With two little boys, we’ve been very very lucky that toys get used twice as much. But it has also been a little difficult to shop for them for birthdays and holidays because no one needs anything.
But with grandparents, friends, family, and parents all buying for them, it had just gotten out of hand. (I have a post coming about Christmas.)
For birthdays, we’ve suggested that in lieu of gifts guests bring a donation to the food bank, a children’s shelter, and just forego gifts completely. And this always works, and we’re so glad that our friends are willing to attend parties to celebrate and know that a gift is not necessary.
After I decided we needed to clean out the toys, I got the boys involved.
Hudson and I decided to have four different categories: donate, storage, KK & Poppie’s house, and RC & PC’s house.
For the donate category, I decided to include things that were either duplicate toys or just don’t get played with. We had about six plastic lions. For a while, Hudson’s favorite animal was a lion. So he got a lion in his stocking or a lion in his Easter basket. And the lions just kept on coming. So we donated a lot of the things that weren’t getting played with.
For the storage category, we included things that are played with, but decided to move toys into a rotation. So the boys won’t have all of their toys at all times. But every couple of months we will bring things out of storage and re-introduce them. We have done this a few times before with some toys after we moved. We brought them back out five months later and the boys went crazy over their “new” toys. Hiding them and bringing them back out is a great solution for us to keep things fresh and new without buying all new toys.
For KK & Poppie/RC & PC’s house (the grandparents), this worked out well. These were toys that they still really like, but don’t always have to have at home. And Todd’s parents and my parents are kind enough to keep our kids overnight and like to have toys at their houses for the boys. So we went through and decided on some toys that could be left at their houses and they’d play with them when they visit.
All of this has helped a lot with creating a more organized play space for the boys, and have more of an idea of what they actually have. And it’s just made it a lot more fun for them to play.
Their favorite toys are their train table, their Legos Duplos, and puzzles.
I want Hudson and Hayes to enjoy playing with their toys and have fun while still being able to take care of their things. We have a different plan for this year’s Christmas, but just like with my closet, any time we get something new, we get rid of something else.
It’s all a work in progress, and my kiddos definitely have the “gimmes” just like every other kid.
What systems have you found that work for you and your kids?
This post is Day 16 for 31 Days of Creating White Space
Erin,
My daughter came up with the idea early in our oldest grandson’s life to SIMPLIFY because she saw that it could quickly get out of hand. She has taught the boys about “giving to a little boy who needs this” and they are truly generous, cheerful givers to charity. The best idea she has had is for she and her husband to give the boys an “experience” gift for Christmas each year, for instance they went as a family to LEGOLAND last year and had a ball. This year has to do with our town’s pro ball team…….. : ) She makes certificates and buys something related to the theme and they get stocking stuffers from Mommy and Daddy and the grandparents give a few small items they really want. It is a great system and they don’t get the “gimmies!” (But we have been known to break out the Berenstain Bears book if needed!)
While this grandmommy has to be reigned in occasionally~ I truly see the benefit and am proud of my daughter for raising our boys in this manner.
I love that idea!
I love the idea of the different categories! I donated all of the toys from our purges and there are a few things, like the Little People farm that Reagan will randomly ask for a lot, and I wish I had kept it…or in this case, maybe I could have sent it to one of the grandparents’ houses. Love that idea! I think I will try these for the next purge for sure!
Our daughter is only 13 months old, but I see this becoming a problem. Any suggestions on the best way to approach grandparents…and an aunt who likes to over indulge when Christimas and Birthdays come around? They never ask what she needs…they just buy too much.
With some older people, it is difficult because they just ARE NOT going to respect your wishes. They will do things their way and these are the same types who will undermine you as the parent at any given time. I battle with my own mother who gives in to every demand and fit. I told her this last time, when she let him play with a real screwdriver that what she was doing was not safe and if she is going to continue to do this, she is NOT going to get any more opportunities to babysit her grandson, not even for a few hours. I will pay money to his preschool instead and let him stay there where he will be with other kids. Every time she goes to the store, she buys another toy. Every time she has him with her, he gets another toy. It’s become a nightmare to the point I’ve threatened to throw the new toys directly in the garbage. Or I’ve told her to keep his toys at her house, so she can clutter up her own house. Simply put, some of the older folks will not respect your wishes no matter what. So you have to come up with plan B and just either sell, donate, or trash the toys.