When to get rid of toys???

[IcyShark]

My boys are 13, 9 and 7. At what age did you get rid of most toys from your home or dare I say it when did you stop buying toys completely? We have so many that need sorting and to be honest 99% of it doesnt get used and sits in toy boxes where every christmas and birthday more and more accumulates. My eldest obviously isn't interested but wants to keep board games which is fair enough. My 9 year old mostly uses lego amd my 7 year old is non verbal autistic and doesn't bother with any of them.
I think I really need to get rid of the clutter and donate a he'll of alot.

And also dont get me started on soft toys, plushies and squishys 🙄🙄

There is honestly no point in keeping stuff that doesn’t get used or played with. Maybe spend a few weeks putting several toys and games you aren’t sure about out in view and just see if anything gets played with?

Just get rid of the stuff they don't use. Mine just have a few soft toys and lego now really.

There is no set age. Just get rid of what definitely isn't used anymore. Plushies are not discarded in our house, especially not favourite ones. Both my sons still have their favourites and the older one is 22. I am 52 and still have a couple of special teddy bears.

I'll definitely keep the special soft toys etc. Seem to have a hoard of mcdonalds junk 🙄. Spoke to my 9 year old earlier about donating some and that another child somewhere could perhaps give said toys a second home. Nope not having any of it. Kept saying I play with that amd that and this. Yea ok when was the last time I asked. Didn't have an answer its been that long. Told him that christmas is coming if new things are coming in then old things need to go out.

its a real struggle... but whatever you do don't discuss it with them!! Quietly give it away/ sell it on FB marketplace. They will never miss it!

in Covid I had a mega clear out when my daughters were 10 and 8. I kept some bits, certain ones they still played with and the lovely doll houses and sylvanians, the special ones anyway.

then my son came along so the house is now once again a haven of toys, but it's not forever, I know I'll soon have my house back again!

when I think of all the money those toys cost and how wasteful it is that some have barely been played with, when some kids in the world have nothing, I do wish it wasn't so normalised.

We get rid of ours along the way, when they grow out of it we just donate the toys.

My daughter is 4 and a toy a week escapes to the give away bag. Then if she doesn’t notice then the bag goes to charity/bin.

I can’t wait to get rid of the plastic crap - apart from Lego and magnetic tiles, colouring and painting stuff.

Slowly without discussion move things - start with the McDonald’s stuff and in a few weeks they don’t notice bin it!!

I feel anxious reading your post you must have stuff everywhere!!

Mine are 11, 9 and 7 and I’ve been looking at the house this week thinking exactly the same as you. Part of me feels like the 7 year old should still be playing with things like the brio train set, magnatiles, playmobile, Lego…but he doesn’t. It’s mostly a problem to do with me to be honest as clearing them out feels like the end of something :(

I have however got rid of lots of shite / gimicky toys quietly as they break or lie unused somewhere. It’s the stuff they really did used to use which makes me feel sad to get rid of.

board games, card games, puzzle type toys, squishies, stuffies, sports equipment, and art stuff is still all used and will be kept. Nerf gun stuff also still gets used esp when friends are over. I’ve also kept my 9 year old daughters big wooden dolls house and sylvanians in her room because although she doesn’t really play with it imaginatively anymore she does set it up in different ways depending on the season and it’s cute seeing it decorated for Christmas or Halloween etc.

My 8yo still plays with toys although ahe probably wouldn't so much if she didn't have a younger sibling. I am gradually selling the outgrown toys on Vinted as I like that they can be used again and of course the money can be put towards things for older kids. If you might ever have relatives or friends with younger dcs visiting it's handy to keep hold of a small bag of toys, it doesn't take up much room and was much appreciated when I had toddlers!

I'd keep hold of sentimental cuddlies and I also like taking a snap of each toy before saying goodbye!

My son is 9 and loves tiny little squishies like Mr Beast ones and creates elimination games. That’s the only thing he plays with (will get Tupperware and throw them all in, those that land inside move to the next stage he makes up etc). A year ago he got back into hot wheels too - when his mates come round they all play with them.

So literally that’s it otherwise it’s Roblox, switch and board games (loves payday and monopoly).

Smyths magazine has arrived and he’s actually picked out some toys! A memory game called Simon. A throwing game where you can different points etc. Pokemon - he looooves Pokemon.

Every year I do a sort out round about now and tell him nothing new comes in unless he gifts his things to another child. I never decide for him, but make him do it.