Making Way for New Toys: Decluttering Kids' Toys Before Christmas
Imagine it’s December 26th and your living room is covered in wrapping paper, with toys everywhere. Your kids are surrounded by new gifts, yet they’re arguing over the same old stuffed animal. You’re left wondering where everything will go. Does this sound familiar?
Here’s something most parents figure out sooner or later: Christmas isn’t just about the new things coming in—it’s also about clearing out what’s no longer being used. Before the holiday rush hits, many families do a simple pre-Christmas toy clean-out to make everything feel a little more manageable. It’s not about being strict or taking things away for the sake of it. It’s simply about creating room—both in your home and in your kids’ routines—for the new memories and experiences that are right around the corner.
If you want to clear out toys before Christmas and bring some calm back to your home, you’re in the right place.
Why Declutter Before the Holidays?
The Gift-Clutter Cycle
Let's be honest: Christmas, birthdays, and well-meaning grandparents create an endless influx of toys. Research shows that when kids have too many toys, they actually play with fewer of them. Studies indicate that overwhelming children with choices leads them to engage deeply with only a handful of items, leaving the rest to gather dust in bins and baskets.
The average child gets about 70 new toys each year but only plays with around 12 of them regularly. That’s a lot of clutter, and it costs you more than just space. It also means more time spent cleaning, more stress from the mess, and more arguments about tidying up.
Emotional and Developmental Benefits
When I began helping families organize, I was surprised to see that a tidy space doesn’t just look better; it changes how kids play. When children aren’t overwhelmed by too many choices, they play more deeply with what they have. Research on cognitive load shows that clutter causes mental stress for both kids and parents.
Remember the last time you walked into a neat, peaceful playroom and felt a sense of relief? Your kids feel that too. Having fewer toys means less stress about choosing, more creative play, and even less boredom. Children with fewer, well-chosen toys often develop longer attention spans and more imagination.
Teaching Responsibility and Gratitude
One of the most underrated benefits of decluttering with your kids is the life skills they develop. When you involve children in deciding what to keep and what to share, you're teaching:
Decision-making skills – What do I truly value?
Gratitude – Appreciating what we have instead of always wanting more
Generosity – Understanding that our excess can help others
Responsibility – Taking ownership of our belongings and spaces
I once helped a mom whose 5-year-old daughter decided to give her gently-used dolls to "kids who don't have any." Even six months later, she still talks about "her kids" who received her toys. This shows how powerful it can be to make decluttering a positive experience.
Preparing Yourself and the Kids
Set Realistic Goals and Timing
Here’s your plan: work in short, manageable sessions. Try 10-30 minute bursts over a few days or weeks. If you go longer, kids may get cranky and everyone will get tired of making decisions. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your playroom won’t be decluttered in one either.
Mindset Shift: Make Room, not Throw Away
The words you use matter, especially with kids. Instead of saying "we're getting rid of toys," try "we're making room for the new gifts coming at Christmas!" This positive approach changes how everyone feels about the process.
For toddlers (ages 2-4): "Santa needs us to share toys with other children so he has room to bring you something special!"
For young children (ages 5-8): "Let's find toys that would make other kids really happy. What do you think a child who has no toys would love?"
For older kids (ages 9+): "Before new things arrive, let's honestly look at what you actually use. What could we pass along to help other families?"
Keep reading for more ideas on how to make decluttering fun for kids.
The Step-by-Step Decluttering Process
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Before you dive in, set yourself up for success. Having everything ready makes the process smoother and keeps momentum going.
Supplies you'll need:
Three boxes or bins labeled "Keep," "Donate," and “Sell”
A bag for trash (broken toys beyond repair)
A marker for labeling
Optional: a fourth box for "Maybe" items you'll revisit or for Rotational toys
Pro tip: Play your kids’ favorite music and have snacks ready. A fun atmosphere can turn cleaning into family time. One mom told me she makes hot chocolate and calls it "cocoa and cleanup time." Her kids even ask to do it!
Step 2: Inventory and Categorize
Start with awareness. Walk through the playroom and make a mental (or actual) list of what's there. You don't need a spreadsheet, but noticing what gets played with versus what gets ignored is powerful.
Create three piles:
Pile #1: Favorites – The toys your kids reach for multiple times per week
Pile #2: Sometimes – Used occasionally, seasonal, or rotation-worthy
Pile #3: Rarely Used – Gathering dust, ignored, or forgotten
Sorting toys this way makes decisions easier. If a toy hasn’t been used in three months and your child doesn’t remember it when you show it to them, that’s a clear sign it’s time to let it go.
Step 3: Evaluate Each Pile
Now let's work through each pile systematically:
Pile #1 (Favorites): These are keepers—but still do a quick quality check. Even favorite toys need evaluation:
Is it broken beyond easy repair? → Trash or recycle
Are there pieces missing that make it unplayable? → Trash or recycle
Otherwise, keep these and give them the best spots in your organized playroom.
