Comments on: Clearing out old toys– I need your help!

By: Creating Memories with Fisher Price Toys

Creating Memories with Fisher Price Toys — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:42:48 +0000

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By: Felicity

Felicity — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:39:43 +0000

I think children can be less sentimental about toys than the parents. I have found it is easier to get the children to do the sorting (with your supervision) into two boxes/bags. Letting them choice what they play with alot an the other goes into storage (then after a couple of month donated to a thrift shop). I found that more toys were being put in the I don’t play with pile and I wanted to question my child’s judgment and kept asking Are you sure you don’ want that! (lol). Anyhow, the toys which were put away weren’t asked for again and have gone to another home.
All the best for your sorting :-)
Another trick is to have a soft toy box. Once the box gets full then some toys have to get donated before new ones can be added (one in one out system). It’s worked well and keeps them less materially focused and realising they can’t keep everything and that there is finite space.

By: Carey

Carey — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:43:56 +0000

You have a ton of advice! I just would say, the stuff that you just can’t let go of, maybe you can let them stay at the grandparents house so they have toys to play with when they visit. We sent a few to visit nana and although the kids were sad at first, they are excited to go now.

By: Christina S.

Christina S. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:17:47 +0000

Oh such a great post! I have this same problem getting rid of toys. Same excuses and everything, lol! I have two girls age 3 and 2. I have good intentions of weeding out the toys but then I think , gramma gave them this so I cant get rid of it or they might play with this. I really need to get serious and get over the excuses. I will be reading back through the comments to see what suggestions you have received. Good luck on your venture! .-= Christina S.´s last blog ..Such a Great Challenge! =-.

By: Mom to 3 h's @BelleBearBerry

Mom to 3 h's @BelleBearBerry — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:47:06 +0000

You got some wonderful advice. What worked for me is to put all like toys together. So cars, regardless of where they came from are in one bin, animals, regardless of what sets they belong to are in one bin.

While, you are the mom and you have the final say – Respect your kids – I try and remember how I feel when my husband looks at my craft items and thinks it is all junk – even when it is nicely organized. It doesn’t make you feel good. We do not gain a sanctuary just by purging, it may feel better to us, but be careful to not do it at the expense of your children’s feelings.

Example:
One thing here I would say I was ready to part with and the girls still enjoy it on a regular basis is a poorly put together pony castle. The girls love it. It is falling apart, but it suits their purposes, even if the turrets are not attached. Yes, I would rather see it gone, but I know it really does get played with. So I put it in a container that it can go in and they can play with it.

Which leads me to….
Be honest about what the kids play with. When in doubt, containerizing some toys and out them in the back room or garage and if they care enough about it, to ask for it – move those to the top of the list. If not, after whatever time line you give it, you have them easily accessible to donate or toss. These are also great to pull out when there are extra friends over and you need a new distraction.
.-= Mom to 3 h’s @BelleBearBerry´s last blog ..My very own ionator HOM was just delivered!!! =-.

By: Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:20:45 +0000

I’m well acquainted with the unnecessary guilt that accompanies the desire to pitch the toys, but we must!

The best advice I ever read was to select the items you feel the kids are done with (ask older ones to choose some too) & put them in a rubbermaid tub & store in the basement or garage for a determined period of time…3 or 6 months. If a child misses a toy & requests it, give it to them. Whatever is in the box at the end of your predetermined time gets donated or tossed.

As far as items that people have given…chances are they don’t remember what they gave them & they won’t come looking to see if you still have it or the child still plays with it.
.-= Anne-Marie´s last blog ..Bible in 90 days: Day 2 =-.

By: amydeanne

amydeanne — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:17:26 +0000

i do the quarter thing with the kids, but it became so crazy I actually made them empty all their rooms out, bring them to the living room, I sorted, boxed and got rid of a ton.. they were all aware of me doing it and actually think they were relieved… for stuffed animals my girls picked more than the boys, but all in all I now have a closet full of toys that are baged catorgized and so forth; they are not allowed a new bag until the old bag is picked up and put away. My kids range from 2-almost 7 and they all like it! Bigger toys are put against the wall, but they still have to take out the bags for the pieces that go with it.. sort of like a library system. They also know we are donating toys to kids who need them, and that they have more than enough; which they seem to be okay with that concept! I think just be consistent… as far as when more toys come in, something old has got to go… there just isn’t enough room to house Toys RUS in my basement! lol

By: Army Blogger Wife

Army Blogger Wife — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:08:00 +0000

I just was in my son's room, and I need to follow these approaches. I have no helpful hints as we are overflowing with toys, and I just can't part with them! I need one of your readers to come over and help me purge. Who lives in Colorado? LOL .-= Army Blogger Wife´s last blog ..Priceless Gift =-.

By: Missy @ it's almost naptime

Missy @ it's almost naptime — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:49:13 +0000

here is how we do it. And this is one – the ONLY – area where I may have u beat. Ha!!

1. Have Daddy help. Daddies are
much more brutal about throwing stuff away.

2. When I start going “but maybe they will play with this again later” this little voice in my head says, “next month is Christmas. Then in April a birthday. Then Easter. Then another birthday. Then another birthday. Then another birthday. Then Christmas again. Then…”

LET IT GO.

If they absolutely die from despair over something I threw away, then i will buy them a replacement. Ain’t happened yet.

By: Org Junkie

Org Junkie — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:37:55 +0000

Ahhh, the million dollar question! :) I am a huge believer in getting kids involved in the organizing process right from young. I’m teaching on this exact topic at the online Woman’s Inspired Conference. Get them involved, teach them the skills they need for making the decisions themselves.

Toys seem to breed in the night that is for sure. I definitely agree that less is more. Containers also provide limits and boundaries as well.

Good luck with your purge! :)