Drowning In Toys.

[Laugs]

Just begun the lovely task of sorting out DD's toys.

She is two next month and I know she'll get loads more for her birthday but I am so overwhelmed by the volume already.

Just want to know how other parents organise it. For example, she has three toy phones. Do I put them together in a 'phone box' - but then when would you ever need to play with more than one phone?

My other idea was I could make different boxes for different days eg/ Monday is the blue box - but that requires a level of organisation that I know would never work in our household.

I know any logical person would just give things away, but almost everything she has has been gifts so I don't feel that I can.

HELP!

[Martha200]

Laugs, if you feel you can't give them away what I did was try and sell what I could, waited for a nice collection of things he had grown out of playing with, then put the money back into new things for her to play with, that way didn't feel so bad, is that a possibilty?

[yomellamoHelly]

I edit. So if dss have more than one of each type of toy the one that is broken or the least popular goes to the charity shop. Ds1 is nearly 5 and nr 3 is on the way. It is scary how much we have despite doing this regularly. Expect gps to still buy ds1 15 or so pressies for Christmas (like last year).

[CharCharGabor]

My house is overrun with toys, so many that the children don't know what they've got and never play with them all. Am planning a pre-Christmas clearout and I'm going to charity shop a load. If we had a bigger house would probably keep them but it's impossible. A box for every day of the week is a good idea though.

[moshie]

I would sort them into different boxes and swap them over every couple of weeks not everyday.
I'd also ask people not to buy too much for her birthday, maybe ask for specific things so that you don't get duplicates again.

[Elkat]

I have 2 DDs (5 next month and 2 next month). They have all their toys in their playroom, but I do the following...

I have a storage chest which holds the favourite toys (and the ones that are easy to put away).

Then I put the messy toys, or the toys I only them play with under supervision (such as play doh, paints etc...) I put up high on shelves. These are usually grouped - so all the dolls are together, as they would ask to play with dolls etc.

As for excess toys, I have to admit that I do give away excess toys - NCT sales, car boots etc and then use the money to buy the girls something that they want that's nice with the money. However, if you are not comfortable with that, if you are planning another child later on, how about putting away some toys for a second child? Otherwise, all they ever get is the battered old hand me downs? (That's all my youngest has got to play with!). Also, as soon as they grow out of toys, I put away my eldest daughter's toys away in the attic until my youngest grows into them. I also send a few toys round my mums, so they have got plenty to play with there (good for dealing with duplicates!). And definitely try to guide people if you can, perhaps clothes and other useful things.. after all at this age, all they care about is the unwrapping! Also, maybe ask for some outdoor toys (still on sale at the mo) that you can store in the attic until next summer. I also often ask for toys that the children will later grow into - so after their birthdays, I put away a box of toys that I can then access over the year - but this has the added benefit of not having to have all the toys out at once!

HTH

[geordieminx]

We have exatly the same problem and only 1 ds... our "dining room" is now a sea of toys. What we are planning on doing is sorting them out - binning all the crap that he doesnt play with, also random "bits" that are in his box - spoons, tupperware boxes. all sorts of things that he has ferreted in there. Then we will divide them into 2 boxes, put one in the garage and rotate on a fortnightly/monthly basis - that way when the "new" box comes out they might hold his attention more than 5 seconds as they will all be "new". (He's only 18 months btw)

[Lilyloo]

We have two toyboxes any good toys were put away and have been used for 3 dc's duplicates given to charity shop. At least that way they will get used than just lying around in toy box or put on for free board on here lot's of mums would appreciate toys in the run up to xmas and would happily pay p+p.
The alternate boxes are good idea but agree that duplicates aren't going to be really used much.

[littlelamb]

If you are going to give them away, do ask your local preschool if they could use them. I volunteered to help at dd's last week and until I was chatting with the staff I had no idea that they get absolutely no funding at all, so donations are vital to them. I know that anything I am getting rid of from now on will be heading their way rather than the charity shop.

[Othersideofthechannel]

You need two toy phones for when a cousin or friend comes over or you have a second child.

[cheekysealion]

i would pass some on to local childrens ward. doctors surgery.. or A & E Dept than you are doing a great turn

[Laugs]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I sort of wimped out and put quite a few things in the loft. Maybe I should have given them to charity/ local preschool etc, but we don't have much money and neither do the people who gave the presents in the first place, so I've decided to hold on to them for the next child.

I have organised some toys into boxes - trains and cars; cooking; teddies; musical instruments etc. Then I have some big old sweet jars filled with blocks; little people; big dominoes; duplo. I've also made a box of 'stand alone' toys which don't have lots of component parts to get lost - this one stays in the sitting room as it's the easiest to tidy away.

So I feel like a little bit of progress has been made!

Now on to the clothes... (zzzzz)

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Surely you will need two phones when she's a bit older and starts to play with other children and they can pretend to phone each other up

[majeika]

Why dont you ask for some days out vouchers for Xmas?

Local farm or soft play or the zoo often have vouchers to buy.

You and DH can buy her a present or two but GPs could put money towards something to do rather than more plastic!

You could say they could get something small so they can see her face but how much does a 2yr old really need?

[MrsMattie]

Sort the toys out fairly regularly - every 3-6 months?

Give away stuff that doens't get played with - to friends' children or to charity. Or car boot them.

Ask for other gifts for birthdays / Xmas. Me and DH can't stop grandparents / aunts / uncles etc from spoiling our DS, so we don't go overboard on presents ourselves. Instead, we put some money into his savings account and/or take him out for a treat.

They don't need rooms full of toys at any age, but especially not at such a young age.

[cupsoftea]

Charity shop is the best answer or give to another mum.

[Laugs]

I've asked my parents to pay for a term at a music group she enjoys, but DP's dad has already told us he's bought her a desk....for a 2 year old... in a tiny flat that is cluttered enough already... Er, thanks!

[coochybottom]

I have a storage shelf in the garage. One of those wooden shelving systems with a cloth cover. Most of my DCs toys are in there apart from some in their rooms. They choose a few things to play with at a time and have to put them back before anything else comes out. Keeps everything together and helps avoid bits getting lost. Think it helps them to focus rather than just spread everything out everywhere. ALSO..Keeps my house reasonably tidy!!

[Smithagain]

To be honest, I think at around the age of two you do have to stop being sentimental about toys that were gifts and get rid of anything surplus. Three telephones is a good example. One is a great toy, two might be fun when a friend is around, but the third one is just occupying space.

I have to ask myself "did x really intend that i keep this toy forever, even when the DDs have grown out of it?" For a few things, the answer is yes (classic toys, things with their name on, things that have been made specially for them). The other stuff I think the givers would be amazed if I kept it all for more than a year or two. Children's needs change.

[Acinonyx]

I think we have 4 phones (dd is 3)

I have plastic storgae boxes of toys that come out in rotation when I remember. I regularly give stuff away to charity shops or younger dcs.

The hardest part is the boxes of miscellaneous tat that collect - dreadful to sort through but every now and then a real treasure trove on a boring day,

[TeenyTinyTorya]

I always go through ds's toys regularly, as he was given a lot when he was born, and then for his first Christmas and birthday. Even if things were gifts, there's no point in having tons of duplicate toys. I charity shop things that he doesn't need, and swap over the box that is in the living room with the boxes on his shelves in the bedroom.

He only ever really plays with a football, crayons and some building bricks - he's more interested in "helping" me!