Too many toys?

[UndertheCedartree]

I have a volunteer come over to my house once a week to help me with sorting the house/bills/benefits. She has mentioned a few times how many toys my daughter (7) has (when helping with something in the house, not just randomly out the blue!).

She does have a lot of toys but then kids do have a lot these days. She doesn't appear to have more than her friends - in fact some definitely have more due to having more space for toys. Dd only has a small bedroom although there are also toys in the living room.

Does this sound like a huge amount?

Living room
Toy buggy, crib, 4 baby dolls, little plastic drawers with dolls clothes/accessories in.
Toy chest containing - marble run, box with arts and crafts bits in, box with painting stuff in.
Part of shelf unit with tree blocks, toy animals and tea set. Pencils/felt tips and a few colouring books and sticker books. Some non-fiction/educational books and magazines.

Bedroom
2 small dolls houses with some furniture and people, a magnetic doll dressing up set and an ice cream play set. 4 trays - 1 with barbie type dolls, clothes and accessories, 1 with my little ponies, 1 with bits and pieces, 1 with card games.
4 boxes - 1 with lego, 1 with jigsaws, 1 with Leapfrog leapreader books, 1 with Orchard games.
Bed has lots of cuddly toys and underneath 4 playmobil sets.
2 large toy baskets - one with dressing up clothes and one with 6 large dolls.
A small bookshelf with fiction books.
There are also quite a number of boardgames on top of her wardrobe.

Dd has an older brother so these toys have accumulated over his lifetime and added to with new things for Dd.

Has she got far too much and I should look at reducing the toys? Or is it a reasonable amount?

That's a lot compared to my DS. But we live in a tiny house so we have to be minimalist. He has a big log basket in the living room and one drawer in his bedroom. Rule is, if it doesn't fit in one or the other, something else has to go to make room. Bike, paddling pool etc. live in the shed.

It’s all relative though isn’t it? If most people she helps only have 1 doll and that’s it then you are going to look like loads in comparison.
Also if you are saying you can only afford beans but a new toy appears each week then that may raise a few eyebrows.

Does she play with them all ?

What does too many mean? Too many to play with at once, too many that she's overstimulated? Its so subjective, but if it's struck a chord with you maybe you could give some away, i personally want to let my kids donate toys to those less fortunate when theyre older so they learn a bit about the ways of the world and compassion etc, maybe you could look into this if of interest? X

She’s out there to comment on your home ,she’s there to help you,getting you worried over to many toys is not helping you.
Ask for a different volunteer

Not there

Doesn't sound to much to me although my house is like a toy shop with toys in literally every room. I do have DD2 now though so am reluctant to start chucking out as a lot will be good for her too.

If she plays with all of it, then there's no problem. It's a lot but if you have the space and she has the interest, then you're all good.

Compared to my ds7 it's a lot. But when dd was that age she had quite a lot so maybe it's a girl thing to have more, as they tend to play with dolls more. Dolls and dolls houses have so many accessories you'd need an extension to accommodate them. Dd had 2 dolls houses for sylvanians and lots of sylvanians families, Barbies, bratz, large dolls, teddies etc... So I'd say she had pretty much the same as your dd.

@brieandchilli - no, I don't buy for her all the time. The toys have mainly come through birthdays and Christmases (quite a few wealthy relatives) - I did buy sometimes other than that when I was working but broke now!

@Starlight456 - yes, although some more than others. She is particularly obsessed with her baby dolls right now and arts and crafts.

Jackie2205 - I'm not sure what it means! I guess that's why I started this thread. Her room is pretty full and she gets it in a terrible mess so maybe that they are a lot to tidy up? A lot for her to look after? Or does she mean she is too spolied? We always do a toy clear out before birthday/Christmas and give some toys to charity.