10 Reasons Why Kids Benefit from Having Fewer Toys
Most parents are used to having a house full of toys. With all the birthday and Christmas presents, it’s difficult not to accumulate them. After a while, your home might be completely chockablock with toys and you can barely remember where they all came from. In fact, certain studies have shown that fewer toys in a child’s environment is actually more beneficial.
Children are able to develop healthier play with fewer material toys, and a focus on different activities instead. It helps them build a number of skills and learn to appreciate the other things in life. It’s also a more eco-friendly option, and a good way to declutter your home. Here are ten reasons why kids benefit from having fewer toys.
1. It teaches them to be creative
Without so many toys lying around, children are encouraged to use their imagination. As a parent, you could help them along by suggesting making toys out of other objects. Take the opportunity to teach them about recycling and more eco-friendly activities. You can try making mini planters from household items and other more stimulating activities.
Kids are great at inventing games from their surroundings, so with fewer toys, they’ll be able to come up with something fun to do. You’d be surprised by what they can create using their imagination and the basic environment.
2. They get in touch with nature
One of the main advantages of having fewer toys is that it allows children to get back in touch with nature. Encourage this by taking your children forest bathing. All you need to do is go for a walk in your local wood or countryside and teach them how to appreciate all the sights, sounds, and smells. You could even take a magnifying glass to spy on insects and the local wildlife.
But getting outside and playing instead, they’ll begin to prefer activities involved physical exercise and fresh air. This will be much healthier for them in the long run and it’s a good idea to start these habits now. They’ll also develop an interest in wildlife and the environment.
3. It teaches them to appreciate the little things
Once you start to focus on other things in life rather than material possessions, it becomes much easier to appreciate the little things. Perhaps as parents, you can learn to live a more minimalist lifestyle as well. Think about how much you really need to buy for your children, even as young as babies. With the right attitude, you can get by happily on just the essentials for minimalist babies.
With fewer toys, children will start to find satisfaction in other areas. They’ll develop social skills, creativity, and a keen interest in nature and culture. Hopefully, it’ll teach them to be less selfish and appreciate what they have.
4. They learn to take more care
If a child has fewer toys, they’re more likely to look after the ones they have. This can also teach them to play gently with other children or pets. It’s natural for children to break things, but they need to learn how to be careful, especially with pets and toddlers.
You could try taking some of your child’s toys away so he or she starts to learn that there isn’t always a replacement. If they break one toy, there won’t be another to play with. Hopefully, they’ll learn to take better care of their things. They’ll learn to value their toys much more.
5. They become more resourceful
This is an example of how children really learn from playing. Learning to make a game out of fewer toys can be treated as a problem-solving exercise. At school and later in life, they will be given the tools to solve problems rather than the answers, so this is a great way to start.
Being resourceful is a great skill to have, and with fewer toys, children are able to learn to solve problems with the resources they’ve got to hand.
6. It teaches them patience and perseverance
If kids have too many toys to play with they will lose interest quickly and give up. With fewer toys, they’ll learn to concentrate more and increase their attention span. They’re also more likely to persevere and “win” the game or achieve the goal of playing with a particular toy. This will bring them a lot more satisfaction in the end.
These are also great skills for them to learn and use later in life. By understanding that some things take commitment, they’ll be more dedicated and patient when trying to achieve educational or professional goals.
7. They develop social skills
Play is crucial for social development. With fewer toys, children learn the importance of sharing and tend to argue less with friends or siblings. This sounds a bit off because surely having more options would mean fewer arguments. In fact, children become territorial over toys so throwing another one into the mix doesn’t help the situation.
With fewer toys, children also develop stronger interpersonal skills and appreciate good conversation, with both adults and their peers. Childhood friendships are very important for developing social skills later in life.
8. They develop an interest in books, music, and art
If children have fewer toys it’s an opportunity for them to focus on other activities. There are plenty of fun and creative art projects you can try together for example. You don’t need to pressure them into becoming a world-famous artist, it’s just a better way to boost their creativity.
Allow them to spend more time colouring, painting, playing music and reading. A love for art will help them to develop an appreciation for beauty, emotion and culture.
9. They find satisfaction in other things
The benefits of having fewer toys are all about enabling your children to find satisfaction in less material things. This could be sport, art, music, or nature and animals. There is more mindfulness attached to this sort of play and exploration. It creates opportunities for a calmer learning experience as well.
Children can focus better with fewer distractions, and really appreciate what they have. They’ll learn to find satisfaction outside the toyshop and this will help to teach them the value of things. It should make them more aware that happiness can’t be bought, and this is a healthy attitude to take into adulthood.
10. It reduces clutter in your home
A tidier, more minimalist home could actually be a healthier environment for both you and your children. You don’t have to get rid of everything, but a simple decluttering can help you practice mindfulness. It’s a way to reduce stress, save time, and create freedom. If you think about it, imagine the time you waste clearing up toys and losing things. It can be quite frustrating.
A mindful decluttering project could help you create a more calm environment for all the family. It’s also a great exercise to focus your mind and relax. Summer is the perfect time for a decluttering project. Your kids will get more out of the space you create, and will be able to have more fun playing.
There are plenty of ways children can benefit from fewer toys. Of course, all children deserve a treat from time to time and by reducing the number of toys doesn’t mean you can’t give them presents. Invest more in fun activities you can do as a family for their next birthday. Think of creative ways to make them appreciate the little things instead.