A Few Good Toys

that's all you need -

a few (as in, not very many)

good (as in, high quality, long lasting, well loved)

toys (as in, things children can actually PLAY with)

as in,

not

cheap,

plastic,

noisemaking

junk

dedicated to a single use

usually coming from a fast food restaurant

or large chain superstore.

I'm talking about having just

A Few Good Toys (and where to store them)

• Legos (large shallow plastic tub with wheels and a lid)

Seriously, if we could only have one toy, this would be it! Of course, maybe "one" is sort of a misnomer; it's more like 14,678 toys! But, just stick them all in a large, shallow tub and roll it under a bed. Easy access, easy clean up, easy storage. HOURS of fun!

• Building Blocks (Large basket or bin)

If you have Legos, you don't really need more building blocks, but we have found that a good set of wooden building blocks are quite useful for many days of creative play. "Jenga" blocks work great if you can't find or afford to purchase another good set.

• Dollhouse with people and vehicles (Large basket or bin)

and/or a farmhouse with animals and vehicles. Boys and girls will both love these sets with very high play value. We like the wooden sets, but there are some o.k. plastic ones too.

• Play food and dishes (medium basket or bin)

If you have preschoolers, you've got to have this. Again, we prefer wood (like the Melissa and Doug brand). There are some sets that have fruits and veggies that kids can "cut" in half

• A good assortment of dress up clothes (an old hope chest or extra dresser)

Some princess dresses and accessories, of course! Also include historical period pieces if you can and don't forget the boys. My 2 and 3 year old boys love hats and masks. My older boys love Dad's old sports uniforms, funny jackets, hats, and wigs.

• Baby doll and/or stuffed animal (on the child's bed)

I'm pretty sure most families have WAY too many of these things! One baby doll that is well-loved is worth much more than 10 random stuffed animals gathering dust! One or two of these can live on each child's bed, but any more than that is like a zoo.

As far as inside toys go, that's about it. Of course we have art supplies and outside items (maybe I'll post about that tomorrow).

Just take the 3 or 4 baskets and bins and put them on a bookshelf, in a low closet, or along a wall. Even the little ones can clean up and sort toys when it is this basic.

So, what do you do with all of the rest of your toys?

Just throw it all out.

Really,

you'll feel much better and your kids won't even be able to remember it after a few weeks.

In fact, they might not even notice the junk is gone. They will appreciate how much easier it is to keep their rooms clean!