Post-Christmas Purge

Wrapping paper strewn across the living room.  Cardboard, those annoying white plastic strips, ribbon, 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 Post-Christmas Purge.  If you were around before Christmas, you know we did a Pre-Christmas Purge, but it’s inevitable we need to do one after the big day as well.

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

1.  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 our homes (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.

Post Christmas Purge

1. Motivate your people.

Announce that your home looks like a Toy Story movie.  Remind your people they just received some fun things from friends and family and it’s a good time to let other things go.  I can’t emphasize this enough…make this purge fun.

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 can be a motivator.

If you or your spouse need some motivation or more of a why behind a Post-Christmas Purge, this is it. Studies have shown kids who have less toys to play with have more quality play.

Another simple way to motivate your people is to go first. Go through your closet, kitchen, or storage area and part with some things of your own. Actions speak louder than words and our people want to see us getting our hands dirty, too.

If you have older kids, they could sell their gently used toys online through Facebook Marketplace.  I have done this a few times with my two older kids (ages 8 and 6).  Cash=More Motivation

When you’re telling your people about the Post-Christmas Purge, try and dangle a carrot.  What I mean is, tell them First we purge, then we ____________.  Have a movie night or take them for ice cream or hot cocoa after the purge.  Motivating your people with a family experience after the reward has all kinds of benefits.

2. Get organized.

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

Option #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 from 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 Post-Christmas Purge.

Option #2

Maybe you need a big purge.  Take 30 minutes for each kid and go through their rooms and the playroom to purge unneeded and unwanted stuff.  This can be a big undertaking, but a worthwhile activity for Christmas break. If you have big kids, ask for their help. For littles, decide if it would be best to go it alone or get their little hands involved.

Option #3

Maybe your kids aren’t old enough to purge and make decisions.  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 the 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, say the week between Christmas and New Year’s?  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 your Post-Christmas Purge.

If you have a reward to look forward to at the end of your purge, the work doesn’t seem so bad.  Reward your people with a movie night and popcorn, pizza, an ice cream cone, hot cocoa, or their favorite board game. If you dangle the carrot (or ice cream), they will purge.

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.