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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To donate toys DC got for Christmas that they haven't played with

24 replies

afizzysweet · 06/02/2022 16:45

Just before anyone assumes I have ungrateful children, they're under 3, didn't get millions of things for Christmas.

DC got some lovely gifts for Christmas and I am really grateful for people getting them gifts. They didn't get piles of toys, but do have a few favourites (these were the things that I suggested to family that they get because they're really in to these things at the moment). However some gifts haven't been looked at much since Christmas and aren't small, they take up a lot of room. I'd rather donate these but I don't know if I'm being awful 1. To my dc but 2. To the people that got them (I think they were last minute purchases, hadn't asked me what sort of thing DCs like, or a gift that is a PITA with 10000 pieces). Is this horrible? Should I just find somewhere to put them for 6 months then bring them out?

Kids accumulate so many things, I prefer not to have stuff lying around if they don't engage with them.

OP posts:

JustBlethering · 06/02/2022 16:47

It depends who the gifts are from and if they'll notice

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/02/2022 16:47

It's only been a month.

Box up some well played with toys and they'll soon refocus their attention.

Then rotate the toys round.

HairyScaryMonster · 06/02/2022 16:54

If they're not likely to become interested, I'd get rid, otherwise if you have somewhere to store them for a couple of months I'd do that.

Original poster

afizzysweet · 06/02/2022 16:55

It depends who the gifts are from and if they'll notice

Extended family that literally never come to our home. I must say I was a bit gutted as I asked what their children might like for christmas in October...and was a bit shocked when we got something kind of random/slightly hazardous (so many small parts). I'm also pretty sure that the other gift (from another family member) was re-gift as I've seen it before and all of a sudden it's not in their house any more.

*It's only been a month.

Box up some well played with toys and they'll soon refocus their attention.

Then rotate the toys round.*

They are very attached to the other toys, take them to bed, want to take them everywhere so couldn't do that. I know it's a bit soon so not sure if I'm being rash but I don't have much storage space in our home for things that aren't played with so wasn't sure if I was being OTT.

OP posts:

Dishwashersaurous · 06/02/2022 16:57

It's only been a month.

Put them in the back of a cupboard and on a cold wet day when you are bored bring them out

Danikm151 · 06/02/2022 16:58

Rotation for toys. My son got toys xmas 2020 that he is only showing interest in now.
He’s 2 next month.
At that age interest change so much!

HollowTalk · 06/02/2022 16:59

Could you ask a food bank if they're interested in having them? They could give them as birthday or Christmas presents.

JustBlethering · 06/02/2022 17:01

I'd donate them then

Original poster

afizzysweet · 06/02/2022 17:01

Could you ask a food bank if they're interested in having them? They could give them as birthday or Christmas presents.

This is what I was thinking of doing, somebody out there would be made up I'm sure.

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of storage space to do toy rotation.

OP posts:

DysmalRadius · 06/02/2022 17:04

I can't be doing with keeping toys for years in case they suddenly show an interest - I'd pass them on to someone who would get the use out of them now and feel good about it!

Mamma43435 · 06/02/2022 17:10

Donate them! If you don't have space and they aren't played with, they are a hazard save the gifters nor the recipients will notice, then there's no reason to keep them. And they might make another kid very happy.

Mamma43435 · 06/02/2022 17:11

*and, not save 🙄

Original poster

afizzysweet · 06/02/2022 17:37

Thanks guys, feeling much less guilty, will donate to the local food bank or similar.

OP posts:

PlinkPlankPlunk · 06/02/2022 17:40

I think YABU - kids change so quickly and it’s really good for their development to play with diffferent things. It’ll be great later on in the year for them to have new toys to stimulate them.

I haven’t used everything I got for Christmas myself - I don’t want to get rid of stuff though. I’ll use it all through the year and it’ll be lovely to new things!

XiCi · 06/02/2022 17:45

I wait till the next Xmas and anything not opened gets donated to the mayor's toy appeal. I usually have quite a big bag of stuff each year to donate

alfreddo87 · 06/02/2022 21:08

My kids are 3 and 2 and every birthday and Christmas they get an obscene amount of toys. Generally I screen them prior and decide what I want them to actually get. Any clothes or toys that I think aren't suitable I give to local food bank/charity shop or local toy appeal.

There are a lot of kids out there who receive very little at Xmas, and this way parents who can't afford it can gift new and unused items to their kids. Its not about being ungrateful, it's about recognising as a parent that your child can't possibly play with all these toys and refusing to have your house cluttered up with crap that you don't want.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 06/02/2022 21:23

I pass lots on to charity shops… some I don’t even let them get out and pass on new

Original poster

afizzysweet · 07/02/2022 08:23

I think YABU - kids change so quickly and it’s really good for their development to play with diffferent things. It’ll be great later on in the year for them to have new toys to stimulate them.

They have birthdays in 3 months time so they'll be getting plenty then I'm sure, I wouldn't make them go without.

OP posts:

PickledOnionSandwich · 07/02/2022 08:26

That’s so mean, they’re not even your to give away. Get rid of some of your stuff if you need to free up some more space.

Pegasussnail · 07/02/2022 08:26

I put unopened toys in with the Christmas decorations and I donate to the toy appeal each Christmas

After a month I wouldn't get rid of them but if you want to don't feel bad. We have room to store stuff. If you don't get rid

PickledOnionSandwich · 07/02/2022 08:28

Oh and by the way. I gave some stuff to my sister which was never used/played with and it was hurtful and insulting. I don’t bother now so people are likely to notice.

Ossoduro · 07/02/2022 08:32

If you know your children aren’t going to play with something I always think the sooner you donate it the better. Otherwise unplayed with toys still get ‘spread’ around the house so you just constantly tidy up stuff they haven’t actually played with. And whilst being spread around the house the unplayed with toys lose their newness and/or get damaged, particularly the ones with a million pieces. They will make more in a charity shop if they are still new or newish and are less likely to end up straight in landfill.

Ossoduro · 07/02/2022 08:34

Also, the more cluttered your house is with toys the more confusing the children find it and struggle to select what they actually want to play with. Less is definitely more!

phoenixrosehere · 07/02/2022 08:39

YANBU.

My sons (7 &4) have been playing with the same train set since Christmas 2020, oldest birthday is a little over a month from Christmas and the youngest is a little over 2 months from Christmas. DH & I come from large families and I can honestly say that 98% of the toys they have have been gifts from our family members. Out of all these toys, they only play with 3% of it and that 3% can be happily played with for years to come so transitioning out is unlikely to happen nor are people going to stop giving them toys despite them asking us abs us telling them to please not to abs they do so anyway.

I’m doing a clear out and most of it is going since most have not been opened or played with despite it being there for them to choose, will notice is gone nor will any family members notice since we live 5+ hours away from them.

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