This time of year can be overwhelming for parents. Not because of the typical shopping extravagzas or trying to figure out how to pay for it, but wondering where we are going to put all the new toys!
Here are some tips to keep the toys from toppling over:
First, spend some time before the holidays to clean out the toy boxes. Get rid of toys that are broken or beyond repair.
Second, set aside toys that are no longer age appropriate and consign them to a local kid consignment store. Then the money you make from consigning the toys can go to purchasing more age appropriate toys.
Third, set aside toys that your kids are no longer playing with, but don’t donate them yet! Pull them all together and one rainy afternoon before Christmas, spread them out on the floor and see which ones the kids get excited over. Keep those, but donate the ones that still get passed over.
Fourth, for the older kids, ask them to pick out at least one toy that they need to donate. Getting them involved as part of the process of donating makes them realize the importance of giving.
Fifth, when your kids are making their holiday wish lists, ask them why they want the toy on their list. You may find that they don’t need the toy after all. One year, my friend had a daughter that wanted a gigantic stuffed pony. After finding out that what her daughter really wanted was to ride a pony, she didn’t buy the stuffed pony (and avoided worrying about where it was going to fit in the house) and signed her daughter up for riding lessons instead.
Sixth, forgetting about finances, really figure out what your kids really want and what you really want to give. Sometimes we don’t need to provide, and they don’t need to get, everything on their list.
Hopefully a couple of these tips can help keep your house from being over run with toys this holiday season and in the new year too!
Charlene is a senior member of the Toy Insider Parent Advisory Board and blogs at Metrowest-Mamas.com.