Too Many Toys for Three Kids

I have three kids and they always have too many toys, so about once a year I go through them. I take out all the little nick nacky ones and many of the noisy ones, or ones they never play with. I keep the most important ones. Then I take them to goodwill so that they're going to a good cause.

I know exactly what you are saying. Just this morning I was cleaning out my little ones room - trying to get some toys out of there. My feeling is that you could get a huge tupperware container, fill it with toys, out them out of site (in the basement) and if the kids are really looking for them take them out (eventually) but if they don't ask for them you can donate them and not feel any guilt about it.

Hey C.,
I had to respond because we JUST went through this!! For months....probably even years....we have been saying that we have to "gut out" the kids bedrooms and get rid of the toys that they no longer use (ages 8, 6 and 2). Over Christmas vacation this year, I FINALLY had the nerve to just do it. Do you know those big construction site garbage bags? I carried out 4 of those full of broken, worn out toys to the garbage. 3 more of them were filled for charity. Our two favorite places to give to are the Listen Center and to "65 Roses" which is a thrift store in Grantham, NH that benefits Cystic Fibrous research.

I started the project with the kids out of the room, but as I worked along, they actually got into throwing things away. When we were done, their rooms were so beautiful and all of their new toys (and favorite old toys) were completely accessible. Thinking of the ages of your kids, you may want to just do it without them around!

As the bags were being carried out, I was a little sick thinking about the amount of money it represented and also what you said about things being a gift. However, now that it is done and over with, it is the best thing we could have ever done. The kids are able to play with things and put them away now. They seem to appreciate their things more and I am not constantly tripping over EVERYTHING!

So, I say, just go for it!! You will be glad you did!!

N. :-)

Hi C.. Take pictures of your kids with the toys that came from someone special then purge! If they aren't playing with it anymore why keep it? People don't expect you to keep gifts forever. Keeping one or two things per child is okay (IE a favorite stuffed animal). Good luck!

Hi C.,
I know where you are coming from. I also am a stay at home with 3 kids. I went through the same thing when mine where younger. I decided to pick maybe 2 or 3 things that were really special to either you or them. Then give the rest away to a charity in your area that helps other young moms who perhaps can't afford such things. It makes you feel better about giving your things away know that it is helping someone in need and letting other kids enjoy what they may not be able to have other wise. Good luck!
M.

It is hard--I usually try to do it in stages. First I go through and throw away anything that is broken/missing parts/etc. Then, if there are duplicates of the same toy I keep only one--unless more than 1 child likes to play with it--then to avoid fights I keep them both. It also helps to remember that any toy given by someone was a gift given with love and the love and gesture is what is important--not the toy. You could always take a picture of the child with the toy so that you have a reminder. The last thing I do is identify the toys that they never really play with. I put them in a box and keep it out of reach. If they ask for the toy later and you really want to give it back--then do it. Chances are they won't think about them again and after some time--a couple of weeks to a month--you can take them to the thrift store or sell them at a yard sale. I have even found that my oldest likes to help go through the toys so that "other little kids can have them" I hope this helps.

Have you heard of freecycle? It's an online community you can join and post things you want to get rid of or things you need. I've used it to clean out my toy room a lot recently. It helps me to think that I'm handing it on to people who need it free of charge! look at ____@____.com.

Hi there - I have that same issue with my son, I can't imagine what it's like for 3! If you have the room, ie, basement or attic space, rotate the toys every quarter or so, it refreshes their interest and there's not the 'exploding toy store' environment. Otherwise, I have donated the toys to my son's school and also posted it on some of the free 'come and get it' websites we have in our area. Hope that helps.

I find it very rewarding to donate items that are practically brand-new, but they've outgrown. I put them into dark garbage bags (so the kids can't see thru them) and take the bags to day care centers, doctor and dentist offices, or local libraries (who have a kid's section w/ toys). The faces on the staff when I do this is so worth the donation! It doesn't cost you anything but time, and you won't feel guilty giving away their toys, knowing that an entire class or a day's worth of patients will be using them day in and day out, instead of sitting and collecting dust. I'm sure the relatives who've given the toys would not be offended if they knew their gift was being used in this way either. So, it's a win win!

