How to manage the kids toys?

[hermionieweasley]

I have two DS, 3.5 and 1 years.

DS1 has loads of toys in his bedroom and conservatory, and the majority of them he never plays with. We have big garages, pirate ships, happy valley, farms, animals, paw patrol, jigsaws, board games, ice cream vans, tills, plastic tat.. it's all too much, he isn't interested in it, doesn't choose to play with any of it other than his Disney cars which he wants to play with allll of the time.

Should I donate the toys to charity, or keep back for DS2? DS2 also not interested in the toys, other than what DS1 is holding! We don't have loads of room, and the majority were gifts at bday and Xmas from grandparents and relatives. They're lovely quality and no reason why they shouldn't be played with, I just can't get either of my DS interested.

Shall I give them all away? Would I regret and end up spending more on toys? Both boys love being around people, and would much rather play hide and seek, dig for worms or go to the playground over playing in the house.

How long do you hoard toys for 'just in case'?

Tidy them up and put them away, store for a ‘rainy day’. Children change. When my children were young we used to keep a box of ‘unwanted toys’ (mainly gifts) at my mother’s house and they loved playing with them even when they got older.

Have you tried putting some away and rotating them? Bringing out old toys after hiding them away for a while makes them seem new and exciting again. I find having too many toys out is quite overwhelming, where as a few at a time means children play with them.

Bring out one at a time. So change it up every two weeks or so. They are often overwhelmed when there is too many. When you bring out a new one act all excited as if you are just back from the toyshop. I would give ds2 more time to get interested but stash most away. If there is a rainy day or they are particularly restless go to our toy stash and make a big drama of selecting something else. It might whet their appetite for it.

Good idea- will have to make room for them in a cupboard somewhere