How to Decrease Holiday Toy Stress
/Now that your little one has opened all of his or her new things, you may find yourself with an overwhelming amount of stimuli in your home. The introduction of new play things from the holiday season has the potential to create little tornadoes of mess and there’s a sure way to eliminate not only the overstimulation, but the unnecessary clutter. Even for the most organized play spaces, new toys can still struggle to find their place. Here are a few tips to decrease the mess and associated stress with the new holiday toys:
Put them away - Now that all of the gifts have been unwrapped and are possibly strewn all over your home or still under the tree, you have the opportunity to do a quick whip around and place them back into their hiding places for safe keeping. Not only does this allow for your little one to focus his or her attention on only a few toys in rotation at a time, but it also allows for you to keep some necessary clear headspace. Some new toys require parental assistance in becoming acclimated and for some of us that can be a daunting task. Lighten your load and put those toys up in the closet for safe keeping. You can introduce them stagnantly on a bi-weekly or even monthly basis when it seems like boredom is brooding.
Clean as you go - And by “you,” I mean your little one. No sense in driving yourself crazy by constantly cleaning up after your toddler. If your child is at least 1 year old, bring in that sense of autonomy and accountability by introducing that lovely clean up song, which is your friend. Before you allow your child to play with the next new or old item, make sure he or she cleans up the current toy of choice. “Put it away before you choose another one” is my favorite line and it works. It creates routine and responsibility. I don’t have to worry about cleaning up 5 toys (or sets) when Aiden knows that before he can move on to the next, he must complete the first task.
Create play spaces - Even if you live in a smaller space, you can create play spaces where your toddler knows his or her designated space. Children operate well on structure and routines and in that, he or she should know what to expect. Aiden knows that he eats at his table. He knows that he can play in the living room with specific toys, while other toys are to be played in his room. Toddlers may be too old for play pens, but guess what childcare centers use as a boundary setting tool?—carpets, rugs and floor mats. Generalize this tactic into your home for ease of transition in and out of different activities. You can even get nifty and designate a “reading area,” “puzzle area” or “color station.” For things that require bigger spaces, such as Lego train sets—allow for free range, but make sure the storage bin is nearby for quick and easy toddler cleanup.
What routines and structures do you have in place to decrease the toy stress during the holiday season? Share them in the comments section below!