Pile #2 (Sometimes): This is your rotation and decision-making pile. Ask yourself:
Would this toy be perfect for a rotation box? (Seasonal items, toys they enjoy but don't need constant access to)
Is it still age-appropriate, or has my child outgrown it? → If outgrown, donate or sell
Is it in good condition? → Keep or rotate
Is it broken or missing pieces? → Trash or recycle
Pile #3 (Rarely Used): This pile gets the most scrutiny. Apply these purge criteria ruthlessly:
Broken toys – If you haven't fixed it in three months, you won't fix it ever. Let it go. → Trash or recycle
Missing pieces – That puzzle with six pieces missing? The play kitchen with no accessories? They're creating frustration, not fun. → Trash or recycle
Outgrown toys – Your 8-year-old doesn't need board books or baby rattles taking up space. → Donate or sell
Duplicates – Do you really need seven stuffed unicorns or four sets of building blocks? Keep the best one or two, let the rest go. → Donate
Never played with – If your child doesn't remember it exists, it's not adding value. → Donate or sell
Sentimental items need special attention, even if they’re rarely used. You can take a photo of the toy for a digital memory book or make a small keepsake box for truly special things. Another idea is to let your child pick one favorite piece from a larger set to keep, like their favorite figure from a collection.
Step 4: Sort Everything into your Labeled Boxes
As you make decisions about each toy, physically sort them into your prepared boxes: Keep, Donate, Sell, Recycle or Trash.
Pro tip: Take donation and sell boxes out of the house within 48 hours. Otherwise, you might find toys sneaking back into the playroom!
Step 5: Organize and Restock
Now comes the fun part: reorganizing what’s left! Make sure storage is easy to reach so kids can help keep things tidy.
Cube shelving with labeled bins
Clear containers so kids can see what's inside
Low, reachable shelves for frequently-used toys
A designated "rotation box" for items stored away temporarily
Making Decluttering Fun for Kids
North Pole Toy Recycling Tradition
Here's a magical approach that makes decluttering feel like part of the Christmas tradition: create a "North Pole Toy Recycling" letter from Santa's workshop. The letter explains that Santa's elves collect gently-used toys to repair and deliver to children in need.
Add a special "donation bag tag" to help kids feel like they’re part of Santa’s team. This can turn any resistance into pride and excitement. Virtual Home COO offers a free printable North Pole toy recycling letter and bag tag. Get yours here!
Gamify the Decluttering
Kids respond to challenges and rewards. Try these approaches to make decluttering fun for kids:
Scavenger Hunt: "Can you find five toys to share with other kids who don't have any?"
Timer Challenge: "Let's see how many toys we can sort in 10 minutes!"
Sticker Chart: Award a sticker for every bag or box of donations, with a special reward after completing the project
Color Hunt: "Let's donate something from every color of the rainbow"
Story Challenge: "Find a toy and tell me a story about another child who would love it"
The main idea is to take away any stress and make decluttering fun for your kids.
Celebrate Generosity
After you drop off donations, celebrate what you’ve done. We've created a special "Nice List" certificate for each child to recognize their generosity. Have a family treat, like ice cream or a movie night in your newly organized playroom.
Sustainable Disposal and Responsible Gifting
Where to Donate and Recycle
Reputable donation options:
Local shelters and family resource centers
Goodwill and Salvation Army
Hospitals and children's centers
Churches and community organizations
Consignment shops (Once Upon A Child, Kid to Kid)
Buy Nothing groups and community Facebook pages
Always call ahead to confirm they're accepting donations and ask about any restrictions on items.
Pro tip: Set up a donation drop zone in a corner of the playroom or garage, somewhere easy for kids to reach. They can put toys there whenever they’re ready to give them away. There’s no pressure or deadline, just a steady option. This helps keep kids thinking about generosity all year.
Talk to Relatives About Gift Expectations
This is delicate, but necessary. Here's a gentle script for managing gift expectations with grandparents:
"Mom, we're so grateful for how generous you are with the kids. This year, we're trying to simplify and reduce toy clutter. Would you consider giving [experience gifts/contribution to their college fund/one special gift instead of several]? It would mean so much to us."
Alternative gift ideas:
Museum or zoo memberships
Classes (swimming, art, music)
Savings bond contributions
Season passes to local attractions
Subscriptions to age-appropriate magazines
Most relatives want to help, not make things harder. They just need a little guidance on what works best for your family.
The Bottom Line: Your Pre-Christmas Decluttering Roadmap
Decluttering toys before Christmas isn’t about being perfect or having a playroom that looks good online. It’s about:
✓ Creating physical and mental space for your family to thrive
✓ Teaching your kids life skills that'll serve them forever
✓ Reducing the overwhelm that makes holidays stressful instead of joyful
✓ Making space, both in your home and in your life, for what really matters
Ready to get started? Download the free decluttering checklist and Santa's North Pole Toy Recycling Letter from Virtual Home COO to make this process smooth and even magical for your kids.
And if you're feeling overwhelmed by where to even begin—not just with toys, but with managing your entire household during the busiest season of the year—you're not alone. That's exactly why Virtual Home COO exists.
We specialize in helping busy moms like you create systems that actually work for your real life. From decluttering strategies to holiday planning to managing the daily chaos of family life, we're here to be your behind-the-scenes partner in keeping everything running smoothly.
Book a free family assessment with Virtual Home COO today and let's create a customized plan for your home. Because you deserve to enjoy the holidays instead of just surviving them.
Now go ahead and make some space for Christmas miracles—and maybe enjoy a little peace and quiet too.
