It’s not that I’m nesting or anything.  I just really got tired of having so much clutter everywhere.

I understand the kids need toys for entertainment AND we are a family of readers…but…

Do those toys and books have to take over every inch of space?

Of course not.  After all…

PLUS, I noticed that we had so many toys, but the kids hardly play with all of them.  They still complain of having nothing to do!

Could it be that they had too many toys and weren’t really appreciating what they had?

Maybe there’s too much stuff in front of them that they can’t decide?

Aha! They need to focus!

It was time for us to declutter and simplify!

So the first step, much to my children’s SURPRISE, was to take ALL the toys and put them in a big box in the garage.  (Oh the wailing and grinding of teeth!)

Then I told the kids they could only keep 5 toys each – so they had to choose their favorite toys carefully.

I think this step was one of the most satisfying because it actually made the kids think about which possession they valued and could enjoy the most (seeing as the 5 toys might be the only toys they will ever play with indefinitely).

Wouldn’t you know it?  THE KIDS STILL HAD FUN!

I agree with Mamalode on this one:

I let the kids stay like this for about a week.  Then as I softened a little more, I went to the local store and bought some cubbies and a bookshelf.  I let them add a few more choice toys to have in the house.

Essentially, each kid had 3 cubes for toys, 1 trunk for stuffed animals, and 1 trunk for a couple of oversized toys.  Whatever didn’t fit, stayed in the garage/storage.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

And we’re still loving it.

How about you? Have you decluttered and simplified yet? Afraid to try? Or tried but didn’t work?