I’m in NC working with a grandmother that recently had her grandchildren move in. She is taking care of them alone, a life changing experience you can be sure of. Two boys, ages 5 and 7 and one with ADHD and I suspect ODD. Her husband is in the Army and stationed overseas. Pray for them please!

Anyway the TOYS! Out of control and TOO many! I think grandma could open a corner toy store I’m unsure if all these toys came with the children or if the toys have been purchased since they arrived or both. At this point that doesn’t matter. What matters most is keeping sanity and stopping chaos and creating uncluttered, calm and fun places for the children to play, learn and interact.

You can be sure we have put most of the toys in bins (19: 35 gallon bins) to be sorted later when more time (and sanity) exist for her. At least for now you can walk (sometimes) on the floor without stepping on something. The children don’t seem to mind that a lot of their toys have been packed up for now as we left out their favorites and they still have an abundance to play with in my opinion. (We haven’t even gotten to the outdoor toys!) I’ll post pictures when I get back to my office.

We are in the process of setting up a play/toy room (upstairs across from their bedroom) for them and have already set up an arts and crafts room for them that is working very well. Grandma has implemented two decorative chest’s in the living room that have toys stored there for times they can’t be upstairs in their playroom.

I believe the children also realize they have too many toys and have expressed their excitement and have voiced which toys that they will be giving some away to those children in need.

Grandmother will be sorting through a bin every day or so until all are gone through after I leave.

Readers – let me know what you think: How much is too  much?

Tomorrow – Clothes!