Teach me how to get rid of toys please!

[Sarah8914]

Okay, I am totally NOT a pack rat... never have been. But, I have a hard time getting rid of toys because I'm going to have more children and they might play with it when they're whatever age. (along with the 100s of new ones they get). So help me! Toys are taking over! We had a party last Saturday and moved a bunch of toys into our room and it has been SO nice to have less toys out. Why do I have trouble getting rid of them?

And, most come from grandparents and great grandparents--you know, big expensive annoying ones. Learning toys that aren't used for learning, etc. So do I just feel bad because they were gifts? I should feel less bad because WE didn't buy them. So any tips? With Christmas coming, we should have done this much sooner because of course the kids will be getting way more toys than they need. Help!

[KristinCB]

This would be the best/easiest time to do it. Have your daughter help you if you can to go through her toys and to see if she can help give away the toys that she no longer wants and you could bring them to a donation place that helps with children in need that don't have anything for Christmas. I can't remember how old she is exactly so it might be hard for her to understand but it would be very rewarding. Also, with the new children there will always be new toys so I say just get rid of the ones you don't want. We did that recently and it is such a freeing feeling!! I think they get overwhelmed if they have too much and they don't know what to play with. Also what you could do is just get a few bins and put the toys in them and then rotate through the toys so she has a few that she plays with and then in a few month switch them out.

[kscwgirl]

I'm pretty ruthless about it really. We do it in cycles. If they haven't played with it in 3 months, it goes into a tub in the closet. If after 3 weeks, they haven't asked about it, out the door it goes. I clean out the toys probably 4 times a year. If it is broken or missing pieces, straight into the trash. If it still has life, we donate it or I freecycle stuff. Before Christmas, Abby goes through things and we freecycle or donate to needy children. The kids usually have the option of "helping" me go through things and deciding what to keep. Sometimes I do it on my own because it's just easier. But really I will get rid of anything no matter who bought it. The kids each have one drawer in their dresser and that is where sentimental stuff goes. Luckily Abby's is a really deep drawer.

[iJenny]

I am a world-class purger of toys. I do it all the time with reckless abandon, so here's what you need to do...

1. Take a deep breath. This won't be easy, but you'll feel a thousand times better once its done.

2. Remove the children from the playroom unless you want to hear a chorus of "but I looooooove that toy" or "mooooooom, I *promise* to play with it".

3. Get a trash can for broken/useless/crappy toys, a box for donated toys, and a box for storage toys (that you want to keep for future children)

4. Sit in the middle of the room with all the toys around you and go through ALL.OF.THEM. Toss whats broken (even if they sometimes play with it. broken is broken). Donate or sell anything that hasn't been played with in the last two weeks. Box up any toys that your current kids have outgrown, but you want your future kids to have. BE SELECTIVE. Any future children will get tons of toys on their own. Only keep the toys that are special or timeless. Don't think about the cost of the toy when you're getting rid of it. The money has been spent and keeping it around isn't going to "get your money's worth".

5. Show your kids the "donate" pile and tell them that they can take out ONLY ONE THING to keep. This gives them a little power over the situation but also allows you to screen the toy they choose (in case its huge or something).

6. Take another deep breath. You're done. Now don't you feel better?

[jessica31876]

Look at it this way...the toy companies are always coming out with more (and better) toys every year. You could do alot of good by donating any unused toys to women & childrens shelters/daycares/schools/needy families in your area and it would free up room in your home. I know it is hard to toss stuff like that especially when you think you might need it for future children but there are alot of kids who could use it today and youd be doing a whole lot of good by donating them now. That is what I did with my kids toys. Every so often Id go through and toss all the toys I thought my my kids didnt play with and send them to someone who I knew would use them or Id take them to the salvation army or good will and sometimes even sent them into my kids school if it was approriate for school age kids. Afterwards with so much space cleared out the kids were able to play with alot less distraction with fewer toys to distract them.

[junebug]

thanks for this thread! i desperately need to do this. everytime i clean the playroom i throw out stuff, but it never amounts to much, lol. they actually do play with a lot of what theyhave, but they also have a ton of stuffed animals they i know they don't play with. some used to be mine when i was a kid. i want to get a shelf or one of those toy nets and put some in there that are sentimental and toss the rest. i have on of those toy bins with the shelf and the multicolored bins from target. it helps, but the organization doesn't last. probably because they just have too much, lol. i'm really going to do this, probably this week. and take the nicer unwanted stuff to the salvation army.

[AnnieBananie]

I'm with Sara... if I haven't seen them playing with it, it gets stashed away in the "Goodwill Bag", then if they don't ask for it by the next time we make a Goodwill run, it goes. I don't even think about it, I purposely move quickly so I don't dwell (Aww but they USED TO play with this all the time). I have to go through their rooms every other month! Mostly for broken toys though

[Sarah8914]

Oh thanks guys! Great ideas. I am totally doing this this weekend. We have so many new toys that Hannah (#2) got, that I know this baby (and however many come after) will get plenty as well. And I'm pretty sure Kathryn, my 4 year old, will gladly pick some we could get rid of, and then I could pick more. I seriously clean out everything else quite often, but I stink with toys. I think once I start, I'll probably do it several times a year. I'll have to save this thread.

[my4boys]

Originally Posted by Lilcameronsmommy

I am a world-class purger of toys. I do it all the time with reckless abandon, so here's what you need to do...

1. Take a deep breath. This won't be easy, but you'll feel a thousand times better once its done.

2. Remove the children from the playroom unless you want to hear a chorus of "but I looooooove that toy" or "mooooooom, I *promise* to play with it".

3. Get a trash can for broken/useless/crappy toys, a box for donated toys, and a box for storage toys (that you want to keep for future children)

4. Sit in the middle of the room with all the toys around you and go through ALL.OF.THEM. Toss whats broken (even if they sometimes play with it. broken is broken). Donate or sell anything that hasn't been played with in the last two weeks. Box up any toys that your current kids have outgrown, but you want your future kids to have. BE SELECTIVE. Any future children will get tons of toys on their own. Only keep the toys that are special or timeless. Don't think about the cost of the toy when you're getting rid of it. The money has been spent and keeping it around isn't going to "get your money's worth".

5. Show your kids the "donate" pile and tell them that they can take out ONLY ONE THING to keep. This gives them a little power over the situation but also allows you to screen the toy they choose (in case its huge or something).

6. Take another deep breath. You're done. Now don't you feel better?

AMEN Jenny...that is exactally what we did a few weeks ago and it felt so great I cannot even tell you!!!! We had 6 bags of garbage!!! We had 2 HUGE boxes to donate to Day Care centers/Am Vets, etc. but my hubby's so-worker has twin boys and they are pretty strapped for cash so I ended up giving her ALL of it and whatever she did not want she would donate for me so it was a win-win situation and I felt really good about it. We really organized the rest of nicely and so far they have kept up with it. We shall see how long that will last. Good luck and remember to breathe, that is really important!!!!