“The potential possibilities of any child are the most intriguing and stimulating in all creation.” —Ray L. Wilbur
Toys are not merely playthings. Toys form the building blocks for our child’s future. They teach our children about the world and about themselves. They send messages and communicate values. And thus, wise parents think about what foundation is being laid by the toys that are given to their kids.
Wise parents also think about the number of toys that children are given. While most toy rooms and bedrooms today are filled to the ceiling with toys, intentional parents learn to limit the number of toys that kids have to play with.
They understand that fewer toys and practicing a minimalist approach will actually benefit their children in the long-term:
1. Kids learn to be more creative. Too many toys prevent kids from fully developing their gift of imagination. Two German public health workers (Strick and Schubert) conducted an experiment in which they convinced a kindergarten classroom to remove all of their toys for three months. Although boredom set in during the initial stages of the experiment, the children soon began to use their basic surroundings to invent games and use imagination in their playing.
2. Kids develop longer attention spans. When too many toys are introduced into a child’s life, their attention span will begin to suffer. A child will rarely learn to fully appreciate the toy in front of them when there are countless options still remaining on the shelf behind them.
3. Kids establish better social skills. Children with fewer toys learn how to develop interpersonal relationships with other kids and adults. They learn the give and take of a good conversation. And studies have attributed childhood friendships to a greater chance of success academically and in social situations during adulthood. Better relationships as a child also tend to lead happier lives in adulthood.
4. Kids learn to take greater care of things. When kids have too many toys, they will naturally take less care of them. They will not learn to value them if there is always a replacement ready at hand. If you have a child who is constantly damaging their toys, just take a bunch away. He will quickly learn.
5. Kids develop a greater love for reading, writing, and art. Fewer toys allows your children to love books, music, coloring, and painting. And a love for art will help them better appreciate beauty, emotion, and communication in their world. It’ll also keep them away from getting used to an unhealthy amount of screen time.
6. Kids become more resourceful. In education, students aren’t just given the answer to a problem; they are given the tools to find the answer. In entertainment and play, the same principle can be applied. Fewer toys causes children to become resourceful by solving problems with only the materials at hand. And resourcefulness is a gift with unlimited potential.
7. Kids argue with each other less. This may seem counter-intuitive. Many parents believe that more toys will result in less fighting because there are more options available. However, the opposite is true far too often. Siblings argue about toys. And every time we introduce a new toy into the relationship, we give them another reason to establish their “territory” among the others. On the other hand, siblings with fewer toys are forced to share, collaborate, and work together.
8. Kids learn perseverance. Children who have too many toys give up too quickly. If they have a toy that they can’t figure out, it will quickly be discarded for the sake of a different, easier one. Kids with fewer toys learn perseverance, patience, and determination.
9. Kids become less selfish. Kids who get everything they want believe they can have everything they want. This attitude will quickly lead to an unhealthy (and unbecoming) lifestyle.
10. Kids experience more of nature. Children who do not have a basement full of toys are more apt to play outside and develop a deep appreciation for nature. They are also more likely to be involved in physical exercise which results in healthier and happier bodies.
11. Kids learn to find satisfaction outside of the toy store. True joy and contentment will never be found in the aisles of a toy store. Kids who have been raised to think the answer to their desires can be bought with money have believed the same lie as their parents. Instead, children need encouragement to live counter-cultural lives finding joy in things that truly last.
12. Kids live in a cleaner, tidier home. If you have children, you know that toy clutter can quickly take over an entire home. Fewer toys results in a less-cluttered, cleaner, healthier home.
I’m not anti-toy. I’m just pro-child. So do your child a favor today and limit their number of toys. (Just don’t tell them you got the idea from me.)
If you’re looking for a little extra help in this area, check out my book: Clutterfree with Kids and this article on our most creative decluttering tips.
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amanda charlie says
Fewer toys actually benefit children in the long-term. TV and toys are actually beneficial to children oral language development which is vital for reading and writing.
Karen says
TV is good. TV is bad. Toys can be good. Toys can be bad. Parents MUST be involved, and interact well with their child. They must pay attention to what is going on, with the child’s development and interaction with their world.
So – Parents can be good or parents can be bad.
“You can’t spoil your child with love.”
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andrew says
the way toys are made so cheaply these days the break on thir own
KC says
I’m one of those people who would buy my children the world if I could. However, I think it is best to limit their number of toys even if I want to spoil them. Number one- it’s easier cleanup. I want to teach my children to clean up after themselves from a very young age- asking them to put toys away as soon as they can walk. That way, they grow up knowing that it is normal and expected to clean up after themselves, though I plan to help them until they want to do it all by themselves.
My kids won’t get any toys except on their birthday and Christmas. If we are in a store, I will keep a pen and paper and if they want a toy, I will tell them I will write it down for their Christmas list. Chances are they’ll forget about most things, except for the ones they REALLY want. It will teach them patience.
I grew up with tons of toys. However, it was all things like dollhouses, stuffed animals, a toy kitchen, puppies in my pocket, barbies, and lots and lots of books. I didn’t get all those weird little Vtech games, toys with complicated assembly instructions, ride-on toys, or a playhouse. My toys encouraged imagination- which is probably part of the reason I ended up wanting to be a fiction writer later in life, and part of the reason that as an adult I never get bored. Being an only child, I had a lot of hours to fill by myself. I’d always choose to play outside rather than inside, but on rainy days it was nice to make up stories with all of my toys. There were days when I played outside and didn’t even need toys. I always used my imagination.
I hope my kids can have a childhood like mine. I hope they are imaginative and fun and resourceful.
I don’t plan to let my kids watch any TV until they’re older. Personally I don’t like that mainstream television is forcing Spanish down their throats and I’d rather them learn other languages. I want to be the one to teach them things and I don’t like the idea of using TV as a babysitter. Also, I don’t want them bugging me for toys and backpacks with whatever the fad character of late is.
I think kids should only have the amount of toys they are able to reasonably put away by themselves without feeling overwhelmed. If the toys aren’t able to fit in a toy box, cubby, or closet in their bedroom, there are too many. I’ve seen way too many families whose toys take over the whole house. I had a special playroom for my toys because my parents got an excellent deal on a large house back in the 90’s, but these days the average young couple can’t afford a spare room because houses are way overpriced.
Bottom line- keep it simple.
Glynnis Dollhouse says
I think it comes down to the quality of the toy. If you’re giving them nothing but mindless play then you’re teaching them to be mindless but if you give toys that inspire imagination, milestones and a love of education, I think toys are a vital part of childhood.
I do agree though, some kids just have too much rubbish!
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