The Problem with Turning Your House into a Toy Store

How many toys should a child have? There's no easy answer to that question, but it's clear that teaching our children how to maintain healthy boundaries for their possessions is one of the most important lessons we can teach them.

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Recent videos:

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Most popular videos:

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You can read more tips in my book, The Minimalist Home.

Read hundreds of articles on decluttering and owning less on the Becoming Minimalist blog.

Find Becoming Minimalist on Facebook, and Joshua Becker on Instagram and Twitter

[ecto]

Yes!! I wish I had heard this early on in my parenting. More toys does not equate to more happiness. I am slowly weeding through too many things right now. I am selling things on eBay in an effort to make money back on too much money spent. Listen, my kid was more happy with the boxes the toys came in than the actual toys. Lesson learned. 👍🙂

[liezlyrazdizon]

I agree 💯. I am a Mom of a toddler and I find myself ‘tempted’ to buy toys for my kid since we’re financially able to. But I try as much as possible to think 100x before buying and I always think of my younger days when I have fewer toys but I was happy. Gladly, I noticed my kid has become more creative and imaginative by having just enough toys.

[denisecarter]

Don’t you also think kids are bored because there is not enough community. When I was little we left home early and were in other houses or yards playing for hours. The only times I felt bored were when my friends were out of town and I think bored is another name to a child of being lonely. I’m not talking about paid activities but hours of free time with friends.

[jenniferbannan]

This is also something alot of adults need to learn as well and just because we as children did not have much or enough dosen't mean that we should give so much and to much to our children to compensate for our loss as children finding the balance is up to us to instill this on the next generation xo ✌

[deniseg]

Oh I absolutely agree!! One thing I have found with my own kids who are now 11 and 12, a little bit of boredom produces a great deal of creativity...More so than any number of toys or craft supplies ever will. ☺️

[theayegerlehner]

I babysit and I rotate toys! And limit the amount available. I prefer toys that can be used different ways: blocks, LEGO toys, Lincoln Logs, etc... A variety of train sets that also rotate. The kids get pretty creative in their play. Most of my toys are 20 years old! I teach them to respect the toys and also show them how to play! 😊

[virginiagrenier]

Can't help but wonder if asking for the next toy is the only attention the boy gets from his father. Maybe he doesn't really want a new toy but rather his father's attention.

[AkSjoyful]

This IS so true! Our 3 girls are happier now with less than 4 years ago with more. Contentment is in relationships not stuff. Great video!!!!

[intigniadickey]

What children want more than anything is one-on-one time with their parent(s).

[lizziemcdougall]

Very wise approach to parenting. Fewer toys means less chaos and more focus when playing. Imaginative play requires few toys. Going outside is unbelievably satisfying to most children, rain or shine. And, no need to tidy your house after a trip outside. Many thanks for another great video.

[annfarrell]

Another great video, Joshua. It reminds me of the one you did in your children’s rooms, setting physical boundaries for their stuff. Even grown-ups can use this lesson about buying things that we want without realizing we have enough. Thank you!

[FlyMurmeli]

Very wise words! Thank you Joshua. That is actually what happened in my childhood. I always believed that next new toy will bring me the happiness that never happened. I felt lonely and later on in teenage I thought that next target in this case a new cloth or shoes will bring me the happiness looking good and popular in school and with friends. I don't want to continue this kind of behaviour with my kids -anymore. Less is truly more. You have inspired me a lot so keep doing this important job of spreading the joy of minimalism life style. Thanks.

[canadafree]

As a man, I have too many toys. More outdoor clothes than I had wear, more camping toys than I can carry, then there are all the things that go towards caring for them. I am sure I'd be more happy putting miles of a few things and going on more hikes, but with most of my time spent working, the toys are bought as a replacement for actually getting out there.

[valeriehowden]

Since I've started to declutter, I've noticed my daughter playing board games and cards with us more.
She had dolls that she got bored with and ended up making them over with permanent markers and haircuts. Kind of couldn't donate them however I said if you no longer like a toy give it to me so it can be donated to someone who doesn't have that toy. I told her I wasn't upset that she no longer wanted to play with dolls we gave her but it could of had a longer toy life somewhere else. Now she is looking for items she doesn't want to keep anymore.

[susanpeltz]

My in-laws really couldn’t stand me when it came to giving gifts to my children. One one of my daughters birthdays her godmother asked what to get her, my daughter was 7. I told her to get her a stapler. Her and her older sister had taken to playing “bank” and “ office”. Their supplies. Paper, pens, and a old adding machine, the one with paper tape. Well she did buy her a stapler, swingline full size with a smaller one. My daughter was thrilled and her sister was jealous 😂😂. Well she kept the larger one and gave the smaller one to her sister. My daughter was 7 as I said. We still have those staplers. One in my office and one in my husbands. My daughter is 27 now

[sharalli]

My nephew has a playroom FULL of toys. They spend more time cleaning that room than he spends playing with the toys. Some of which are still in the box.

[MaisyDaisyTyler]

Probably just over a year ago or so I went to visit a new friend and I've never in my life seen so many toys. I had to step over them and could barely find a seat! When I went to the bathroom I saw there were toys on thr stairs and stuffed into every room there was. In our conversation she mentioned they were going to sell as they needed a bigger house. I thought, this is a decent sized house you just need less stuff!! I had just started at that time to declutter and that extreme example certainly spurred me on!

[g.abzilla]

I have a 5-year-old girl who loves her dolls. I keep reminding her that having new toys doesn't make you happy. It's the friends you play with that make it special.

[chrisdunn]

it wasn't just the how many or the how few that resonated with me, but the "shared them between my brothers".

[anitas]

My husband and I don’t have kids but this exact principle applies to us as adults! Once we figured that out several years ago, we have become much more content with less.