Hey everyone, it’s Kari from Paper Wings. Christmas is over, the new year has begun, and if your house is anything like mine, the sugar and toys have taken over. Time for a few post-holiday activities to get you and the kiddos back on track, while still having fun of course. Check out some ways to make cleaning up after Christmas a little less daunting for everyone.

Cleaning Up After Christmas:

Cleaning up after Christmas, step one:

-De-clutter

With new toys comes a messier play room. Time to sort and organize! And even though it’s tempting to throw out the broken toys and ripped books while the kiddos are away, it’s better to get them involved. That way they get to learn a lesson of organization, and they get to be the ones to choose what stays and what goes. This way there are no tears over that broken toy you threw out without their knowledge. A great motivator is to let them purchase one new book for every 10 toys they part with.

Cleaning up after Christmas, step two:

-De-sugar

It’s everywhere! SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR! Here are a few ideas to help rid your house of some of the excess Christmas sweets, and get you and the kiddos back on track:

Donate it! There are many shelters and programs who gladly accept candy and treats all year round
Bake with it! Chop up all the chocolate, and keep it in a zip-lock. Next time you want chocolate chunk cookies, you already have your main ingredient!
Freeze it. Chopped candy freezes really well. Freeze them in one cup increments, and you’ll have a nice supply of treats to add to brownies, ice-cream sundaes etc
Gift it! It’s not too late to fill gift bags and pass them out to neighbors, and friends (but beware they may do the same to you) 🙂
Recycle it. Cookies can be saved and frozen, then crushed up, for future no-bake pie crusts!
Do experiments! There are super fun candy experiments for kids of all ages at www.kidshealth.org

Cleaning up after Christmas, step three:

-Trash to Treasure Activity

After your kids have helped you sort and get rid of toys, let them pick one broken toy that has been loved to death, and give it new life. Some toys are very special, and deserve to be kept and treasured. Find a place for them on a shelf or display case, and teach your little ones that their memories of play, can live on forever.

Cleaning up after Christmas, step four:

-Make sweater mittens!

Beat the cold weather boredom by having your kids make their own mittens! This activity is super easy, and very kid-friendly! My son is so proud of his mittens, and wears them all day long.

Simply: