21 | The ONE THING You Should Do Before the Holidays
The holiday season is a time for joy, family, and giving—but if you’re already feeling overwhelmed by the toys, gifts, and clutter in your home, adding more to the mix can feel stressful.
Instead of waiting until after the holidays to deal with overflowing toy bins and chaotic play spaces, there’s one simple step that can make everything more manageable: a pre-holiday toy declutter.
This small but powerful process will help you create space, reduce stress, and set your family up for a more joyful, clutter-free holiday season.
Why Declutter Toys Before Christmas?
1. Make Room for What’s Coming
The last thing you want is new toys piling on top of old ones, turning your kids’ play spaces into a stressful mess. By clearing out what’s no longer needed before gifts start arriving, you create white space—both in your home and in your mind.
2. Reduce Overstimulation for Your Kids
Too many toys can actually make it harder for kids to focus and play creatively. When there’s less clutter, they:
Play longer with each toy
Use their imagination more
Feel less overwhelmed by choices
Instead of jumping from one toy to another, kids engage in deeper, more meaningful play when they have a simplified, organized space.
3. Teach Kids Important Life Skills
Decluttering toys together is a great teaching moment. It helps kids learn:
How to decide what’s important to them
The value of letting go of things they no longer use
How to give to others by donating toys they’ve outgrown
These small moments help build responsibility and awareness—important skills that will serve them for life.
The Benefits of a Decluttered Play Space
More Focused Play – With fewer distractions, kids engage better and play more creatively.
Easier Cleanup – When everything has a designated place, kids can put things away on their own, making cleanup quicker and less stressful.
Less Stress for Parents – No more tripping over toys or feeling like you're constantly cleaning up.
More Time for What Matters – When you spend less time managing clutter, you have more time for family activities like game nights, movie nights, and outdoor fun.
Where to Start: How to Declutter Toys Before the Holidays
Step 1: Define the Play Space
Your home doesn’t need a designated playroom—a play space is anywhere your child plays. This might be:
The living room
Their bedroom
A small basket of toys in the kitchen or bathroom
Start by looking at all the spaces where toys collect, and decide where you want to simplify and organize.
Step 2: Sort & Categorize
To make decluttering easier and more intentional, sort toys into categories:
Favorites – The toys your child plays with daily
Sometimes Played With – Rotate these in and out to keep things fresh
Outgrown or Unused – These are the ones to donate or store away
If a toy hasn’t been played with in months, it’s time to let it go or pass it on.
Step 3: Get Your Kids Involved
Instead of decluttering behind their backs, involve your kids in the process by asking:
“What are your favorite toys?” – This helps them focus on what they truly love.
“Are there toys you don’t use anymore that another child might love?” – Teaching them about giving makes the process meaningful.
By involving them, you empower your kids to make decisions and take ownership of their space.
Step 4: Organize with Simplicity in Mind
Once you’ve decluttered, set up simple systems to keep things manageable:
Use clear bins and labels so kids know where things go
Keep only a few toys accessible and rotate others
Create zones (e.g., a bin for Legos, a shelf for books)
When your child knows where everything belongs, cleanup becomes easier and more sustainable.
Want More Help?
Check Out Play Spaces That Work
If you’re ready to tackle toy clutter but need some extra guidance, I created something just for you:
Play Spaces That Work – A Private Podcast for Parents
This step-by-step audio guide walks you through:
How to categorize, declutter, and organize your kids' toys
The easiest systems for keeping play spaces organized
Tools to make cleanup a breeze (even for little kids!)
Plus, you’ll get exclusive resources, including:
A Toy Categories List – To help you group similar toys
A Toy Evaluation Tool – To help decide what stays and what goes
A Product Recommendation Guide – With direct links to my favorite organizing products
A Workbook & To-Do List – Because crossing things off feels so good!
