To feel that we are at "peak toy".

[specialmagiclady]

Boys are 7 and 9. We are drowning, just drowning in toys.

I have been pretty good in that I have boxed up and lofted: duplo, certain special baby toys and wooden train and got rid of a lot of the larger "preschool" toys like play kitchen, pots and pans, playdoh stuff etc.

They still occasionally do dressing up (but I have my eye on that next and I have got rid of the too-small costumes) and like to have Cuddly Olympics with their millions of cuddly toys. They are totally in the prime of love with Lego of which we have millions.

Things I would happily let go: Tracey island, millenium falcon, toy cars, toy animals and dinosaurs, playmobil, anything plastic over about the size of the playmobil helicopter.

They are adamant that they play with them ALL. They don't, but they notice if I sneak it out to the charity shop.

Is it because they are still little enough to want to play with some of the younger stuff, but old enough to play board games etc that we just have so much? Is it going to get better? Will they suddenly say "actually I think we're a bit old for this, mum"? Or am I going to have to be The Bitch (again)?

Either I invest massively in new storage (££££ nobody puts expedit on freecycle) or I chuck chuck chuck....WWYD? WIBU to just get rid of a load of stuff?

[mellicauli]

Why not do a car boot sale rather than charity shop? If the boys got to keep the money (to save towards something small but expensive like a tablet), they might see it differently?

[bubblegoose]

I would wait for six months and whatever they haven't asked for in that time would go to the charity shop.

[fluffyanimal]

I don't know what the answer is but I hear you OP, I hear you! Watching with interest. All my Christmas-present-hiding spaces are now filled up with old toys that I have tried to make them forget about, and still, still, from time to time they say "where's the xyz?" To which I reply vaguely, "Oh I don't know, haven't seen that for ages..."

[Marylou62]

I so agree but let me tell you something funny. I had a big sort out and donated to school fayre...my little b***s then bought it back!!! Double whammy...it cost me twice. Many people have a rule..one in..one out. I agree the bootsale could work...but be careful..very careful as I have a friend whos Mum was very organized and would throw out stuff when she was at school...she thinks that is why she is a hoarder!! Get them on board..no more toys in unless we get some out. Good Luck.

[Nocomet]

You stop worrying about it and enjoy it, Mine are 13 and 16, I miss tripping over toys.

Although I still get to trip over boots that are bigger than mine and lap top power cables.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

My ds2 is 17 and still won't get rid of his cupboards full of toys fgs, its not like he plays with them but nope he is a total hoarder.

[RonSwansonsLushMoustache]

I know a little boy who would hand over his pocket money for a Millennium Falcon...

I 'disappeared' a load of stuff that DS really never played with, sold it on ebay then took him to the Lego shop for a spend-up.

Is there an expensive must-have toy or gadget that they could be persuaded to sell some toys and put the proceeds towards? Xbox, iPad or similar?

[littleredsquirrel]

Me too. My DS's are nearly nine and nearly seven. It is ridiculous the mount of stuff they have. To the extent that they haven't even taken most of their christmas presents out of the boxes yet. And its DS1's birthday next week too!

[bubblegoose]

I love your username, Ron. I want to stroke that moustache.

[blahblahblah2014]

Agree with the car boot sale idea, it's a great incentive to have a clear out and the weather is picking up and it's a good fun day out!

[sadsaddersaddest]

Whatever you choose to do, try to involve them. When I was about 14 and my brothers were 12 and 9, my father took ALL our toys to the tip without telling us about it. I am still livid about it.
Our house is small so we have strict rules about Christmas and birthday presents from our family (we encourage them to buy clothes, books, Wii games or crafts supplies - cuddly toys are forbidden! )
We should be selling stuff at a car boot sale in a couple of months and DC1 and DC2 are already really excited about selling some of their toys and keeping the money.

[RonSwansonsLushMoustache]

[Oldraver]

DS still plays with his wooden blocks and Duplo...everytime I try and get rid he moans...he does geunuily play with them though

[itsmeitscathy]

YABU to even consider getting rid of the Millennium Falcon...

[specialmagiclady]

I know - I love the MF but they don't play with it... Well victory is mine - I have got the Duplo down and put it on a local sales board for £20, promising the kids a tenner each if I get that much. So hooray - hopefully they will get the hang of turning toys into cash! (Am also modelling it madly by putting all our CDs on music magpie - gulp)

[crazykat]

I know exactly how you feel. I've got four DCs and a ridiculous amount of toys. I can't wait till they're older and stop playing with them.

I'd do a carboot/eBay but get them to sort out what they don't want and let them keep what they make to get something like a tablet/ds/iPod etc.

[Tinkerisdead]

Yes me too to ebaying. We sell anything not played with and religiously give them the money they sold all their happyland and got a climbing frame!

[MomOfTwoGirls2]

2 DDs in our house, 10 and 11. Refuse to part with anything. I pack it up out when they are not there. I gave my nieces the toy kitchen. It was never missed!

My DDs play fantastic imagination games, which involved many, many props, usually older toys. And lay them out over the entire playroom floor, shelves, table, etc. game could go on for days. But the mess!!!!

[Moonfacesmother]

My ds is nearly 5 and we are at this point now!

I've kept some stuff he's outgrown - brio, duplo etc

But I now have the following that he has ignored for ages: fireman Sam toys, great big play kitchen, wooden airport, elc garage, hideous jungle junction thing, six million moshi monsters.

I am very very tempted to eBay the lot. But part of me fears he will suddenly ask for them in several months time. He has the memory of an elephant when it comes to toys. However if I ask him if he'd like to sell them or give them to children who have less than him be will suddenly decide that it is his very favourite toy and play with it for about an hour before abandoning it again.

[SecretNutellaFix]

Can you put stuff away in the attic- if it doesn't get asked for within 3 months, sell it.

[indigo18]

Tracey Island! That takes me back! We have kept Brio Lego and Playmobil as they are so expensive and we invested hugely in all 3. Keeping them for the grandchildren. If you do sell, don't let them go cheaply, you can get good prices on Ebay.

[hiddenhome]

Yes, the toyage volume does contract at about age 9-10 as they switch to electronic stuff.

Ds2 is 9 and has lots of Lego and two pirate ships.

Ds1 is 15 and his room is delightfully minimalist

[specialmagiclady]

God every time you mention a toy I realise I've got rid of one - castle, pirate ship, happy land stuff... I am an evil toy-discarding witch! (Need to get Generous Uncle Who Never Sees Them to calm down on the presents...)