Want to reduce the flow of stuff into your house? Here are 10 principles to follow to accumulate less stuff (particularly toys) and cut down on clutter.

Looking at the spread of toys and books scattered across our basement floor, I shake my head. “We have way too much stuff,” I think. “And we have birthdays coming up.”

Like many families, we suffer from the disease of Too Much Damn Stuff. While it’s frustrating, I take some hope in the fact that the flow of stuff into our house has slowed substantially in the four years we’ve been parents.

We’ve worked hard to cut down on the amount of toys in particular because having fewer toys can encourage creativity and reduce stress. When presented with four toys or 16 toys, toddlers who could choose from four toys played with individual toys longer and played with them in a larger variety of ways.  Laura at the blog YouShouldGrow has nine more ways that kids benefit when they have fewer toys. For more on the advantages of having fewer toys, be sure to check out the book and website Simplicity Parenting.

From an environmental point of view, producing and shipping all of these things uses natural resources and energy. Not to mention the waste when you need to get rid of them. Of course, buying all that stuff costs money that can be used in other ways!

As I’m (clearly) far from an expert in this realm, I asked my fellow bloggers for their tips on accumulating less stuff as a parent of young children:

Only buy what you really need for your baby

When you started putting together your baby registry, did you get that giant “needed items” list from Buy Buy Baby? Throw that checklist away. While some of the things are truly useful, a lot of it is just designed to sell you or your friends and relatives more stuff than you could possibly need for one baby. Instead, check out a minimalist list of baby gear, like this one from Paige over at Natural Mom Life.

Similarly, Lindsay at Mother Rising has a great list of 25 baby items that you don’t really need. I don’t agree with all of them – I loved my Boppy – but it’s always worth thinking, “Is that something we really need?”

In addition, there are a number of items that some kids love and others don’t. If you can, it’s better to borrow an item like a baby swing from a friend to try it out before buying.

Have gift-free or gift-light birthday parties

I love a good party. So I’ve been throwing big, themed birthday parties since my kids were born. But just because I like inviting my friends over to celebrate doesn’t mean that I need or even want them to come bearing gifts. Their presence is truly enough!

Considering that, we asked for our kids’ first and second birthdays for people to donate to charity (the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project) rather than bring birthday gifts. While not everyone did it, there were several people who donated. While this may seem like an awkward thing to ask, Barbara at Sunshine Guerilla has a great list of ways to phrase a “no gift party” on an invitation.

Another option is a “fiver” birthday party, where instead of bringing a gift, everyone sticks a five dollar bill in a card. It’s way easier and cheaper for the families invited and the birthday kid gets to pick out one big present they truly want. It also avoids the problem of people gifting things that may going against your family’s values. A high school friend of mine recently did this with her three-year-old’s party and said it went really well.

Consider how many clothes your kids really need

For the most part, we only shop for clothes when the kids have out-grown the ones they have. But I know when kids’ clothes are super cute, it can be very tempting to stock up on a million of them. Both the Green Moms Collective and Natural Mama Cafe have excellent posts on creating minimalist wardrobes for kids.

Set expectations for when kids receive toys from parents

My four-year-old knows that my husband and I don’t buy new toys outside of birthdays and Christmas. We occasionally break this rule if we need a toy for a long plane ride or are getting a souvenir on a trip, but we specifically talk about why we’re making an exception. Because our kids know this rule, they don’t beg for random stuff when we’re at the grocery store or picking out a toy for someone else. They know they just won’t get it.

Keep a wish-list all year long

On the rare occasion my four-year-old does see something he truly wants, I take a photo of it. That allows us to add it to a wishlist he can refer when his birthday or Christmas comes around. Just acknowledging his desire and taking the photo fulfills much of his psychological need to be heard. By the time the holiday arrives, he has a well-curated list instead of whatever has caught his eye in the last week.

Reduce the amount of advertisements kids see and help them watch them critically

So much of kids’ materialism comes from watching advertisements. (Or things that are ads disguised as something else – aka unboxing videos.) It’s best to avoid advertisements as much as possible by reducing screen time, watching ad-free TV like PBS Kids or Netflix, or using a DVR to skip past ads.

Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible with little kids and definitely isn’t possible with big ones. In that case, it’s best to equip kids with critical thinking and media-analysis skills that will help them be less influenced by those advertisements.

Ask for experiences from relatives instead of things

This is a hard one because it’s not in your control. Both my mom and mother-in-law have gift giving as one of their big love languages, so it’s hard for them to resist.

Nonetheless, it’s worth a try. My parents brought us to Sesame Place on this year for Christmas and limited their gifts to a few small souvenirs. Similarly, my in-laws are paying for a large portion of our trip to Disney this year. While there were far fewer gifts under the tree this Christmas, the memories from these trips will be incredible. Research shows that kids remember and value experiences far more than toys anyway.

Even if relatives can’t be that generous, there are plenty of non-physical presents they can get your kids, from movie tickets to museum memberships. It’s even better if they can experience those things with them!

Of course, no matter what you get gifts from relatives, it’s still good to teach your kids to receive them with grace and gratitude.

Buy toys that can carry through multiple ages

Our kids’ Christmas list last year was remarkably short. That’s partly because I couldn’t think of many toys that would fill a gap in our toy collection. In years past, we had bought so many toys that aged up with our kids that they had a full set of the basics.

For example, we got our toy kitchen when my older son was a year and a half. At the time, he just liked opening and closing the doors. At almost five, he still plays with it regularly, setting up elaborate scenarios involving him running a restaurant.

Other toys that have long shelf-lives include Legos, wooden dollhouses, dress up accessories (they’re more likely to fit a variety of ages than full costumes), play dough, and board games. In contrast, toys that are specific to a TV show, those that easily break, or those that only do one thing are less likely to hold their appeal.

Frame practical items as cool presents

For little kids, clothes may seem like a really boring present. But if it features their favorite character or animal, it can become exciting. My two-year-old adores the Elmo blanket and sweatshirt he got last Christmas.

Similarly, buying “grown-up” presents for little kids can make them feel really special. We bought my four-year-old a ceramic mug like the ones we use with a package of hot chocolate as a Christmas present. He loves using that mug!

What’s great about these presents is that you often would have bought them anyway. They’re also more likely to be regularly used than toys.

Be willing to say “no” to donations from others

You are not obliged to be your co-worker or friend’s Goodwill Store. Personally, I love secondhand things. I’ve made good use of hand-me-down clothes, books, and toys from friends. But that doesn’t mean my family wants or needs all of it. Toys that are broken, missing pieces, or don’t match your values don’t belong in your house. No matter how well-meaning the giver is.

Challenge yourself!

If you’re really ambitious, you can try a “no buy” year – for yourself and maybe even for your kids! Meredith at Meredith Tested is doing a “no buy” year for inessential things in 2018, so you can follow along with her journey.

Cutting down on stuff is hard, especially when there’s so much societal pressure to have more, more, more. If you want even more ideas, Sunshine Guerrilla has a great post on raising a minimalist kid.  Hopefully, following these principles can help us all keep our houses less cluttered and our children’s lives simpler.

For more on green living, especially when you have limited time and money, check out 10 Easy Tips to Go Green that Make a Big Difference. If you want to connect with other parents who are trying to be more environmentally sustainable, join our Green and Sustainable Parenting Facebook group!