I need to do something about the Play Room

We have a Play Room which is sort of a Living Room as well as a thoroughfare. It's hard to keep this space tidy as I don't have any storage facility except three bookcases.

I've edited and edited but to no avail.

I've come to the conclusion that the only solution is to buy a small low-line white storage cupboard. Or credenza, or sideboard. I would like to HIDE everything in them...books, toys, craft materials, pencils, puzzles, paper, tins, marbles, games etc.

I can't keep the bookshelves tidy and looking good, so they can all go into the cupboard and I can just CLOSE the doors.

Now, where do I source these white storage cupboards? If they can cost under $4000 and be hand-made in Finland, in oak, and of modernist design, that would be perfect. :p

A Rainy Week

I found myself being quite cranky with the kids this week...as they made their way around the house, making a mess here, and then moving onto another spot, making a mess there...

Of course, they are only 6 and 3, and trying to teach them to "Tidy Up Before You Move Onto Your next set of toys" will take time. Lots of time. And patience...

I find myself wanting to donate 80% of what they own.

But for some reason, I can't bring myself to give them just four small containers (like Bea, the admirable but crazy lady on Zero Waste Home blog). The best I can do right now is to apply "One In One Out" rule. Which they are quite happily complying with. Bless them.

I also can't bring myself to donate the kids books. Bea has donated all of her books and borrows all of their reading material from the local library. But I'm a little bit sentimental, and I want to keep some of their favourites.

After two weeks of solid rain, and being cooped up in the house, I can clearly see the benefits of having only a few (borrowed) books and four containers of toys.

Minimising Toys on Travels

Image from wired.com

I am aiming at taking three backpacks so I will work towards minimising toys to take on this trip:

1. A small bag of lego for my son (aged 5). It will amuse him (and his Dad :p ) for hours. (1)

2. Colouring-in books, writing books, pencils, textas and stickers for the plane trip. (3)

3. I am considering taking the ipad to play games, look at photos & videos, listen to music and stories. (1)

4. Bedtime friends: a little dog for son, and a doll for daughter. (2)

5. Books: as they are heavy, can't take too many. And I would like to bring back some Korean kids books. So I might take 6. 3 each. Plus a kids Bible. (7)

6. I like the idea of taking fly swats (clean & new!) and a couple of ballons to amuse the kids at airports if we have to wait. They can play badminton. (2)

7. A small collection of kitchen things e.g. tea set. They like playing "house" and "restaurant". (1)

8. Torches: not exactly a toy, but still very useful and it's fun to play with light. Packing extra batteries. (2)

Total no. of items: 19.

Yikes! It's not very Minimal.

What do I do with Toys?

8 of my 11 boxes stored here

It's pretty challenging trying to be Minimalist when you are a Mum!

Suddenly what you own grows exponentially. And you have no control. You get given stuff by very generous friends and family. It's toys, toys and more toys!!!

Before kids, Husband used to joke, "They will get a suitcase each. And whatever doesn't fit, they don't keep" Ha! Only if.

I like Bea's policy - from Zero Waste Home blog - she lets her boys have four medium sized boxes/crates. When they want to add a new toy to their collection, she asks them to go through what they already own and donate. Then they make space in one of the boxes. One in, One Out. I like the idea that she teaches them to Edit. And Give. You can't just keep adding to your pile.

Right now, I have 11 medium boxes.

Counting and taking stock. It's a small step.