To put every toy my kid owns in the garage

Sympathies OP, the tough days are oh so fucking tough.

Both of mine went through phases where the only thing they wanted to do was empty the boxes. Living room floor covered, every single day. Fortunately I'm a slattern so it didn't bother me too much as it kept them vaguely busy (as much as is possible at that age) and was easily swept back up into the boxes after bedtime.

Cutting the number of toys is a good idea, then I'd say just let him have at it, and make a conscious choice to do so and take a step back.

It's so bloody tough when it's tough though.

You need storage. Children need to play with one thing at a time.

Your anger is palpable. I wonder if it is misdirected. Your children have been left to cry it out because you are overwhelmed with the mess they make.

Your child is normal - your reaction is not. If the mess is making you stressed then work out a different way to handle the mess. Taking your children's toys away and sending them to bed crying isn't the answer.

Totally get you. Can't stand lots of crap everywhere.

Depending how old they are (?) can you try a rule that they only have one thing out at a time to play with? My DS loves to get his marble run pieces or train set out and tipped all over the floor before he decides he wants to play with something else but I tell him to tidy the previous crap away before he gets more crap out.

Good luck!!!

I feel this. I got 5 bin bags full of toys out the living room the other day. Felt fucking amazing.

Painting isn't worth the agro. Paint sticks are good. Or cutting and sticking pictures from magazines. Although I don't think home craft is worth the bother for under 4s.

We have an IKEA kallax with each type of toy in a separate box. They can have one box out at once (e.g. cars, toy food, Duplo, train set etc) and they have to put it away before they are allowed another box. It works reasonably well. Right now they have been to 2 parties so there's party bag stuff everywhere so still a mess! And a lot inevitably ends up under the sofa. I wouldn't allow emptying of multiple boxes though.

@Destroythetoys I think putting the toys away is a good thing - for now.
They are out the way so you don't have to look at them
Go to bed/watch TV/read a book (whatever you prefer).
Your babies are asleep.
Tomorrow wake up. It's a new day.
If the children ask for a particular toy then say they can play with that toy and that toy only.
Remember - they are little. They won't be doing this on purpose.
It will get better. They will play in a more sensible way as they get older.
You can do this 💐

Wow. Calm down. I've had three boys and they play with toys in an unruly manner. Shit everywhere. All the time. You watch kids on the tv/in films and they are running a train happily on its tracks. In real life? Never happens. They've smashed the trains into water, off the train table, ripped up tracks, piled them everywhere. It's what they do. No game is ever played with "properly". You just accept that and then at the end of the day you put it all away. My boys are 22, 11 and 7 now and they are still messy. I've just learnt to love with it.

My children do the same thing, just throw their toys everywhere and trash the house/ don’t actually play with anything. It’s absolutely soul destroying having to clean up the mess multiple times a day so I feel
your pain. I also lost the plot a few weeks back and removed most of their toys and put them in the shed. Six black bags full. It was mainly puzzles etc that have loads of small pieces. They have a few big toys left that they can play with. Much easier now to tidy up and I’m tearing my hair out less. This too shall pass and all that

Seen your update that kids are asleep. Stuff the toys now go and do something for you, watch a comedy, have a bath etc.

Maybe see if there is a homestart near you who could have a volunteer help you out as you sound a bit isolated. Leave yours where they are and see what kids ask for and get out just that our and put away before next thing for next week and see what happens.

Whats CIO?

@Destroythetoys does the saddle need to be on the horse?
I think limiting the toys is a good thing. Try and only have one type out at a time.
If he wants to play building - get the tool set out. Just that.

You need help. Like now before you do something stupid. Is there anyone you can phone to come over and take the kids and get you help?

@Giveupnow that's true. There is no right or wrong way. It's more about giving them a guide of what the toy is for.
If the tool set has a pretend drill to play with it a child needs to pretend to drill something. Small children may not have actually seen a real drill in action.

@Needmorelego yes and no - but who says there is a “right” way to play with toys? Mine do all sorts of things with their toys and use their imagination. Once you show a child the ‘right way’ it limits their own creativity a bit

Do you play with DC, model playing with the toys?

Within reason, I think limiting toys is actually a good thing. I culled about 2/3rds of our toys and put them in the garage and actually I haven’t even bothered to rotate them/ get them back out.

I’ve left trains, blocks, stickle bricks, duplo, horse set, garden flower set thing, planes/runway, ball pit, paw patrol tower, play kitchen, ice cream set, magma tiles, garage and cars and even writing it out has made me feel it’s a lot and I’m going to cull it again! I honestly don’t know how it has all crept up but the mess is stressful and I’m going to pack some more away.

@Destroythetoys take a deep breath and attempt to relax.
Are the children in bed?
Forget about the toys for now.
Does he know how to play with his toys?
The tool set - does he know he needs to pretend to fix things?
Vet set - does he have cuddly toys of animals? Does he know that he should take the kitty's temperature, wrap a bandage round his tail and then tuck him into a blanket?
Train set - does he know how to set it up, that there should be a station with people standing on it, a place for the trains to park etc?
Children are given lots of toys - but many need to actually be shown how to play with them.

I did similar once, looking back the trashing of toys at home was a sign my child was masking autism. It took many years for school to agree with me, and even longer for a diagnosis. I felt overwhelmed a lot because I was burning myself out due to the additional demands of being a parent carer as well as a parent to other Dc and working and studying. It was all too much. And I actually did ring the social services once. I said I was done. Then told me it didn't work like that! But it was a sign that the amount of stress I was under was too much, and that my child's needs were outside of the 'norm' and that started us on the long pathway to diagnosis