The Post-Christmas Purge

Wrapping paper strewn across the living room.  Cardboard, those annoying white plastic strips, bows, coffee mugs, lone Reese’s tree wrappers and fuzzy blankets.  An accurate picture of our living room after the big day.  A picture of a morning savored.  

In an ideal world, the kids play happily the rest of the waking hours as Kevin and I cuddle on the couch, drink our coffee, and sneak bites of quiche and muffins.  The quiet, slow beauty of Christmas morning is one I savor each and every year.  And every year I wish it would last a teensy bit longer.

But, it doesn’t and inevitably over the next few weeks we teeter back and forth between routine and cookies for breakfast.  Somewhere between the blurry days of Christmas and New Year’s we get in a good Christmas Toy Purge.  If you were around before Christmas, you know we did a Pre-Christmas Purge, but we always get more than we think hence the need for a good purge post-Christmas.

From experience, I think a good Post-Christmas Purge is best done the few days following Christmas.  A few reasons:

1.  Your kids are excited about new stuff and are more willing to part with old stuff.  

2.  It relieves some stress and frees up space when your home (could) look like a toy war zone.  

Let’s get to it.  Here is how we do a Post-Christmas Purge and if you’ve been following along you might notice it’s pretty similar to the Pre-Christmas Purge.

1. Motivate your people

Announce that your home looks like a toy war zone and some things need to go.  Remind your people they just received some fun things from friends and family and it’s a good time to let other things go.  This is a great opportunity to talk about how letting go of old things will bring joy to someone else.  Maybe do some research with your family to see if there is a certain organization that will take gently used toys and books.  Kids knowing where their stuff is going is a motivator.

Another way to motivate your people is to be an example. Go through your closet, kitchen, or storage area and part with some things of your own. Actions speak louder than words.

If you have older kids, another option is having them sell their gently used toys online.  I have done this a few times with my two older kids (7 and 5) and it was a big motivator for both of them.  Cash=More Motivation

When you’re telling your people about the Christmas Toy Purge, try and dangle a carrot.  What I mean is, tell them First we purge, then we ____________.  Have a movie night or pizza or take them for ice cream after the purge.  A little reward never hurt anyone.

2. Get organized

Decide how you want your Post-Christmas Purge to work.  A few options:

1. Have each child choose 10 things to donate.  Take a tote or box (not see through) into each child’s room or playroom and have them choose 10 things to put into the tote.  Anything goes (except for the new stuff, unless you’re cool with it).  This is hard, but if your child doesn’t find value in a stuffed animal you got them for their 2nd birthday, it’s okay to let it go.  A caveat to this:  If the thing has real sentimental value, put it away in a closet and decide at a later time.  Don’t let a sentimental item hold you back from completing the Christmas Toy Purge.
2. Maybe you need a big purge.  Take 30 minutes for each kid either done in a day or divided up into different days and go through their rooms and the playroom to purge unneeded and unwanted stuff.  This can be done with or without your kids. 
3. Maybe your kids aren’t old enough to purge and make decisions or maybe you know it will be a nightmare if you try.  Go through each child’s room and the playroom and do a quick declutter.  Put the items in a box in a closet and write the date.  In 3 months if no child has asked for the toys in that box, it’s okay to let them go.

3. Do it

Begin the purge.  I like to do it in a day, but if you have a lot of kids or a lot of stuff, it can be done over the course of several days.  Make it work for you and your family and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed.  Progress takes work and making your home manageable, simple, and a fun, cozy place to be requires some effort.  

There is no substitute for hard work.-Thomas Edison

4.  Celebrate

If you have something to look forward to at the end, the work is always a bit sweeter.  Reward your people with a movie night and popcorn. Or maybe you take your crew out for pizza or to the museum or for ice cream.  If you dangle the carrot (or the ice cream), they will come.  

5.  Enjoy

Enjoy your simplified spaces with less toys and less stuff.  Pat yourself on the back for a job well done.  You deserve it.

Are you in for a Post-Christmas Purge?  Tell a friend and make it a challenge with each other to see how full you can get your tote or box.  You and your home will feel lighter when you’re done.