A Montessori Approach to Purging Your Toys
Would you like to comment?
- Unknown said...
-
This article is so great and useful, Nicole, thanks!
In our house, we also eliminated most of the "toys" that are marketing products (that included Disney, Dora, etc. for us).
How do you feel about them? -
March 16, 2017 at 7:08 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
I consider those fantasy, cartoons and characters. So, we don't keep these things in our home. We do have a few star wars/superhero toys that have made their way in, but as a rule we don't buy it and keep it very limited.
-
March 16, 2017 at 7:31 AM
- Unknown said...
-
I purge my daycare playroom all the time, but you have def inspired me to do another purge- I LOVE rotating toys out so its not so cluttered- thank you for this post! And WHERE did you get that climbing dome?! It's AMAZING.
(Sharing on the Playground Chronicles) -
March 16, 2017 at 8:15 AM
- Unknown said...
-
THANK YOU! This is so helpful, I have started selling away and realize that even the things I have on his shelves now are not age appropriate/don't have a purpose.
-
March 16, 2017 at 10:22 AM
- Unknown said...
-
Great ideas! Where did you find your Montessori continent globe? I like how it has a traditional globe stand vs just sitting on a wood block/peg.
-
March 16, 2017 at 12:54 PM
- Unknown said...
-
Great info just did some basic segregation of toys...looking forward to your next article on organizing toys
-
March 16, 2017 at 2:30 PM
- gülayşe said...
-
Thank you. I would like to see what ypu have in your house not for shopping the same items but to get some more real life examples.
-
March 16, 2017 at 3:37 PM
- Jessica said...
-
Thank you! We have been purging toys but could still purge more. Here's a question: what do you do when other children come over to play? I think I would feel frustrated preparing a work/play environment for my child and then have a friend come over and pull everything out. What about play kitchen stuff to go along with playing with the baby dolls?
-
March 16, 2017 at 4:27 PM
- Unknown said...
-
Thanks for this article! I do have a question, my 4 yr old has about 20 stuffed dolls/animals that just sit on her bed. She doesn't play with them but when I ask if she's like to give some away, she wants to keep them all. I want to respect her wishes but I also want her room to have things in it that she actually plays with (and these haven't been touched in at least 2 weeks). What would you recommend?
-
March 17, 2017 at 1:57 PM
- Unknown said...
-
I am in love with your wooden goedome toy/climbing structure! Could you tell me what it is called?
-
March 17, 2017 at 11:01 PM
- Emily said...
-
Maybe it's this? http://www.magiccabin.com/wooden-indoor-climbing-dome.htm
-
March 18, 2017 at 6:49 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
I made it using an old outdated globe I found at a thrift store!
-
March 19, 2017 at 7:29 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
No play kitchen for us, we find that real experiences in the kitchen are honestly more interesting for them. And as far as other children, I'm pretty relaxed about it. I know that things will get messed up, but it's usually not that big of a deal to restore order since there isn't a ton in the environment!
-
March 19, 2017 at 7:31 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
^Yes, its the climbing dome from Magic Cabin
-
March 19, 2017 at 7:32 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
I would recommend setting a limit about the number available and then rotating them in and out. Hopefully over time she will start to really decide which are her favorites. And in the meantime, a smaller number might help her actually be able to use them instead of being overwhelmed with the pile.
-
March 19, 2017 at 7:34 AM
- Unknown said...
-
Fantastic! Thanks ladies
-
March 19, 2017 at 8:14 AM
-
Anonymous said...
-
Hello, I agree we all drown under toys. We almost never biy them. It's gifts from family and friends. Now I feel it is unfair to get rid of toys without the kids' consent. I would be very upset if a relative went through my kitchenware without asking me. Kids are emotionnaly linked to these toys, even the baby toys. They just love them. Just like I loved mine and was very upset when they we are eventually lost (during my parents' divorce there were issues with moving). We do donate to a local orphanage twice a year. We make space before birthdays and Christmas. But it is difficult to do more. Last time my daughter said "mommy, it is just too difficult". So, sorry, even if I like emptyness, if we avoid duplicates and useless stuff in the whole house (even clothes, shoes...), Kids toys remain the exception. We try to limit what is coming in now, by convincing people to offer experience (cook a cake, go to the theatre together) rather than more things,we absolutely refuse to get rid of what our children love because of some principles.
