Less toys, more fun: why it really works

Do you have a play area overflowing with toys, but your child barely plays with them ? You're not alone. While most parents try to solve this by buying more toys, you should actually do the opposite.

You'd think: the more toys, the more fun, right? But in practice, I saw something different. My daughters grabbed everything and didn't really play with anything. Within 5 minutes, the entire play area was a mess.

Until I discovered: fewer toys actually means more fun.

My child has a lot of toys, but doesn't play?

Too many toys can make choosing difficult. Imagine: you're standing in front of an overflowing wardrobe. What will you wear? You'll probably end up choosing your favorite dress. The same goes for children and toys.

Because how do you choose when there's so much to play with? Chances are your child will grab everything, but won't really play with anything. Too many toys can feel overwhelming, and that doesn't encourage enjoyable play. In fact, it can prevent your child from playing at all.

Furthermore, it's very difficult to display a lot of toys in an inviting way. So, toys are often stored in large baskets or a closed cupboard. It doesn't look appealing. Your child can't see what's inside and has to search for it first. Do you want to display toys attractively? An open toy cupboard can make a world of difference. If your child can see exactly what's there, it's much more inviting to play.

Time to cut down on toys

And that might sound strange if you actually want your child to play more. But I challenge you to really give it a try. It's helped so many other moms. Fewer toys means more peace and less stress about making choices. This makes it easier for your child to play.

When I took away half the toys , something amazing happened. My daughters started playing longer. They started combining the toys that were there. The beanbags suddenly became cakes in the play kitchen, and our play cloths became a picnic blanket. Because there were fewer toys, they discovered new possibilities. It sparked their imagination and creativity!

How many toys does a child need?

A child needs fewer toys than you think. There's a handy guideline I use: your child's age + 3 toys. Not many, right? By the way, I'm talking about the number of toys that should be in the play corner.

A one-year-old needs about four toys in the play corner. A three-year-old needs about six. And a five-year-old needs eight toys.

So few toys might feel strange, but give it a try. You'll often find your child doesn't need any more at all. Especially if you choose more open-ended toys that can be used in a variety of ways.

Of course, this number isn't set in stone. Sometimes we have 8 items, sometimes 15. It's not about the exact number, but about awareness. Your 3-year-old doesn't need 20 toys... If you want to offer fewer toys, you're probably wondering what to do with the rest. That brings me to the next topic: toy rotation.

Toy rotation to encourage play

Since we started toy rotation, there aren't too many toys in the play corner anymore, and my daughters feel like we have new toys every two to three weeks. But they're just toys that are kept in the attic and rotated.

How does toy rotation work?

Place a small selection of your toys in the play corner. Store the rest in a cupboard or attic. Every few weeks, rotate the toys. Remove the toys that are no longer being played with and replace them with other toys that were out of rotation. Your child will feel new and will want to explore the play corner right away.

When do you change your child's toys?

Observe your child while they play, and when you put away their toys, check what's still in the play area. This will show you what your child isn't currently playing with. Every two or three weeks, remove that toy from the play area and replace it with something else. It's not that difficult.

Time to clean up the play corner

Fewer toys prevents the stress of choosing and encourages independent play. So, it's time to tidy up the play corner. Here's how to do it in 3 easy steps.

• Step 1 - Broken and incomplete toys
  Remove all broken or incomplete toys. Let's be honest: we all have that broken puzzle or that broken toy car that's been sitting in the corner for months. Those really need to go.
• Step 2 - Toys your child doesn't play with
  We all have at least 10 toys in the play corner that your child doesn't play with. You can easily remove these from the play corner and temporarily store them elsewhere. These toys are therefore no longer in rotation.
• Step 3 - Taking control of the toys
  Get rid of the toys that don't bring you joy. Especially those battery-powered toys with those annoying sounds. Or that giant plastic car you keep tripping over. If it doesn't bring you joy, it has no place in your home. You have the right to decide what kind of toys your child plays with.

The last step might feel strange. It's a toy for your child, right? But you'll be looking at it all day, and the toys should reflect your parenting style. For example, we primarily offer sustainable toys made from natural materials. We also ensure the toys are open-ended , allowing them to play with them in a variety of ways.

There are probably already half the number of toys, and that makes a world of difference. The play area looks calmer and more organized. It invites play. Need more tips? Read my blog post about how to display toys attractively in an open toy cupboard .

Which toys do you keep in the play corner?

Now that you've tidied up the play area, it's time to consciously choose what you put there. I always look at three things:

• Your child's favorite toy.
  Consider what your child actually plays with. What do they pick up every day? Those toys deserve a place in the play corner, even if they don't quite fit your sustainable toy vision. If your child enjoys it and plays with it, then it's valuable. After all, we want a child who enjoys playing.
  
  
• Toys that are easy to combine
  This is where open-ended toys come in. Toys without a fixed purpose, that can be combined with anything . The more toys that easily combine, the fewer toys your child needs. Popular open-ended toys in our house:
  • Sensory bean bags – they become cakes, beds, stepping stones, or gifts. They combine well with the toy animals, stepping stones, and play cloths.
  • Play cloths - they transform into a cape or dress, a hut, a blanket, or a picnic blanket. They combine well with dolls, stepping stones, beanbags, and a wooden climbing frame.
  • Wooden blocks, toy animals, baskets – these kinds of basics are always a hit in the play corner.
    
    
• Toys that make you happy as a mom
  This might sound strange, but it's just as important. Because if you spend all day looking at toys that don't make you happy, it won't feel good.
  For me, that's sustainable, open-ended toys . Toys that last for years and don't break after two weeks. But for you, it might be something different. Look at what makes you feel good.

Frequently asked questions about less toys for your child

Won't my child get bored with so few toys?
Maybe, but boredom is actually a good thing. After boredom comes creativity. Your child will then learn to play imaginatively with what's already there. They'll combine things and make up stories.

What if family continues to give toys?
You can't completely solve this, but you can help. Make awish list . Share it with your family. Explain that you're consciously choosing fewer and more sustainable toys, and ask them to choose from the list. And if they do give you something else? No worries. Let your child play with it, and rotate it later if their interest wanes.

How long should toys be "away" during toy rotation?
There's no real minimum for this. I think at least four weeks. It's just a matter of trial and error.

Does toy rotation work for older children too?
Absolutely. Even teenagers benefit from a tidy, calm room. The principle remains the same: less visual clutter means more headspace to create and play. Fewer toys = more fun.

Since we 've had fewer toys in the play corner, my daughters play longer and more imaginatively. They combine toys in ways I'd never imagined. The beanbags become ice skates, a bed for their toy animals, and later we sort the rainbow beanbags by color.

The play area stays organized and can be tidied up in just a few minutes in the evening. That's great, because an overcrowded play area makes me anxious too.

I want to start with fewer toys.

Want to start with fewer toys? Start small. Grab a laundry basket and begin with the three steps above. Remove anything broken, unused, or that doesn't make you feel good. See what that does and how it feels.

A next step might be to take out even more toys and see what kind you have. Are there enough open-ended toys that are easy to combine?

Looking for sustainable, open-ended toys that are easy to combine? Check out the sensory bean bags and Playcycle play mats in my webshop. Made for years of play and easy to combine with all other toys!