Life Kit Drowning in toys? Here’s how to handle kid clutter
18 snips
Mar 26, 2026 
Denaye Barahona, a New York City psychotherapist for children and families, talks about taming kid clutter without the guilt. She gets into why decluttering fails when new stuff keeps coming in, how to handle hand-me-downs honestly, why kids often need fewer toys, and what to do with the endless pile of artwork.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Decluttering Fails After The First Cleanup
- Decluttering fails when families keep acquiring faster than they remove, so the real problem is accumulation, not tidying skill.
- Denaye Barahona says people now declutter "pretty well" but then "reclutter even better," chasing products like magic sleep sacks or bassinets.
Ask Whether New Baby Gear Replaces Or Adds
- Pause before buying and ask whether an item replaces something or just adds another object to manage.
- Denaye Barahona suggests prepping for baby by clearing fridge, freezer, kitchen, and bathroom space instead of buying more gadgets or bins.
Use Active Spaces And Storage Spaces Differently
- Separate active spaces from storage spaces so daily-use items stay easy to see, grab, and put back.
- Denaye Barahona stopped rifling through 30 pairs of jeans once she removed rarely worn items from her everyday drawer.