How do you declutter toys?

[toomuchtoys]

My 2 year old has way too many toys. It will be his birthday in August and I am trying to go through everything and decide what can go.

I can easily see what his favourite are toys from what he plays with the most so it’s obvious to keep those.

Toys that are broken/have missing parts are going to go. That’s easy enough.

But what about the toys that were gifts and are still in the packaging as I put them away until later as he had so many?
What about the toys that he rarely plays with at home but seems to love when we go to play areas?
How do you decide which of the many, many cars/trucks ect. to keep? 🙈🙈

You can regift the presents, as long as you don't give them back to the same person! Otherwise, if they are new and unopened you could donate to a food bank or Christmas toy organisation. Or save one or two and take on holiday with you.

If there's simply too much 'stuff', put a load in boxes in the loft. If he doesn't appear to miss them, you can get rid after a reasonable amount of time. Some of them can go to grandparents' homes, especially if they bought them, so your dc can play with them there. It also helps stop the DGPs from buying loads more!

Ruthlessly… but cowardly

I also keep a stash hidden on death row until a suitable amount of time has passed for me to be able to get rid.

Also identify the ones that annoy you the most- the ones where they play an awful tune for example- and donate or sell them!

I donate them to women's refuges

Still in package stuff seems prime for regifting (just remember who gave it to you on the first place!)

I would donate the toys still in packaging to a charity shop.

He won't miss them, he's going to get more, and perhaps a kid with fewer toys will get something "new" to play with, or a Christmas toy collection. But put them to good use.

The rest just whittle down.

I used to put aside a bag and get tid of books, toys, they didn't show much interest in. Jigsaws, teddies (although admittedly this was a hard one, I am blaming Toy Story entirely for this), cars, train set, everything went.

Will he remember them? Repackage them for birthday or Christmas to save some money?

Do NCT still do nearly new sales? Just price the boxed stuff slightly higher than the used stuff. Thrown broken stuff away unless it can be obviously recycled. NCT used to offer to take anything unsold to the charity shop afterwards, or you can go back at the end and collect it yourself. but if you just want it out of the house then no need.

I take big ziploc bags and pack the toys in complete sets whenever possible. Relatively easy with toddler wooden puzzles, busy boards, cooking sets etc. Same for small plastic characters like Sylvanian Families, Peppa Pig, Gabby's Dollhouse etc. These get bundled with any big playhouses and donated.

Really cheap plasticky things like blind box toys, LOL dolls, Happy Meal or Kinder Surprise toys etc go in the trash. We try to keep those to a minimum to begin with. Same for all randoms "bits" that are unlikely to be played with again like single felt tip markers, toy shoes, doll accessories etc.

Legos and Duplos are always worth keeping. They genuinely last for generations. I read someplace that many charities or refuges don't accept stuffed animals due to hygiene reasons?