Thursday, December 13, 2007

I need some advice

As a follow up to my last post, how do you get rid of excess toys and kid stuff? I am good at getting rid of broken stuff and most McDonald's toys, but we still have tons of toys. I have 3 girls and generous relatives, so we have A LOT of toys and I can't seem to get rid of the toys that are in good condition. The trouble is the girls do play with most of it. I hate to get rid of something and then have them ask for it a week later. I try to get them involved and they claim to love it all. We have sorted through their toys twice since the summer and I feel like we haven't even made a dent.

The only really good idea I have, I got from a friend of mine. When you want to get rid of something, put it in a box for 6 months. If no one asks for it, then you can get rid of it without worrying that you are getting rid of something the kids really like. Anyone else have any other good ideas for dealing with the mounds of toys that somehow come into our worlds?

3 comments:

Heather L. said...

Is it possible your girls would find it easier to part with their toys if they knew where the toys were going - a homeless shelter, orphanage, low income day care, church preschool, etc.? Maybe they could deliver the toys personally to see that they would be well cared for and appreciated.

Wendy said...

I agree w/Heather. I think that is a great idea. I usually ask my kids to pick a couple toys that they would like to give away to someone that doesn't have very many toys (shelters, etc.). It always amazes me how willing and excited they are to do this.

Jean said...

DUDE! I didn't even know you kept a blog until I just got your christmas card! Thanks a lot for telling me!
"Good Greeks" I tell ya! :)
We have always "forced" her to give things away before her birthday and Christmas each year. Sh gives some to charity and some to her friends.
I think it does really help for her/any child to understand that there are children that NEED there old things b/c they don't have toys to play with.
That lesson is important, beyond clutter control :)