Does My Child Have Too Many Toys?

When it comes to buying toys for my son, I might be overdoing it just a bit. Once he was old enough to engage with sparkling or winding objects, his toy collection quickly expanded way beyond what's inside any normal “playroom."

These days, our two-bedroom home is filled with animal and superhero figurines, toddler instruments (like drums!), puzzles, plastic toy houses and more. Even though we keep our toys organized, they still fill every corner, and we often trip over them in the middle of the night.

My dad used to come over and say, "Wow, so many toys! When I was a child I was lucky to have one toy.” Of course, he grew up during the Depression so I didn’t think too much of his comment. But recently I’ve walked into the homes of several friends (who are not struggling financially) and wondered, "Where are the toys?"

My son loves to play and tell stories with his toys and figurines. On a typical day, he will play foosball, Candy Land, Connect 4 and Lincoln Logs, and last night he even broke out a toddler bowling set before bed. He also will pull out all the toys in his closet from when he younger.

Mom Lindsey has a similar "more is more" approach when it comes to toys in the house. "There's definitely a trend toward fewer toys," she says. "Sadly, we are not a part of that trend. I love toys and have such fond memories of my childhood toys so I want my kids to have that same experience."

Still, I am realizing that we might be in the minority on this.

I overheard one mom saying how her 3-year-old only has one small drawer of toys in her playroom.

"Too many toys are overwhelming for children, and a waste," says another mom, MacKenzie. "We have fewer toys, and generally only open-ended toys — Montessori-style home."

This minimalist approach seems pretty popular. Mom Staci says, "We have a large cabinet with games, lots of games, and about seven bins of LEGOS and art supplies. Some of the kids have a very small number of Beanie Babies on their beds. That's it. We have almost no toys. And I have six kids."

A couple of moms also mentioned to me that fewer toys allow for a high-quality play that is more focused and creative, according to research. Mom Shannon adds, "This is a part of the Simplicity Parenting movement, which is about simplifying everything, including schedules."

Occasionally, even parents trying to go with the "less is more" route have a hard time keeping to it, thanks to well-meaning relatives. "What has been interesting is the resistance I've received from one set of grandparents who can't understand why we wouldn't want to spoil our child with everything Barbie," says mom Lisa. "My kiddo and her friends play with those single-use toys for like five minutes, then move on to more imaginative play. My daughter routinely chucks the plastic Barbie toys in the donation bag after a few months."

Thinking of cutting back or wondering what the benefits might be? Here's what some popular parenting philosophies say about toys:

Montessori: This philosophy promotes toys made out of natural materials like wood and cotton. They don't have all the bells or whistles and usually are shaped after realistic things like animals. Toys should work on one skill at a time and offer a purpose so kids feel important. These types of toys allow kids to explore independently.

Marie Kondo: If you declutter toys, you and your child will be happier, and they will have better attention spans too. Create one space for a toy area with your child. While there is no set number of toys you should have (because every child is different), only keep toys that spark your child's joy.

Learn more about Marie Kondo's decluttering philosophy here.

RIE: Active toys that ring, light up or move make kids passive. Instead, buy simple, open-ended toys that can be used in many ways and are not age-specific. Simple toys will help kids play by themselves and use their imagination.

Learn more about RIE Parenting here.

Even after understanding all of this, I've concluded that I still love our toys! Still, I might be more discerning going forward. No need for those electrical noisy toys anymore. Plus, our son's birthday is coming up, so we'll need to get rid of old toys to make room for the new if we ever want to roam freely around our apartment. Wish us luck!

Other Parenting News:

• How To Tame Your Child's Toy Addiction
• Digital Detox: Why You Should Break Your Toddler's TV Habits
• Parents, It's Time To Put Down The Smart Phone