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[educatingarti]

This is the new minimalist/decluttering thread! I hope everyone likes the minimal title!

Stockings:

An Usbourne sticker dressing up dolly book each, pretty hair bands, cute socks, slipper socks, natural lip balm, shape soaps, Disney Princess small notebook and pencil and rubber each, hair clips, Tinker bell Knickers from Mothercare for youngest, pretty set of knickers for my eight year old DD.

Youngest will also have some pip squeak crayola felt tip pens and some reward sticker (She likes to play schools with teddies) A little extra gift for my eight year old, haven't decided what yet.

Chocolate coins, some chewy sweets, and a little foil wrapped Father Christmas or tiny angels.

I fill their stockings with pretty much the same thing each year and they are always delighted.

Oh, and I forgot the tangerine at the bottom which usually doesn't get eaten

Apart from the sweets and chocolate, most of this had been bought already!

Hobnob, it's definitely time to get rid of some of your DCs' toys, if they aren't getting played with properly. It will really make a difference.

Could you perhaps try writing down all the toys they've got, and then go through the list marking their favourites, and what they don't play with? You could keep the list on you for a few weeks while you are getting your head around this (it IS a massive change of mindset, so don't berate yourself for finding this hard!) and keep observing what your DCs play with frequently. You might find that they only really play with a small percentage, and you can start thinking about what won't be missed.

Ah, Xmas stockings. My favourite element of present buying! I hate tat. I go for stuff they'd have anyway - socks, undies, flannel - but character versions (throughout the year they'd only get plain stuff), a new toothbrush, hair clips.

For toys, I go for stuff I know they will play with, but that happens to be small IYSWIM? So little cars, happyland figures etc. Eg last year we got a set of Muppet figures, but rather than wrapping the packet up as it was, I unpacked them and put them in the stocking instead.

Thanks all. I have done the bag thing before poppy, and also did a big toy cull after Christmas. However it was the first toy cull in 6 years (I always suffered from receiver's guilt) so there is still more to do. I periodically ask the girls to set aside toys that they no longer play with for me and I get a big fat zero return. There are things I crave for to be gone like the massive tigger that got foisted on us by a relative, but they seem to be unusually attached to their tat.
Do any of you have dcs that share a room? In my dreams they have a storage unit each and everything is super organised and they know where all of 'their' stuff goes, but then my practical head thinks that that would lead to more and more fights and rivalry since most of the toys are played with jointly and I have been trying to avoid labelling which toy belongs to whom since dd1 got given the bulk of them and dd2 has inherited her stash. And dd2 would always be jealous of dd1's stuff and play with it anyway. Anyone have any working solutions?

Last year we bought personalised pencils for the older boys (then aged 5 and 6) and a colouring in/activity book each for their stockings. We got a set of HB pencils and a set of coloured pencils each. The idea was that they would stop arguing over the drawing stuff! All three DSs also got a set of dinosaur pants from Panta Claus and the Aliens in their stockings clubs-kids.scholastic.co.uk/products/79253 .

No idea about this year though.

Yes my two share a tiny room (overcrowded, according to council!), they are 6 (girl) and nearly 4 (boy). A lot of their toys are stored in our bedroom in Trofast units - in fact we even considered swapping rooms so they could have more space, but our bed won't even fit in their room without blocking the door!

We don't really 'label' toys either as they play with most things together. The therapist I saw on Monday, when I was talking about simplifying toys, was quite surprised when I said they play with the same stuff!

BTW, although the Simplicity Parenting book suggests a fast, intense toy cull (and I may well have done it like that if I was well enough), I think the gradual approach is working really well for my DCs. They are noticing the rooms getting gradually tidier and noticing stuff they hadn't played with in ages, but not missing anything we've gotten rid of as it's been sneaky subtle.

What I meant to say also was that we just store things according to type rather than who they belong to. So we have a big Really Useful Box for marble run, one for wooden train track, one for happyland etc, and Trofast buckets for Lego, animals, wooden blocks etc, and they know where to get it and put it back. Not totally ironed out the creases yet of course as we are not done with decluttering but it's working so far as they always play together.

My two DD's share a small bedroom, they have an individual Barbie doll each but pretty much share the clothes for it and share the Ken doll too these live under older DD's bed in a basket, even though different outfits were gifted individually for birthdays. They also have a large basket of books in the bedroom. No other toys live in here apart from some sticker books they're currently sticking. Five year old has her little teddies on her bed. They share a chest of drawers with their clothes in it. We have no wardrobes in our house in either of the two bedrooms in this house.

They share a wooden kitchen and enamel cookware and wooden Haba fruit and veg (beautiful stuff that is!) My five year old has her own selection of small teddies and they share their Bamboletta dolls, a girl and a baby. They share the wooden doll stroller. The stroller lives in the front room downstairs. The wooden kitchen lives in the hall way upstairs neatly in the corner outside their bedroom door. On the floor next to this there is a wicker dolls cot with baby blanket and thei basket of wooden play fruit/veg. The Bamboletta's live in this when they are not being played with (They get played with ALOT, they are amazingly beautiful dolls and seem to be part of the family practically!)

Their play silks live in an old fashioned basket downstairs (they often wrap babies in these, tie them on as cloaks etc) they have a vintage red enamel play till, some shells and stones, a basket of tiny cotton bendable dolls with clothes, a box of play doh and their box of art materials. They also have a box of Lego, a folding wooden dollhouse with furniture. This all lives in a toy cupboard in our second downstairs reception room where our sofa is and hopefully, soon, a wood burner!

This is ALL the toys they own.

Living in a house that is just over 500 sq ft we physically can't let the house be over-run with toys as it just wouldn't work.

At Christmas/birthdays not all the relatives buy presents but if they do, they buy clothes that are needed. This got sorted out a long time ago. There is no way I could have coped with random toys being gifted. It wouldn't have worked for our way of life and the chikdren know no different!

They share pretty much everything as I find this cuts down on arguments. We purposefully gift toys to both our DD's for this reason apart from their Barbie bits and pieces. As we gave them those separately for birthdays, they have argued over various Barbie boots/outfits again which puts me off gifting toys to individual children if that makes sense! If it is a shared gift they tend not to argue over it.

I hope this helps someone.

That sounds amazing MM. I especially like the idea of having things like shells and silks. I really agreed with the SP book (and another book I've since read called the Idle Parent) about toys that do too much, all bells and whistles and flashing lights etc. I have to say we have always been vaguely against them and don't usually tend to buy battery operated toys anyway, but I have renewed enthusiasm for that now.

The elephant is definitely here this week I am now regretting not taking any leave this summer - I only do three 4hr shifts spaced throughout the week but I am really struggling with my energy levels in between.

fuzz we got ours from here: www.etsy.com/shop/BeneathTheRowanTree
At first look they're expensive but they're hand dyed and very good quality silk. Before these I got the Sara's Silks brand and the quality if silk was terrible, laddering all over the place

fuzz shortly after my oldest's first birthday we decided what direction we would go in with toys, I remember walking around the shops thinking 'There has to be a better option then this' so I went on-line and found Myriad, various Etsy shops, and beautiful handmade dolls. Myriad is an amazing natural toy catalogue in the UK. I don't know if you have heard of it? The majority of our things are from there!
www.myriadonline.co.uk/index.php

Thank you for that mommi, it really helps to put things into perspective when someone describes their situation so clearly. I wish I had had the clarity of thought to take as stand against the tide of tat which my kids have been subject to but I have always been too afraid of offending or I suppose weakened by the thought of others thinking I am depriving my children. So I have generally been overwhelmed by it for the past 6 years. Despite reading Simplicity Parenting ( a while ago, maybe worth another pass soon) I am still not ready for a big, deep cull. I tried again today asking the kids and got another nil response. I did a sweep of their room and extricated some tat and a leapfrog leappad which has long been unused. The cuddly toy situation is out of hand, despite me having removed a bin bag full at the beginning of the year (which I found in our garage excavation last night). I have removed giant tigger and need to find somewhere to hide him. But as I said, the girls do tend to get most things out most of the time, but quality play tends to just be imagination games with cushions and some cuddly toys. But I am finding it hard to explain to them the difference between sometimes taking something out whilst playing, and having toys that are really treasured and integral to your games.
The garage is a bit more passable, especially since I managed to sweep the leaves out of it. A clear floor makes it a much less overwhelming place, despite bikemageddon.
And I think I have had enough clarity if thought to realise that my once prized glider chair is no longer as comfy as it once was and should go. So the 'extra' chair in the garage can replace it as a feeding chair and free up some more room.
DH and I were discussing our clear out of the study/garage and realised that one day our study will probably have to be a bedroom. Has anyone successfully managed to integrate a computer/desk/study into their dining room or living area? I know you can get those cabinet things but I have been reading up about standing workstations and am trying to visualise a minimal impact version. And failing, generally. Anyway, that is hopefull years down the line.

Good morning! Sorry not been on for a bit, that blummin' invisible elephant has been back insitu for a good old polka squashing, and this time he invited his entire big bottomed family along too.
I will catch up with you all and be back later. I need you to help me find my 'M' mojo & generally get back on un-elephant invaded track. Hope you're all ok.

Ooh a lovely thread :)
I'm in the process of clearing out stuff. I have depression and find a good clear out helps my mind. I find mess so stressful, and I'm ashamed to say, I nag my kids about their rooms because I can't cope knowing its messy
So we are clearing and tidying rooms today. Then it'll be my childminding shed. I have too many toys that don't get played with.

You're welcome Hobnob
In your situation, if it was me,I wouldn't ask the kids, they will usually say 'no', that will be their natural response. Why don't you try 'disappearing' the odd thing and see if they actually notice or not, like you have with the tiger. If it helps, just see it as tempory and it can aways be put back. Just see it as an experiment and see how their play evolves from there, how they enjoy any extra space etc

Lois I find mess stressful too.

I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time clearing paper rubbish from our house, mostly belonging to DC's where there are scribbles etc
I'm beginning to think it would be easier to walk around with a paper recycling bag constantly.

MM - I live alone and still spend an inordinate amount of time clearing out paper rubbish!

educating it just seems to breed- feeling frustrated.
Also feeling frustrated about little 'bits and bobs' just feel like sweeping the lot into the bin.

educating it just seems to breed- feeling frustrated.
Also feeling frustrated about little 'bits and bobs' just feel like sweeping the lot into the bin

I agree MM

I'm struggling to get back into a swing of every day life after my holiday. Didn't help that yesterday morning was taken up with 2 guys replacing my workroom window ( actually good news!) which has meant that I'm "behind" with work I would have liked to have done yesterday and my entire workroom is covered with a thin layer of dust and grit! All the while the fibromyalgia is playing up so I'm struggling to get going on anything.

In other news I have ditched a pottery angel thing I was given at Christmas and didn't really like! It's in the chazzer bag!

I agree with paper breeding - mostly for me- work related stuff, unwanted takeaway leaflets and junk mail!

I've spent the afternoon frantically filing carried bags with paper recycling and little bits of pieces and having a good vacuum downstairs.

My DH (who's a teacher) has the children for the day.

Just wish I could wave a magic wand and have everything exactly how I want it

Going to find more stuff to get rid off...

Does anyone know when the next eBay free listing is? Going to have another bash at selling some of DD's Mini-Boden stuff that has been grown out of!