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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Keeping toys for possible future grandchildren

116 replies

Lovedecorations · 05/11/2023 20:05

What are your opinions on this.

We've been slowly decluttering over the year after h finding ourselves with a house full of 'stuff'.

We've done really well, sold loads and made a few hundred pounds.

We sorted out our loft at New Year, it was completely ridiculous. Did really well and got rid of so much. Decided to keep a few classic toys incase we have have dgc.

Things like Lego Duplo, Happyland Farm, dinosaurs, a toy kitchen, shopping trolley.

The truth is though that eldest is only a teen so realistically we are years off if ever having grandchildren. So are we being silly keeping these things for years and years?

Having another sort through ahead of Christmas so should make a decision.

OP posts:
DuploTrain · 05/11/2023 20:30

If you have space it might be worth keeping some.

My toddler DS is now playing with my childhood toys - duplo, playmobil, doll’s pram.

Maybe not the toy kitchen unless it’s particularly nice/ has sentimental value as it’ll take up much more space.

HighInTheHills · 05/11/2023 20:31

Should have said, my mum kept Lego, duplo, brio, all our wooden animals and building blocks, wooden puzzles, handmade Waldorf dolls, wooden cot , books etc She also said that these things were expensive when we were little (I'm 39) and it wasn't as easy to sell things on and make any money as it is nowadays. My children are still playing with most of the above, plus more old toys, but so far I have packed up wooden baby toys in my attic.

She also saved the beautiful hand knitted/handmade baby clothes that we wore as children and I have saved these again for mine, plus added to it with handmade things my children were gifted. I absolutely loved being able to dress my babies in clothes that were mine

Original poster
Lovedecorations · 05/11/2023 20:31

aveline161 · 05/11/2023 20:26

I would say just keep it very minimal, plan to keep it at your house not dump it on future S/DIL, don’t be sad if they then decide to dump it after you held on to it for 30 years.

edited to add- I am now the child having to get rid of things from my childhood I didn’t think I’d have to worry about and it’s really hard and making me sad

Edited

Oh gosh yes absolutely.

I can just imagine me being the mil from hell dumping all this old stuff on my dc and their partners 🤣

It would definitely only be for when these hypothetical grandchildren visited.

OP posts:
chrisrobin · 05/11/2023 20:31

My parents kept some of my toys in the loft, unfortunately the hard plastic toys like the My Little Pony castle and Big Yellow Teapot degraded with the temperature changes and became brittle, so my DC couldn't use them. Some of the other toys (Lego, ponies, playmobil...) were fine as were the books. I keep selected items from my boys but not too much as it may not last and space is limited.

Flittingaboutagain · 05/11/2023 20:32

My two have been playing with forty five year old toys this weekend. It's an absolute joy to watch toys from our own childhoods being played with by our own kids. Keep them!

Tryingandfailingagain · 05/11/2023 20:33

LittleMooli · 05/11/2023 20:24

I would say don't tell your children you have done this unless they ask. I used to really struggle with my parents assumption that there would be grandkids. Luckily for them there are now but it didn't look promising for a while.

To be honest I agree with this somewhat. My mil and I have a surface deep relationship. It irks me that she has kept all baby equipment from when dh and I had our first child to our now third (9 year age gap between first and last) … and I cannot put my finger on it. It’s the presumption that it might be needed again that bothers me, I guess.

It has been long, long evident that her own daughter will not be having any children.

Original poster
Lovedecorations · 05/11/2023 20:36

GwenGhost · 05/11/2023 20:30

I think the question you have to ask is , what will this item look like after 20years in whatever conditions you can store it in.
So yes to duplo, lego and brio in solid plastic crates in an Attic.
No to a particle board kitchen that’s going to be stored in a damp shed. No to a plastic shopping trolley or aluminum + plastic + nylon dolls pushchair that will get brittle over time and be a hazard by the time grandkids are old enough to use it.
I’d donate stuff that’s in great shape now but won’t be in 20years. you could try calling playgroups, nurseries or primary schools.

The kitchen is an early learning centre plastic one which was sort of why we kept it. It's quite compact.

You are right about not keeping things that will deteriorate.

Think we just need to comb through it again and be sure what's worth keeping and what's not. I realise it's pointless keeping things that will be no good when they could be used now by another child.

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 05/11/2023 20:37

My in laws kept a few choice toys. It was great - they may have had to wait 30 years but the toys were well enjoyed by their grandkids and brought back memories to their kids.

