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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

..to not understand how people keep their DC's toys pristine, with all the bits and generally pass onable

69 replies

idiuntno57 · 07/10/2013 19:54

With x4 DC I appreciate that toys get a bit of a bashing in our house.

But even when they are new within minutes they've been deconstructed, turned into a different game, been sat on, sucked up by the hoover etc. etc.

I have friends who appear to be able to sell toys their kids have grown out of on eBay. Despite spending my life rebuilding Tracey Island, going through the hoover bag for bits of playmobil and putting the coins back in the toy till I doubt I'd get takers on freecycle.

AIBU to think that actually they just wave the toys in front of their kids, wrap them back up and then pop them in a cupboard so they can stay nice?

OP posts:

HicDraconis · 07/10/2013 19:58

YABU, sorry. Toys here get well and truly played with!

We have a basic rule that if you've finished playing with something, it all goes back in the box before you get the next thing out.

Currently have a cupboard full of outgrown toys still in good enough condition to ebay (giving them to a colleague with new baby).

LunaticFringe · 07/10/2013 20:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Writerwannabe83 · 07/10/2013 20:00

YABU - there is no reason why games and toys shouldn't be kept in good condition. Children should play nicely with them. When I was a child, if I'd tried to 'deconstruct' a toy I'm pretty sure my parents would have deconstructed me!

CoffeeTea103 · 07/10/2013 20:01

Yabu, if kids are taught to take care of their toys they really do start taking care of them. Maybe not have all toys out at one go. Let them play with a few, put that away and then take more to play with.

CreatureRetorts · 07/10/2013 20:01

YANBU. My ds loves to take things apart - to see whats inside. I suspect he'll be an engineer or something when older. We tidy up afterwards but none of this "back pristine into original packaging" madness. a bit uptight if you ask me

Meglet · 07/10/2013 20:02

Yanbu.

The dc's have lost or broken parts within minutes of a toy being in the house. I was able to keep it under control when they were small as I could tidy up during nap time, but it all went wrong once they were awake all day.

Mine are very creative. They don't use a toy for what it is intended for either. It all gets yanked out, mixed up and evolves into an invention or new game.

This is why I love Lego. It's impossible to break and if you lose one bit it doesn't ruin the whole set.

Original poster

idiuntno57 · 07/10/2013 20:05

maybe its a gender thing.

My DC are all DS

OP posts:

stargirl1701 · 07/10/2013 20:06

YABU. Only put out a few toys at any time, have a rule about putting every toy away before getting out another one, have a designated mat for playwork and do toy rotation so you are 'putting away' toys regularly and therefore checking them.

It's how I work in my classroom so I just have the same system at home.

Hulababy · 07/10/2013 20:06

DD has always been light on her toys, in that they always stay looking nice, most of the pieces remain where they should be, and can't think of much, if anything that's been broken. She has always played with things a lot, but is just careful and not heavy handed with them I guess. Same with books - despite being read several times, thy still look in great condition.

We have sold plenty of her old, grown out of toys. Given away many books, etc. too.

Meglet · 07/10/2013 20:11

It dawned on me the other day that the mini jenga was never actually played with as jenga. They used it for dominoes, walls, footpaths for lego people etc. Once it's been grabbed and scattered between several boxes / behind sofas / under beds it's impossible to get it organised again.

Ideally I would have had a cupboard with a lock so I could keep toys out of reach and rotate them.

noisytoys · 07/10/2013 20:13

My DCs don't have loads and loads if toys and they only get new toys at birthdays and Christmas. They treasure them and treat them well because they know they won't just be replaced if they are trashed.

jenniferalisonphillipasue · 07/10/2013 20:13

YANBU
With 4 dc you have more important things to worry about and get on with with than toy rotation. I have 4 too. I can ask them to tidy up and they will but it won't be put back incredibly nicely. Like you mine tend to play with a lot of things in a different way than it was originally intended I like to think they are creative!
There are a few things which have stood the test of time such as mega blocks and lego. Our playmobil has been going strong for 4 years now and although there are plenty of bits missing it still has lots of play value.

OctoberNights · 07/10/2013 20:13

I think a lot depends on the quality of the toy.

My DC's had one's that belonged to me and their Dads. These have been packed away now they are past the toy stage together with a few of the DC's toys, and will be passed onto the GC's

I had to chuck loads of their stuff because it was played to death with and only fit for the bin

But a toy is never an investment so if it happens to last and you want to sell it on ebay fair do's

Although I would get a written contract from your child that they are happy for it to be sold (still bitter my dolls pram was sold when my parents thought I'd outgrown it and they pocketed the money......it was mine!)

slightlysoupstained · 07/10/2013 20:17

I was hard on toys when younger, but as I got older & more conscious of what things cost, I got much more cautious. To the extent where I didn't really enjoy some of my toys as much as I should have. (e.g. trying to avoid using up more than a tiny amount from chemistry set).

Toys are for playing with. Some kids are harder than others on their toys, but it doesn't really matter as long as they're playing.

And no, has nothing to do with gender (with obvious exception of parents who demand their daughters be dainty & allow sons to be messy).

SoftSheen · 07/10/2013 20:18

YANBU. You have 4 DC!

I manage to keep DD's toys relatively pristine ish , but that it because I currently have only one child.

CreatureRetorts · 07/10/2013 20:18

Sounds like my ds Meglet. Ds loves Lego! He has playmobil and decided to remove the hair from the figures to see what they looked like inside. He takes boxes of puzzles and creates a fire rescue scenario for example. It's amazing to watch his imagination flow!

Original poster

idiuntno57 · 07/10/2013 20:18

thing is I don't want to sell it. Or treat home like school by supervising a play mat. I see my kids playing with the toys and I am happy.

I am just perplexed/impressed at those who manage to keep stuff intact. I think they must have very tidy pants drawers.

OP posts:

stargirl1701 · 07/10/2013 20:24

You now how it's done though which was your AIBU. If it doesn't suit, that's fine. But, it can be done...with up to 33 children

comewinewithmoi · 07/10/2013 20:24

Just let their imaginations flow...mine too use toys for other things or have done.

stargirl1701 · 07/10/2013 20:24

*know

wannabedomesticgoddess · 07/10/2013 20:33

YANBU. DD1 is well known as not being a toy kinda child. Books yes, but she would rather be talking to anyone who will listen than playing with her toys. But all of the toys that were ever bought for her have been trashed.

DD2 is only 11months, but already I can tell she will play endlessly with hers, and I hope that will mean they are better taken care of too!

Bunbaker · 07/10/2013 20:40

All of DD's old toys are in good enough condition to sell. I wasn't precious with her, she just wasn't destructive.

Pixel · 07/10/2013 20:55

Ds has lots of toys in perfect condition. I wish he would play with them but he has ASD and just isn't interested. I feel sad putting them on ebay marked 'as new', and actually the school jumble sale has done quite well out of us over the years!
Mind you, I have to say Dd always looked after her toys too, I can't think of anything that she broke, and lots of ds's things were inherited from her anyway.

yonisareforever · 07/10/2013 20:57

I had to laugh at this! I am struggling to keep the bits together every day let alone to get them back out to sell! we have those stacking ring things, and only has two rings on each one!

yonisareforever · 07/10/2013 20:58

It is most definalty NOT a gender thing.

!!!!!!!!!

Its a person thing just as some people who are men you know may be messy and some women you know may be messy.

my DC are girls. we have the same problem.

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