Community Magazine March 2009

RACHEL DAYAN I t starts out ever so innocently, with a stuffed bear proclaiming “I’m a Boy” and a noisy rattle for that little hand to clutch. As time goes on, you need toys for the car seat, the tub, the crib, the highchair and, well, anywhere your child goes. Soon, the innocuous shower of playthings turns into a tempest of toys that blows through your home, leaving behind hundreds of little pieces in its wake. You probably wouldn’t mind if your kids actually did something more than just dump them on the floor for you to pick up (or to step on…Ouch!). But one morning you wake up to a disaster scene and wonder if you should call for help. If this has happened to you, or if you’ve threatened your kids with, “I’m throwing all your toys out if you don’t put them away,” then you need a plan of action. Pull out your heavy duty broom, and get ready for our toy clean sweep. The Big Why Ever ask yourself why do we keep buy- ing more and more toys? Typical answer number one: So our kids will keep busy. Wrong! They’ll stop playing with them just as quickly as all their other toys. Typical answer number two: To make our kids happy. Incorrect! Money (and by extension, toys) doesn’t buy happiness. No matter how many toys children have, they’ll still complain that they’re bored. Correct answer: Many parents buy toys so their kids should stay out of their hair and/or to use as bribes. But what we don’t realize is, what children really want is more personal attention. So, our first tip is: Give your children more time, not more toys, and save the toys for special occasions. Harness the Mess Toys are a necessary evil, but that doesn’t mean they should take over your house, or get so mixed up that you have to use Monopoly pieces to play Candyland. Keep your central toy closet locked, and allow only a few games or toys out at a time. The small effort entailed in install- ing a lock could save you hours (col- lectively, years?) of cleanup. Use zipper bags and rubber bands to hold cards, money and game pieces together, and insist that your kids return them the same way. You can use game closet privileges as leverage. Everything Has a Place Devise a simple organization system that even your youngest kids could fol- low. Investing in shelving units specially made for toys (like Pottery Barn kids) is nice, but you can always use regular bookshelves, stackable cubes or even plastic drawer units. Be sure the storage container is clearly labeled and appropri- ate for what it’s holding. For example, dolls can go in a toy bin or toy hamper, but trucks would do better on a shelf and lots of little pieces in clear stackable boxes. Wherever the toys are kept, each should have a designated “parking spot” where it goes when playtime is over. It’s Time to Put the Toys Away Organizing is great, but if toys are too organized, they may remain forever in that locked closet. Find a happy medium that allows you to maintain order with- out stifling your kids. Perhaps enforce a daily cleanup, like before bath time. If the kids are responsible for clean- up, they’ll think twice before dumping 1000-piece Lego sets all over the floor. The Shaatra Files File #224: The Toy Story (shõ•trä) n . An outstanding homemaker [Arabic] READER TIPS I• find that the culprit in the toy problem is me, not my kids! I’m the one with the constant urge to buy newer and better toys. So, I made it a policy that I only buy toys for occasions, which saves me lots of money and clut- ter. S. Cohen I• set up one game or proj- ect each night for my ‘early risers’. I find that these ten minutes of preparation at night, saves much frustra- tion in the morning. It occu- pies them and keeps the toy situation contained. Some ideas are: sticker projects, coloring and activity books, or sequence and Styrofoam projects for older children. Esther W. Send your tips for the next edition: HOME REMEDIES to: shaatra@community m .com 64 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE