Apparently, Christmas results in around 3 million tonnes of waste in the UK and most of that will end up in landfill sites. If you're anything like me your house will be full to the brim of toys - the new toys have just been piled on top of the old toys that never get played with anymore, there are boxes, wrapping paper and all sorts of other packaging to sort out not to mention the Christmas tree and all the decorations that need to be taken down!
When you're looking at it now in the chaotic aftermath of Christmas it can feel a bit overwhelming so here are some top tips to help you cope with it all!
If a toy hasn't been played with for 6 months or more it's time to be ruthless! Don't make excuses to keep things like "oh but Aunty Mabel gave this to little Charlie, I can't get rid of it!" or "but what if little Charlie goes looking for this in 6, 7, 8 months time?" Let's face it, if it's been at the bottom of the toy box for as long as you can remember and your little one never plays with it anymore, it's time it went.
If the toy is in good condition you could either put it in a donation box that you can drop off at a Charity Shop or maybe even a local preschool or children's ward where it will get plenty of use. If things are incomplete or broken recycle them!
Another nice idea, if you have the time and if your child would enjoy it, is to take your unwanted but good quality toys to a Car Boot Sale! This can be a really fun day out and your child will see their old toys making other people happy as well as learning about making money! At the end of the day they will have some money to go and spend on something new that they'd like and you'll have less clutter to deal with! You could always drop off anything you don't sell at the Charity Shop afterwards?
Christmas Cards & Gift Tags
When you're looking at it now in the chaotic aftermath of Christmas it can feel a bit overwhelming so here are some top tips to help you cope with it all!
Toys
If a toy hasn't been played with for 6 months or more it's time to be ruthless! Don't make excuses to keep things like "oh but Aunty Mabel gave this to little Charlie, I can't get rid of it!" or "but what if little Charlie goes looking for this in 6, 7, 8 months time?" Let's face it, if it's been at the bottom of the toy box for as long as you can remember and your little one never plays with it anymore, it's time it went.
You've just had a whole lot of new toys come into the house so you need to get rid of some of the old ones before you are overrun with them.
If the toy is in good condition you could either put it in a donation box that you can drop off at a Charity Shop or maybe even a local preschool or children's ward where it will get plenty of use. If things are incomplete or broken recycle them!
Another nice idea, if you have the time and if your child would enjoy it, is to take your unwanted but good quality toys to a Car Boot Sale! This can be a really fun day out and your child will see their old toys making other people happy as well as learning about making money! At the end of the day they will have some money to go and spend on something new that they'd like and you'll have less clutter to deal with! You could always drop off anything you don't sell at the Charity Shop afterwards?
Christmas Cards & Gift Tags
Christmas Cards and gift tags will provide loads of arts and crafts materials for next year! Little ones will love cutting them up and sticking, making scenes, new cards and all sorts of other masterpieces too! If you have a box full of arty things in a cupboard somewhere they won't be messy and they'll be great for those rainy days!
Your Christmas Tree
If you have an artificial tree - reuse it next year (and the next)! Artificial trees are not bio-degradable and they let off noxious gasses if they are burnt but if you do reuse them you'll help to off-set that in some way.If you have a real tree PLEASE recycle it! Hopefully your council will offer a recycling service where they will come and collect your tree and then chip it or mulch it. If you bought a planted tree then plant it in your garden or keep it in a pot and re-use it again next year!
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