Helping Little Ones Let Go
Saying goodbye to our things is tough—but it doesn’t have to be.
Editing and donating is a daunting, often emotional, process for adults—so it’s no surprise that kids struggle with it, too.
If you’ve found yourself loading up donations under the cover of darkness, hiding the “donate” bin or fabricating elaborate stories when an item that’s left your home is suddenly missed (“visiting family, I think!”), we hear you! And we’re here to help.
These strategies have served our clients—and our own kids—well in the past and we hope they’ll ease the process for your family, too.
ONE: Make it personal.
When kids understand their outgrown clothes and toys are going to someone they know (a younger neighbor, cousin or friend), they can visualize the love their items will receive and it often makes them excited to pass them along.
TWO: Let your child choose where to donate.
Whether it’s their elementary school nurse, a toy drive, a homeless shelter or a foster care community, there are lots of places accepting donations beyond the go-to Goodwill. Encourage your child to choose an organization that’s meaningful to him or her and empower them to feel good about giving back.
THREE: Create an incentive for consigning.
Industrious kids can buy into the consigning process when they get a cut of the proceeds. Consider sharing the wealth by splitting the payout—the more they’re ready to part with, the bigger their cut to put towards a wishlist item or savings goal.
FOUR: Bring in the kids on the second pass.
If your family is new to the editing process, ease them into it. Do a first sweep, eliminating the items that are definitely not staying—in particular, anything that’s stained, damaged or too small. Once those are out of the way, bring in your kids to help with the “maybes.” Give them the goal of selecting a certain quantity to donate and celebrate the release together.
Keep the process organized by using white trash bags for donate and black trash bags for trash.
FIVE: Reset the space with the items you’re keeping.
After you’ve set aside the things to be donated, make a point of putting the space back together and talk about how many fun things remain. We’ve found that kids love to see their special toys and are often more excited—and then play with their things more frequently—when they can see what they have, as opposed to keeping a giant bin stuffed with lots of options.
SIX: Look ahead and make room for the future.
Organizing in advance of holidays and milestones often provides ample inspiration. Ideas like, “we need to make room for some big girl clothes,” or “Santa will be bringing new toys and they’ll need a place to go” can be extra motivating.
SEVEN: Make it a routine they can expect.
In the same way we advise going through your own inventory on a regular basis, set a calendar reminder to go through your kids’ space with them as well. Doing the process on a predictable schedule—at least twice a year—will help them anticipate what’s coming and grow comfortable with the process. Talk to them about your family’s goals and the why behind what you’re doing (e.g., making sure we’re using what we have, sharing our abundance with others, keeping our home organized so that we spend less time cleaning and more time having fun), to help them buy in to being a part of the solution.
