This post may contain affiliate links and I can earn a small commission when you use the link. There is no cost to you! Thank you!
One thing that we all know when it comes to kids, is that kids come with a lot of stuff. From diapers and wipes, to clothes and shoes, to toys and books… stuff, stuff, and more stuff. If you’re like me, you many go a little crazy about the amount of stuff when it comes to kiddos. I’m always trying to purge things we don’t absolutely need, working to keep any clutter away, and just liking to keep things more minimal in our house. It’s less overwhelming and just makes us all feel better, you know?
Same with my daughter’s play areas. We don’t have a playroom in our house, so my daughter’s room doubles as a play space and we also have a little play corner set up in our main living area. I try to be mindful to keep both her play spaces minimal. The less stuff children have and have out to play with, the more creative they become. Children need to be able to slow down and wonder… feel curious… slip into a mode that’s full of imagination and discovery and fun. They can’t do that as well when there are too many playthings and too many toys. Too many toys is overwhelming, and too many options means things often get overlooked and don’t get played with.
The most helpful idea I came across to keep things more simplified is doing a toy rotation! I’ll talk about shower boxes, too.
I have three big storage baskets in my daughter’s closet. One is for extra playthings, one is for extra books, and the other is for holiday-themed things, like holiday books and a few holiday-type toys… Things like that. Anyway, we keep things for a toy rotation in the basket in her closet. We have a few puzzle type toys for my daughter, for example. I only like to keep one or two out in a play space at a time, so the other ones are kept in the basket. (I keep the pieces in a little plastic bag.) I also keep a few more toys in there, too, at a time, along with some extra books. We don’t have too many extra toys, but keeping excess stuff in a basket or two or even a few… depending on how much you have… tucked away in a closet, it can help keep play areas cleaner, more minimal, and more fun! It helps both kiddos and parents not get too overwhelmed. Every couple of weeks or so I’ll try to switch up a few things here and there. I’ll rotate some things in her room on her little play shelf- maybe swap out the puzzles, switch up some toys, and rearrange some books- and then switch up some things in her little play corner in the living room, too. Don’t feel like you have to be rotating toys all the time… again, I might change things up, just a little at a time, every couple of weeks or so. (Or honestly maybe even once or twice a month. Whatever works for you and your family. We don’t need more on our plates, right??)
Also, don’t feel like you need to completely rotate all the toys. That’s probably too much. I personally like to only do a little at a time because I don’t want to make things seem too different for my daughter. Kiddos like consistency and familiarity. So switching up a little here, a little there, allows some fresh perspective to play time and new playthings added to the mix while still keeping the space familiar and comforting for children. (: I’ll use the toy rotation basket to switch some things up, or even just swap some things out from her room to the play corner.
This helps with books, too! You can do a toy rotation and book rotation! I like to switch out a few books when I rotate toys, or even just rearrange them. Again, any little difference provides a fresh perspective and allows books to get noticed again!
Now on to lovely little shower boxes!
Because we have the extra basket of playthings in my daughter’s closet, I’ve doubled this as a shower box! (Well in our case, a shower basket.) Whenever I need to keep my daughter occupied, such as if I need to shower, I pull down the basket and bring it into the bathroom. I have a designated soft “bathroom blanket” I’ll lay down for her and have her play, or just use a towel. It helps keep her occupied while I shower and get ready.
That’s what I do because I’m a little lazy. (; I just use the toy rotation box since it already has playthings and I can throw a couple of books in it. I know some parents will keep a little “treasure box” type container or basket on hand specifically for moments like that… a designated “I-need-to-get-something-done” box that’s different than the toy rotation boxes. Sometimes now that my daughter is older (she’ll be four soon) she says no to the shower box, and instead she takes a special basket of hers and chooses a few play thing on her own, like some Barbies and a few books, to bring into the bathroom (or kitchen, or laundry room… wherever you need to go!) with her. Whatever works for your kiddos and your family! (:
I love the idea of having a designated shower box, such as the toy rotation basket or special shower box, because it makes things easier and more convenient. Bring it out, have kiddos play, clean it up right there, and put it back! It’s easier and quicker than having to lug a handful of stuff around and to a different room when you need kiddos occupied.
Hopefully this helps give you some ideas! This momma loves anything that can help make life simpler, easier, and save some sanity… haha!
Thanks for reading!
Anna
