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Original poster

Toys - is it "inevitable"..............

42 replies

HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 30/12/2005 21:01

that with a (boisterous and active) 2yr old and a 5yr old that they're definitely going to lose bits and get broken, despite any efforts you go to to keep things together (jigsaw pieces, game parts etc etc)???

OP posts:
Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 30/12/2005 21:27

but harpischord player - we used to play with our toys when younger - had LOADS of fun, but we always had to tidy them away in their boxes at the end of the day.........playing with broken toys, and games with bits missing isn't fun.

OP posts:
flashingnose · 30/12/2005 21:31

Well of course you're right, hence my pushing-jelly-uphill-type sorting out of toys every so often. But what, seriously, would you do with DD1 who plays beautifully and very imaginatively but seems to select one or two bits from each box with a few soft toys thrown in for luck? Tell her she can't?

harpsichordcarrier · 30/12/2005 21:32

no flashing nose please don't do that
creativity and fun is what childhood is all about
it would be different if she was wilfully destructive

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 30/12/2005 21:33

Our playroom floor is about 4/5 clear. The other 1/5 looks like I've simply swept the other 4/5 into it with a broom. Which I haven't, honestly!

Yes - tell her to make a mess, Flashingnose. And let's face it - she only plays like that because you can't be ar$ed to remove the toys from the packaging...

flashingnose · 30/12/2005 21:37

Quite. DS is tidy and organised and puts all the bits back in the box after he's played with anything. DD1 distributes toys merrily around the house (open any cupboard and there's a whole little random family tucked up on one of the shelves with some food to keep them going).

I tried to tidy up properly at the end of every day but I found I was just getting cross with her because there was always so much stuff to put away in so many places (plus she is a lazy moo when it comes to tidying). So a big splurge every so often works well for us .

flashingnose · 30/12/2005 21:37

Damn, rumbled .

IlanaK · 30/12/2005 21:42

I would definately describe myself as anal, but I can also say adamantly that my kids have fun. And we rarely lose or break bits. I have a 4.5 year old boy and an 18 month old boy. I home school so they are here all day.

I have some toys that are in Ikea units and reachable. But all games, puzzles and anything with small bits is on a shelf in ds1 room. He only needs to ask me for something and i will get it down, but then I will also ask him to tidy it away before I get the next thing down for him. He still has fun and plays loads, but it means that things get looked after. Also ensures that ds2 does not get tiny bits like lego that he shouldn't have.

handlemecarefully · 30/12/2005 21:42

I have instilled in 3 year old dd that she must 'look after things' and she is careful not to 'manhandle' her toys - but harpsichord - she still has fun with them! However, whilst I am trying to instill the same message in 20 month old ds I get a feeling it just won't wash. He is not so earnestly approval seeking as his sister...and his mission in life is to trash everything with as much gusto and enthusiasm as possible.

chipkid · 30/12/2005 21:46

my ds is a demon with toys-scatters them around the house and then constantly asks "mummy have you seen...do you know where I put..." drives me mad.
Dd-14 months-very good at tidying already!

daisiesinaline · 30/12/2005 21:50

My DS1 is a mixer and matcher too - this used to drive me crazy cos all the pieces of different toys/games used to get all mixed up! Now 3 kids down the line, I don't have time to worry about 'bits of toys'!!!

When DS1 was about 5 we went on holiday with some friends and I overheard their 5 year old saying to my DS 'my mummy says you are not allowed to play with my toys because you muddle up the pieces and get them lost' Have to say, that particular child now will walk around a supermarket making sure all the tins are facing the right direction!!

daisiesinaline · 30/12/2005 21:51

PS Bizzare behaviour IMO

harpsichordcarrier · 30/12/2005 21:51

well exactly hmc, let children play how they want to play. let them lead their own play.
feel free to spend (waste? )as much time as you like tidying upi when they're in bed but I try not to interfere...
if borken and missing bits bother you then don't give them stuff that goes missing/gets broken.

lockets · 30/12/2005 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

moondog · 31/12/2005 11:30

I'm fine thanks F&Z.

I try to keep to the rule of tidying only once (ie last thing at noght) which I find very hard as I am very tidy.
I also make sure the children help. Even the 17 mth old enjoys putting things back into the basket.
Also divide toys up into sets and bring one set out at a time. I have about 5 different baskets that come out one at a time downstairs.
In the bedrooms I am not quite so uptight-seems to be a bit of a free for all but hey,I don't have to see it!

Roobie · 31/12/2005 11:48

I'm very organised with dd's toys - they all live in boxes in our big hall cupboard and she is only allowed a couple of boxes out at a time. When she gets fed up she has to tidy up what she has out already before she gets a different box. Sounds pretty humourless written down (it's not I can assure you!) but it works really well and she is certainly happy. Bits still do get mixed up though within the boxes so every couple of weeks I have a good sort out.

moondog · 31/12/2005 11:57

I know my children enjoy their toys more if there are only a few out at a time.
I have waded thigh deep through luridly coloured plastic in many a home-the kids are invariably scribbling on the sofas with crayons,oblivious to the best that ToysRUs can offer.

magnolianMistletoe · 31/12/2005 11:57

I am very Anal at 1st, say for a few weeks of having them like at the moment I make sure fifi and friends are all put away as is polly pocket.

Ask me in a few weeks and I am sure it will be different

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