What are your rules when it comes to a pre xmas toy clear out?

[Charlee]

Christmas is looming fast and i know my kids are going to be showered with toys from family and friends.

Our Playroom is already bursting with toys i desperatley need a clear out.

Everytime i attemot to do it i pitifull throw out a few broken bits but the majority is still there.

I have to ds's so i use the theory of well whatever ds1 doesn't play with ds2 will be soon.

I have no loft space or storage so i can't just store things for a later date.

What plan do you work by to have a proper tidy out?

if they are too old for it i charity shop it, if they haven;t played with it for a long time (like a year or so) i charity shop it. But whatever you do DON'T leave the unplayed iwth toys lying around, they become played with toys!

What we did once when ds2 was a baby, we asked ds1 to choose 5 toys from a pre selected pile to give to children that didn't have many toys.

I know i need to get up and do it, its painfull some of the toys we have payed for (i.e and lovley hobby horse) ans ds was scared of it so it has never been played with! along with a giant stuffed postman pat, ihate getting rid of unused things!

Can you ebay them? Less guilt about wasted money?

Remember, it's not a waste of money selling them / giving them away. The money has already gone a long time ago. You are helping yourself by clearing out - more space, less mess!

I have just had a big clear out, including toys which do get played with, but not much, or toys which are very similar to others. Still have too many left, but it's a start!

I have 3 boys and have just had a big clear out. All the toys that were a bit too young for them went, and any duplicates. We had 5 fire engines, and I know ds3 has another one coming for Christmas so 3 of them went!
I give the younger toys to the toddler group, and then others get sold for the pre-school.