Dump it to Grumpit!

Words of wisdom from my favorite holiday movie "The Grinch." Normally I would care about where my 'donations' were going and it would be very important that my unwanted things were going to the proper place so that they would benefit those most worthy. I must remember though that I made New Year's resolutions that I am half way hoping to keep so 'out with the old' and anything else I can find. My biggest most important resolution is to simplify, because doing this will make every other resolution that much easier. So I looked around my house the day after Christmas and thought, 'where can I simplify the most?' TOYS! Between having two young children and an in home daycare, I have an over abundance of toys. Yet the things that get played with the most are boxes or packaging. So I decided that I am going to minimize the amount of 'toys' that the kids have available and maximize the amount of open-ended materials available. This time of year is a perfect time to save boxes, Styrofoam, twist ties...the possibilities are endless! Just add some markers and glue and your child will have endless possibilities to create! I have found myself getting rid of so many old toys, yet saving all the 'trash' from the new toys.