Mum37457 · 05/11/2023 20:37

We were passed on a huge bag of Lego - the woman who gave it to us had bought it for her son, and then it was used by her grandkids.

My MIL also kept DH's brio and Thomas sets that DS used.

Yes keep it! 😁

readingmakesmehappy · 05/11/2023 20:40

If you have space, keep it! My folks have Lego, Duplo, Playmobil, Brio... DCs and DNS really look forward to playing with it all when they go.

kitsuneghost · 05/11/2023 20:40

If you have time and storage then I would vox up the classic and expensive stuff like Lego and collectibles like dinosaurs and cars.

I wouldn't keep the kitchen and trolley etc.. if it is just plastic. Only if it was handmade.

Bournetilly · 05/11/2023 20:41

I’d keep the Duplo/ Lego as it’s a classic and holds its value. I wouldn’t keep the rest, especially not a shopping trolley as they are cheap to buy.

Gobolino80 · 05/11/2023 20:42

Keep it. I recently became a Grandma and really wish I'd kept the kids toys. And books! I've re bought all of the favourites and am kicking myself for being so ruthless with the de cluttering, I didn't keep anything.

Haveyouseenthemuffinman · 05/11/2023 20:43

My inlaws loft was a shrine to their kids. Loads of toys up there. But 40 year old playmobil isn’t something that has aged well, and whilst the small box of Lego is nice for when we visit, overwhelmingly our visits are now just times for DH to deal with the 30 year old exercise books/old cot/etc that had been put away for safe keeping. Given that DH was 7 when they moved into that house, and was clearly the last child, it feels odd to me that it was kept on. But they’re neat hoarders.

The only thing my parents kept were a few favourite books, but by nature of being favourites, most of them are falling to pieces 40 years later.

Olika · 05/11/2023 20:49

My parents kept ours from 80s and 90s and now my DD is playing with them so if you have space for some toys then I would keep some.

Louise303 · 05/11/2023 20:50

My eldest is having first baby I love the idea of keeping there toys we have a 27 year old teddy that will be passed down.

Helenahandkart · 05/11/2023 20:50

Try to keep stuff in the main house rather than attic/cellar if you can. It will stop it from deteriorating.

AuntBeef · 05/11/2023 20:52

I am keeping duplo and lego and probably a few dolls.

AncientBallerina · 05/11/2023 20:53

i absolutely loved seeing my children and my nephews playing with our old toys in my parents house. Keep things that will last well. It’s just lovely and eco friendly 😊 I was less keen on being given very old stuff by other relatives…

muchalover · 05/11/2023 20:54

Kept quite a bit and GS lives his Harry Potter car and figures (some were still in the packet), gremlin, dinosaurs and Thomas the tank. Teletubbies and Tweenies not so much so will need to get rid - back packs and cuddlies that are like new because my kids rarely damaged anything.

Wish I'd kept the millennium falcon though.

SpacePotato · 05/11/2023 20:55

I wouldn't keep the kitchen and trolley.

Think whether you are keeping them for the 'grandkids' or if you are keeping them because you're not ready to let go.

None of the things you've mentioned would be expensive to replace.

If you can store stuff in a damp free environment and have the space, I suppose it makes no difference.
Just make sure it is clean before putting away.

Catopia · 05/11/2023 20:56

My parents kept the toys that were special or timeless - favourite books, duplo, and wooden toys that my grandfather made, and also things like farmyard animals, dinosaurs (there was also a farm that my grandfather made, but we decided to sadly say goodbye to it in the move as the exposed nails meant it would probably not meet requisite DGC health and safety standards!). They also kept baby clothes knitted by my nanny.

Gymmum82 · 05/11/2023 20:58

My mum has kept a lot of toys from my childhood and it is an absolute joy to see my children play with the things I loved. I definitely intend to keep some bits for the grandkids

Rockandgrohl · 05/11/2023 20:59

My kids play with my 30odd year old Lego, duplo & Playmobil when they are at my parents house!
there are also loads of puppy in my pockets and sylvanians which brought a lot of nostalgia for me but aren’t as loved or played with sadly.
my son also has a handmade wooden farm at our house that belonged to my DP. Love reusing this kind of stuff. Sad that I have v limited storage so probably won’t be able to store much for my own hypothetical grandkids! Might have to send it all to my parents house To go in their loft 😂

ColleenDonaghy · 05/11/2023 21:00

My mum kept a few bits and I love seeing my DC play with it. All plastic stuff that could be washed and so was perfectly fine after 30 years in the attic (my old doll faired less well and so only came out once - frankly we were lucky to get away without nightmares).