Here are some uncomplicated toys that have stood the test of time for us: I’ve intentionally tried to keep the list short and condensed to the essentials. Check out my other posts on the best natural toys and my best gift guide for more quality toy suggestions! It includes the best gift ideas for a variety of ages, from babies to ages 9 and up.
I love creative options like stem toys and collaborative/learning options like new card games. These best toys made the list!
The Best Kids Toys to Encourage Creativity
cooperative toys
Active or outdoor toys
comfortable toys
I really enjoyed this podcast interview with Cas from Clutterbug about organizing with kids. For more resources, check out How to Organize Your Home (For Busy Moms!) Or here’s an interview with Joshua Becker about how to reduce stress and confusion.
Which toys have stood the test of time for you? Which toys do you say “no” to? Please share below!
