The Toy Clear Out

[TryHerBest123]

How do you ladies handle the toy clear out, do you tell your child? Go through the toys with them etc. or do you do it and hope they won't notice? or...any other suggestions and ideas would be great. My son hasn't got the biggest room and is autistic so when the clear out comes around the little hoarder comes out in him and he wants to keep toys he hasn't played with in over a year lol. What makes it worse is he really rubs salt on the wound by saying things like 'please dont rid of my toys' with the eyes of a puppy the sad face of a deprived child which he certainly isn't lol. I somehow end up with more toys than I started with (what it feels like anyway). So any advice, suggestions and ideas welcome. Thank yoou

Get rid when they are not around. They rarely notice they've gone.

Can you box them up and put them in the loft for a few weeks to see if he even notices or cares that they're gone, and if not bring them to the charity shop guilt free. Or alternatively make up bundles of toys and sell on local selling sites, the thought of getting the cold hard cash persuaded my DD to part with some toys that she had outgrown.

What i used to do is put some of the ones to get rid of in a bag or box. Then put that bag or box somewhere for a month. In a shed or garage, on top of a wardrobe etc.

If those toys don;t get mentioned in that month its safe to get rid. If however, theres a meltdown about one particular toy in that month you can always "find" it again.

Only works if you have the storage space though obvs.

I have a nt child so this might not work, but I do involve her in the process and say that anything that was given to her as a gift I will try and sell and then she can have the cash. If it’s things she really hasn’t played with, but is not worth trying to sell I talk about how giving them to the charity shop or local preschool gives a child who may not get a chance to enjoy those toys a chance to have fun with them. She’s quite empathetic, so generally gives in. I always emphasise that there simply isn’t too for new things to come in if she doesn’t clear old stuff out.

I think with an autistic child you have to involve them really. My ds would have hated me clearing out his things