-
March 19, 2017 at 5:31 PM
- Unknown said...
-
Thank you so much! I will try that!
-
March 20, 2017 at 11:02 AM
- Jessica said...
-
Thank you. our 4 yr old helps out in the kitchen on a daily basis. We have had a play kitchen but I've noticed that she doesn't really play with it anymore. It is a community play things kitchen so I've contemplated putting it in our kitchen to store some things for her next to her water station.
I've taught preschool for many years but have not done a lot of reading on Montessori. I been interested in Montessori for awhile now though. -
March 20, 2017 at 4:55 PM
-
Anonymous said...
-
Hi!! Thank you so much for such an interesting article. I'm wondering how this works for twins. I have twin boys and we have some duplicate stacking and ring toys as both boys like to play with them a lot. Just your idea of this. Thank you so much!!
-
March 20, 2017 at 11:38 PM
-
Anonymous said...
-
I'm in the process of SLOWLY purging and having some success, but with a 3yo and 7mo, I've found that my youngest is still yet to be old enough to use most that my eldest has finished with! But I'll get there eventually!
On another note, do you mind me asking where you got your shelving woth the adjustable shelves from? They are great! -
March 22, 2017 at 4:04 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
Those are from IKEA -- trofast line.
-
March 24, 2017 at 4:47 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
I would still only have one of each, this can help to teach patience and sharing. Just like in a classroom, you won't find repeats of materials.
-
March 24, 2017 at 4:48 AM
- Nicole @ The Kavanaugh Report said...
-
I totally respect that. With my older children they are involved in helping us. But, We don't promote an idea that it's healthy to be attached to things. Things are just things, so I don't find an attachment all that important to my children, but maybe they are young still.
-
March 24, 2017 at 4:49 AM
- Meg said...
-
I love the toy gears but can't find them anywhere, where did you find them?
-
April 12, 2017 at 9:25 PM
- jenn said...
-
I find that my kids are attached to very little but if asked directly they would chose to keep every little scrap of paper, stone and stick that came into our home. They have a "special" box for trinkets and things they treasure but otherwise everything else is fair game. I do 99% of the cleaning, tidying and organizing and so I do have veto over what stays especially if it is not longer being used. I don't really support collections or unreasonable attachment to "things" so maybe it is just that I have passed this attitude onto my children. We had to keep most of our house packed for 6 months over the course of two moves. I thought the kids would miss a lot but they asked for nothing and I was shocked at how little they cared about their toys when they weren't accessible. They played with each other and their imaginations and it was honestly a wonderful 6 months! I did not put out most of toys once we did move. I wouldn't be too worried about decluttering without the kids consent. I don't touch the things I know they love but otherwise they don't notice.
-
April 15, 2017 at 9:14 PM
- Unknown said...
-
We have barely any toys in our home. And, it has been a battle to keep it simple with grandparents. It took nearly 2 years for them to lay off a little. Let Xmas the gifted our lo with a home swedish wall for kids.
https://fitness-kids.com/
Our lo loves the open ended physical play. -
April 16, 2017 at 11:29 AM
- George said...
-
Hi, do you know where the interlocking hexagon/pentagon structure comes from? Looks fantastic for creative and gross motor play. Thank you.
-
May 30, 2017 at 3:00 AM
-
Anonymous said...
-
I have one from blue ribbon toys..but i don't recall seeing it on their website a couple weeks ago. Just another toy brand to search. My 1.5 and 3 year olds LOVE it. But it takes up alot of space. I'm considering clearcoating weatherproofing put in the back yard. Maybe cover with a tarp when not in use? Hhmm....
-
May 30, 2017 at 7:54 AM