We don't have any kids yet, so this isn't really a problem that we personally struggle with. But we're guessing some readers who are parents are dealing with toy overload, especially around the holidays. Are you drowning in a sea of your kids' toys?
We just read a great article in the LA Times that we're guessing most parent will find pretty interesting.
The article deals with the problem of toy overload and how to manage your children's ever-expanding collection of toys. Did you know that the average toy only costs $7.68? According to the article, many parents who try to limit the amount of toys that come into their chilren's lives find it to be a very difficult task. What about birthday parties? What about the holidays?
Read the whole article here.
How do you limit the amount of toys in your house?
(Image: Flickr member meddygarnet licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Comments (6)
Yes! And it's ridiculous. We have tried to enlist the help of grandparents to no avail. My dad actually told me "That's not my problem. Get a bigger house." Lovely. So, for both of my daughters' birthdays, we made a "no gift" policy for their kid party. Family members were allowed to bring gifts to the family party. At first the girls were a bit bummed, but once the party rolled around, they didn't miss the gifts one bit. They were having a great time with their friends.
Christmas is a different story. The grandparents started shopping in October and they're on toy overload. My husband and I will buy one toy for each girl (plus one from Santa), because that seems reasonable.
We have a small home that does not have a playroom. We have managed to keep the toy overload somewhat contained by asking for museum memberships, books & art supplies for presents. When it comes to birthday parties, all of our friends are pretty understanding- they live in small homes, too! And we don't have 15 kids over for the parties, either. Once the toys have been played with for a year or so, they get sold to a consignment store or passed onto friends with smaller kids. We have a few exceptional toys (farm set, dollhouse, awesome toy cars, legos & blocks) that we keep b/c they get played with all the time.
It was hard the 1st couple of years for the grandparents b/c they really want to give toys. Thankfully, they do understand the situation! And one set has set up a 529 plan for each child.... a much better gift that will grow over time!
I'm always astonished at the number of toys kids have now. My older bros. & sisters thought our much younger sister and I were horribly spoiled because we had so many more than they did. And yet, compared to my young friends today, it was nothing. So...what's going to become of all these toys? Will there be special toy landfills?
I'm going out today to get (small) Xmas gifts for assorted great-nieces & nephews and this piece is giving me second thoughts....but $$ is so dull and I don't have enough to start funds and such for them.
We are fortunate enough to have a large playroom. we are also fortunate to have an older daughter who loves to play "donate it or sell it" (her name for purging her toys). Our younger daughter is another story. She wants to keep everything. Sometimes I purge when she's not home. Truthfully, though, my kids really do play with most of their toys. Right now they're in the playroom creating a huge village out of Polly Pockets, Barbies, Little Ponies, etc. They do this *a lot* and I feel like the toys are worth it as a result. I keep them in big colorful plastic bins (sold in the summer time for holding drinks at BBQ's, etc). That keeps things organized. There is a great book on this topic by children's author David Shannon called Too Many Toys. I bet all parents will be able to relate to it--especially when he chronicles the origins of the toys (from family, birthday parties, fast food restaurants, etc, etc...)
On Parenting Hacks there is a great post about Santa recycling toys. The kids leave toys they no longer need for Santa to take to other kids !
I love the Santa recycling idea!
We don't have any kids yet, but quite a few of our friends do, and some of them have a LOT of toys - my worry is that we'll end up getting a whole load of plastic handmedowns... Most of which I'll take straight to a charity shop, but I'd feel the need to "accept" the gifts, because otherwise they'd end up in landfill, not the charity shop, meaning I'll wind up with another thing to do. Anyhow - it'll all be well meaning, which is what really counts.
Grandparents won't be an issue - it's just my partner's parents, and my mother-in-law is a qualified seamstress and fantastic knitter (& cook), and I can never resist the gift of homemade goodies - everything she makes is gorgeous! :-)