To donate a load of our Christmas gifts to homestart?

[Skatingonthinice16]

It seems ungrateful but oh my god we are drowning under stuff. Normally we don't have this much but everyone seems to have been very generous this year. Also we now have two kids...

Dd (one last week) now has six very similar 'my first dolls', two doll's prams, four wooden pull along toys, three shape sorters, three ring stackers, three of the same leapfrog toys, two push along walkers and loads of bath toys.

Ds (7) has several craft type sets which look lovely but I know he will never use, several duplicate books, some games which look too young for him, two electronic animated cuddly pet things which I know will never come out the box and three small duplicated Lego sets.

I didn't have much for Christmas and what I did have I asked for and the same with dh. I did receive a couple of things which, whilst kind, aren't to my taste so I'd probably take those things too.

We have so much stuff. We are drowning in stuff. It's making me feel edgy and the kids can't see what they have. It seems so ungrateful to take it all down to homestart but if I keep it it will only languish in cupboards for a year or so before the same thing happens anyway and during that time it's all stuff that is taking up space. And we don't have much space. Some of the homestart families struggle for toys, books etc and that's where I'd like to take it.

Aibu? It feels wrong in some ways and right in others! We already had a pre Christmas clear out and I took some stuff then and gave some to charity shops but I wasn't anticipating this amount of gifts. When people had asked what we wanted for dd we'd said clothes in the next size up but understandably people like to give children toys don't they? So she's hardly had any clothes but loads and loads and loads of toys.

[Lilaclily]

Yanbu, lovely idea

[Unluckycat1]

I think it's a great idea.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Don't feel guilty, it's a good thing to do. Home start will really appreciate them

I used to feel guilty about charity shopping gifts so quickly but this year I had a bag waiting in the hall on Christmas day!

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

Sounds a lovely idea OP. You'd need to get the children 'on board' with the idea (as it's their stuff) - but def. do it if you can.

[nocutsnobuttsnococonuts]

I think its a lovely idea, the amount of stuff at Christmas can be very overwhelming especially for little ones. :)

[LilQueenie]

definitely yes to the duplicates. Maybe sit down with your dc and attempt a craft though.

[Skatingonthinice16]

Well dd won't really notice as she's too small... ds may well not either. They are spoilt really! It's made me realise that I definitely need to buy hardly anything next year as they have too much. It's not good for them and it stops them being able to play properly as they can't find anything!

[StrongerThanIThought76]

I benefited from HomeStart support when my two were tiny and later joined them to support other families in my area. Your gifts will be very gratefully received and distributed to such appreciative families who can find christmas so challenging in so many ways.

YADNBU. Wonderful idea.

[Skatingonthinice16]

I've tried with ds and craft before. He doesn't want to do it. Has to be cajoled. Then walks off after two minutes leaving me to do the craft and tidy up.
He's had some book vouchers which are very appreciated and some new games which he's enjoying and some army figures and Lego. I know him well enough to know most other things won't get a look in... he isn't easy to buy for really.

[Gingernaut]

I've been to the Boots sale and used some of my points on the No7 Beauty Haul gift.

I specifically did this as a gift to the Friends group of a local hospital.

Every time they appeal for raffle gifts they get the most unimaginable toot going.

They have to drag out electrical goods from the 70s, old jigsaws, poorly looked after CDs, DVDs - you get the picture.

They've even gone to the trouble of getting stuff PAT tested, counting the jigsaw pieces and reasssuring people it's OK.

I just thought they could do with something half decent so they could sell a few more tickets.

OP, it's a lovely idea. If you can keep thing in the original boxes, that'll be even better.

[Skatingonthinice16]

I think dd has ended up with so much because her birthday is Christmas Eve. So it's a double amount of gifts. Hence the amount of dolls...

[RatOnnaStick]

We will do the same. Nobody needs 3 domino runs and 4 remote control cars, especially not us!

[CommonSenseIsNotAllThatCommon]

What a lovely kind person you are. You have inspired me to do the same. There's toys and books upstairs in perfect condition that could surely bring joy to someone instead of languishing on a shelf.

[WorraLiberty]

I'd take the baby's stuff but I'd speak to your 7yr old rather than just taking his Christmas presents.

Or at least give the presents a chance to languish in the cupboards and take them in a month, if they haven't been played with.

The wrapping paper is barely off of them yet.

[grandmainmypocket]

It's a lovely idea and doesn't sound ungrateful.
Women's refuges are also a great place.

[Alittlebitofthis]

Great idea! Ds got 3 presents the same so might do something similar with the duplicates too.

[EveOnline2016]

Look at this way, why leave toys not played with and unloved while there is a child out there with next to nothing who will play with and appricated them.

< think I been watching to much toy story >

[PeachBellini123]

OP and Ginger - what a lovely thing to do

[Poole5]

Do you really need to ask if YABU in this matter?

[dingdongthewitchishere]

I would absolutely get rid of the duplicates! You are very kind, I just sell mine the kids and use the money for something else later (soft play, or clothes for next season).

Anything helping kids who have nothing is a better idea.

I would also put some of their toys aways to be played with later, kids tend to enjoy having new toys to play with regularly when you rotate them.

[PerspicaciaTick]

I think it is a lovely idea - especially where the toys are complete duplicates.

However as it is going to be another year before DD gets any more gifts (as she doesn't have a birthday before next Christmas) I would be tempted to put a few items to one side to give her in the summer as a surprise when she might be looking for something different to play with - obviously only works with toys that are similar but not identical.

[timelytess]

Never part with Lego. Ever.
Think carefully. What proportion of your children's things to you want to give away? 20%? Then give away 20% of your stuff, also.
Set a good example to your children, let them see you decide between what you need or really want, and what you don't.
Then ask them to do the same. Stick by their decisions. Let's say they don't want something expensive and important to you, but belonging to them, let it go.
The entire family will benefit from this excellent practice.

Whereas if you just ditch any amount of their stuff that you don't want, that's entirely different.

[Benedikte2]

Put the odd toy away which would make a good birthday gift for a little friend -- no point in buying something new if you can regift it.
If you consult with your DS re craft stuff be careful what you say or he'll be offending the givers by blurting out what has happened to their gifts. Or you could try to return some and have him choose what he'd like.
Maybe make clothing gifts more attractive next year by suggesting themed clothing eg DS would love something with Pokemon or Spider-Man etc.

[WorraLiberty]

How is it very kind to get rid of someone else's brand new Christmas presents, without discussing it with them first? Obviously I'm talking about the 7yr old, not the baby.

People up and down the land clear out their cupboards and drop their clutter off to charity, on a daily basis.

But hopefully nothing belonging to anyone else without their knowledge.

My parents used to give us an empty cardboard box to fill with toys we no longer played with, when having a clear out. I think they got donated to the local children's home.

[BWatchWatcher]

I siphon off the presents they are not interested in or doubles and then either charity shop them or wait until the toy collection for xmas the following year. That way someone gets the benefit. If there is a particular present that they would notice vanishing(one year my DS got a giant gun, he doesn't like guns) then I pay them ten pounds or so for it.