Need Some Motivation

In my house, Barbie stuff goes in totes; shoes and little accessories go in a plastic tackle box. Tackle boxes are great for that little stuff like Legos. I can't stand the possibility of unmatched shoes so I don't chuck 'em in the trash.

I keep a box for Goodwill in my room and add to it as I find things. They do not help me go through their toys since they haven't outgrown their pack rat tendencies yet. They want to keep everything, I want to get rid of it...it's like congress - no one's willing to work with the other party!

We purge in the playroom and my kids rooms about 4 times a year (spring, late summer (before heading back to school), Thanksgiving break, and after Christmas. My kids (3 and 4) both help with cleaning things out and donating/throwing. We do the playroom all together and then they do their own rooms while I supervise between the two and clean out clothes from their closets at the same time. We have a rule that if it doesn't fit in some organizational bins we got from Costco, then something has to go (other than books, my sons Legos, and my daughters dollhouse). My OCD side has carried over to both of them, because they both definitely believe in picking up everything, and everything having a home. When we do it, we have one bin for donate, a trash bag for throw, and another bin for yard sale. Anything that sells at the yard sale they get to use the money to buy a new toy, or, in my sons case, save until he can get something he really wants. Anything that doesn't sell gets immediately donated to the day school at our church.

I usually don't wind up getting rid of much without their knowledge. I think because we have been doing it this way, they have grown up with de-cluttering as a mindset, and it makes things easier. I have a feeling it will be more difficult as they get older, but I hope that having done this for so long, it will continue to be an easy transition.

Good Luck!

A few times a year (especially Christmas and before birthdays) we go through and have a 'Keep', 'Donate' and 'Save for someone' box/bad. This way my kids have a say-so in what they are getting rid of (even if I don't always want them to get rid of X toy or game!' and they have an idea of donating to others who are less fortunate. This also allows me to go through and get rid of stuff that is missing pieces, broken, etc and throw it away! I usually fill up a box or two of their 'donate' and keep it around for a few weeks. If I don't hear them asking for any of the specific toys i have in the box, it goes to Goodwill. I have a few baby toys that I had been wanting to donate - just bulky, would like newer items, etc and my son and daughter love to get them out and play with them from time to time so I hold onto them!

I've been in the process of organizing my girls' things too. Honestly, they value the toys they have more when they don't have so much. If they don't play with Polly Pockets that much, package it all up in a tote and sell it on Craigslist.

I don't keep tiny pieces. If I find a barbie shoe on the floor, I throw it away. They never notice. I gave away the littlest pet shop stuff long ago.

I don't let them help me go through their things. If it were up to them, they'd keep everything, even things they don't play with. I wait until they aren't looking and decide for myself, and they usually never notice.

We have in the past given each child a container and told them they can only keep what fits in that container. All the other toys are tossed or donated (exceptions are made for special toys). The kids go through and want to keep every thing but as their bucket fills, they learn to edit their collection. The rejects are brought to me and I tell them to put them in the "trash" pile or the "Donate" pile. I've pulled a few thing that I know they will appreciate in the future but not now and put them in storage.

You could always change the idea of going through their toys. Instead of getting rid of them (or throwing them away) tell the girls that you know of some kids who don't have any Barbies, Polly Pockets, etc, and that you're going to have the girls help you go through their toys to give these little girls some toys.

That way, you have some help going through it, and you get rid of as many as possible. When the girls go to school, or daycare, then you can take the bags to Goodwill or something.

Sounds like we have the same toys. ;)

Our Barbies, and all the accessories that go with them, are in ONE tote. If the tote no longer holds it all, then it's time to get rid of some. I don't see the point, however, of getting rid of bits and pieces as long as they all fit in that one tote...it doesn't really save any room. That's my rule for all the sets.

Polly Pockets are in another, small box.

Littlest Pet Shop is all in a tote.

Another tote, full of plastic dinosaurs.

We have one of those nine-square cubby type shelving units, with the canvas boxes. Smaller sets that get played with frequently are in there...pirates in one, Alphie and cards in one, Dinosaur Train in one, etc. A few of the boxes are for miscellaneous...you know, those toys that don't fit in anywhere or with anything.

If everything has a place and is in a set, it's more fun to play. You can assist by taking out one set at a time, or two if they don't want to share, and letting them play in a clean room. When they are done, that set gets picked up and put away before another one comes out.

I have done this for years, and my girls don't seem to get as bored with their toys as you might expect...probably because they aren't all available, all the time.

Anything they are not playing with, and haven't for a long time, get rid of it. Personally, I move it down to the garage sale mountain in the basement, and come garage sale time (June) if they haven't asked for it back, then it goes in the sale.

I do have my oldest help with "getting rid of" decisions, but the above rule still applies because it's hard for them to be critical. She's getting much better, though, especially since she knows that in order to have something new, we have to get rid of something old.

I get it. My kids are old enough to clean up, but I still go through their rooms once a month to purge.

I would suggest setting a timer (30 min or 1 hour) and just working till the timer goes off. Turn on some music and make sure you have a bag for garbage and a bag for donate items.

I don't "help" my kids with the donating, I do it on my own while they are in school. If they see I am getting rid of something, then suddenly it is their favorite toy ever and they are begging to get it back. I will pack up anything that I know has not been played with in a long time. Also I will have the kids clean up their rooms before school and anything that was not properly put away I will put in a box, they have to earn each item back by doing a chore, anything still left in the box at the end of the month is donated to the thrift store.

time for a yard sale

We got the big rubber maid containers and sorted the toys. Polly's Barbuda cars ext. We switch toys out about every 4 months its like getting new toys all the time!

I rotate the big stuff and electronic stuff and I go through their things WITHOUT them before I know they will be getting more stuff (birthday, Christmas) but my youngest are still to little to truly be attached and with my oldest I knew exactly what she would miss. The 2nd time around (with my 3&4 y/o) I have been trying to teach them to put things away before they start with the next toy (ie blocks get put up before you take out the cars), have you tried something like this? If you really just want to get rid of the clitter and they are big enough I love the box idea