Dear C.,

I too have 3 children and when they were younger (all in their 20's now) the toy situation would be overwhelming. First I would say do not be concerned with what someone else would think. They are not picking everything up everyday or stepping on the toys or trying to find places for it all. I kept the ones I knew to be special to the individual child ( I still have those special stuffed animals, books etc. to give to each of them when they have their own). Secondly I had a storage container that I would pack some of the toys away in and when the kids lost interest with what was out I would rotate those into the box and put out what had been in the box. The newly introduced toys would seem like new ones to the kids and it helps you weed out the ones you really want to get rid of or that they have out grown. As they got older I would ask them which toys they didn't want anymore. If they were in good condition I would pass them on to friends with younger kids, Goodwill, or other organizations that could use them before the trash can. It is a never ending task till they really outgrow using toys but I found this to make in much more manageable.

Hope this helps,
L.

you can disinfect them and donate them to a prreschool or daycare, homless shelter that has women who have children,oreven a pediatric ofice

Hi C.,

I would try Craigs List or Freecycle.org. Freecycle is a website that recycles items. For an example you can post offers on the website and people will email you if they are interested. If you want an item you can post it and people will email you if they have it. I have gotten rid of some stuff on Freecycle and its been successful. If not you can try to sell items on Craigs List or there is a free section on Craigs list too. Good Luck!

N.

Congrats on the upcoming wedding! My name is L., and I have one five year old boy who has the same problem. Multiple grandparents who love spoiling him! Every six months I ask Connor what he prefers to play with and I tell him the truth. I tell him that he has too many toys and we need to help other children who don't have toys. We pack them up together and I donate them to charities. It might be a little hard for the younger ones to tell you what toys they want to keep, but just observe them and make the choice yourself. Good luck!

Dont feel bad about getting rid of toys that others gave you.... People love to buy toys for kids and probably dont even remember what they bought unless they see your kids playing with it. I would get a tupperware and stick it on the top of a closet or in the garage. Throw the toys in it that you want to get rid of, if you find that someone asks about a toy within a time limit... say 3 months... you can take it back out. Then you can make a family donation day a couple times a year and give them to less fortunate kids. Or maybe just have your kids decide which toys they want to get rid of and which ones they cant live without... Its really all about them anyway. Just dont feel bad! You wouldnt feel bad about getting rid of a shirt that doesnt fit just because someone gave it to you, right?

Try Cradles to Crayons at cradlestocrayons.org.

Consider if any of the toys were made in China and may contain lead paint. For future birthdays, consider giftgivers bring gifts of non-perishable food to be donated to your local food pantry or church. Or consider giftgivers give new teddy bears(leaving tags attached) to be donated to you local police department to give to the young children they have contact with. You can make a big deal out of collecting it all then bring it up for them share with others. Your children are young, teach them the joy of giving. Have birthdays and holidays focused on time spent with family and friends instead things. You will be the best judge of what interests you children, encourage their interests and creativity, and keep the active outside playing with each other. A huge cardboard box they decorate themselves can become a magic castle or cave to explore, same with a blanket over a table and a couple chairs. A bunch of saved up toilet paper and paper towel rolls and some masking tape can become something amazing! There will be special gifts your children recieve in life that are truly worth cherishing, you'll know what they are when they come your way. Don't get wrapped up in giving your kids 'things' because the best things in life aren't 'things' at all.............

Try donating them to a local Church, or Charity. Churches usually do some kind of Yard Sale/ flea Market thing. Put toys on Freecycle, or even on craigslist. Have a yard sale or find someone with smaller children and give them as a gift. Or even a cosignment shop, or used childrens store? You could always bring them to a Salvation army store? You could always put up flyers for free toys and the dates being the two or three before trash day. Bring them to the curb and see if someone picks them up. If not they will be picked up on trash day.

I totally understand where you are coming from C.. I think the best way for you to do this and feel good about it is to donate the usable toys to a good cause that is close to your heart. I am a perpetual pack rat and at one time wanted to have several children. Now that we've decided to only have one I found myself with huge quantities of baby cloths, toys and maternity cloths that I no longer needed but was very emotionally attached to. So, first a friend and I held a HUGE lawn sale with a sign that said "everything is FREE but if you care to make a donation, all funds would go to the March of Dimes". The money we collected I mailed off to the March of Dimes and then everything that was left I brought to the local thrift store that supports the local home health and hospice. This way I didn't feel guilty about anything if someone noticed their gift was no longer in the house.

Hi C.! My kids have tons of toys too! What we did was a tote or two and put some away in a closet or storage room and every two weeks to a month we switch toys out so we dont have so many toys around the house. And when they out grow them we take them to a shelter! Hope this helps!