Comments on: Try it Together: Managing Your Pre-Schooler’s Toy Collection http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/ Simplify your home. Tue, 22 May 2012 00:30:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jess http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-17977 Jess Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:32:53 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-17977 perhaps this is the answer to getting rid of children's toys when they are adults too?! A few years back my mum gave me all my childhood toys, she had been saving them all for 25 years or more. She no longer wanted to store them and thought I should take them. There were so many and I had already kept my special teddy and dolls house, I didn't want to store the toys as well. I sent a whole lot of them to charity and then she got upset with me about it because she had attached a memory to each toy. I had to explain to her that I couldn't remember playing with the toys so I wasn't sentimental about them like she was and just like her, I didn't want to have my house cluttered with toys. I did keep half a dozen of them though because I felt guilty giving them all away and she insisted I should keep some for my own children that I would have one day. Since then, I have had a little girl, She doesn't play with them much because she is only 10 months old and she prefers to pull things out of the kitchen cupboard but I am hoping that she will play with them more at a later stage so that it makes it worth my while keeping them all this time. Even with a child of my own, I still feel like these toys are cluttering me up (and they all fit into one cane basket) perhaps this is the answer to getting rid of children’s toys when they are adults too?!

A few years back my mum gave me all my childhood toys, she had been saving them all for 25 years or more. She no longer wanted to store them and thought I should take them. There were so many and I had already kept my special teddy and dolls house, I didn’t want to store the toys as well. I sent a whole lot of them to charity and then she got upset with me about it because she had attached a memory to each toy.

I had to explain to her that I couldn’t remember playing with the toys so I wasn’t sentimental about them like she was and just like her, I didn’t want to have my house cluttered with toys.

I did keep half a dozen of them though because I felt guilty giving them all away and she insisted I should keep some for my own children that I would have one day.

Since then, I have had a little girl, She doesn’t play with them much because she is only 10 months old and she prefers to pull things out of the kitchen cupboard but I am hoping that she will play with them more at a later stage so that it makes it worth my while keeping them all this time. Even with a child of my own, I still feel like these toys are cluttering me up (and they all fit into one cane basket)

]]> By: Kelly http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11684 Kelly Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:38:41 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11684 That is precious. Before Christmas, I asked my daughter (almost 4) to choose some items that she'd like to give people who don't have many toys. We were making a donation bag to give away. I wanted her to learn to give just as people give to her. I was surprised by some of the items she put in as well. They were different than I would have thought, and I started to stop her, but like you, realized it was her choice. And it was a nice learning point for us both. .-= Kelly´s last blog post ..<a href="http://blueinkmediumpoint.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-song.html" rel="nofollow">A New Song</a> =-. That is precious. Before Christmas, I asked my daughter (almost 4) to choose some items that she’d like to give people who don’t have many toys. We were making a donation bag to give away. I wanted her to learn to give just as people give to her. I was surprised by some of the items she put in as well. They were different than I would have thought, and I started to stop her, but like you, realized it was her choice. And it was a nice learning point for us both.
.-= Kelly´s last blog post ..A New Song =-.

]]> By: abbie http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11674 abbie Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:58:00 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11674 oh goodness, I do this every other month. There is always some plastic half living toy that comes through our front door from some relative. The thing is the kids never miss any of the stuff I decide to "put away." I just hate clutter on the floor, and the fewer toys they have, the less there is to clutter. I do think books are different. They do have a lot of those, and we are still expanding our library. This year, I made a small decision to concentrate on the quality of toy the children play with, instead of the quantity. I just purchased a $120 doll for my daughter for her birthday. Expensive? Yes, but I figure we would have thought a plastic dolly at $15 wasn't that expensive, and when it broke, we'd get her another, and another, and another. And after a few, well, that would be $120 we would have spent on dolls. Why not invest in one heirloom quality, and save our landfills? Do others think this is counter-culture? I think it is fantastic that your daughter is able to participate in the "put-away" process. Maybe in a few years here. :) .-= abbie´s last blog post ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Organizing-life/~3/82dS6e7mwfo/" rel="nofollow">for our newest family member</a> =-. oh goodness, I do this every other month. There is always some plastic half living toy that comes through our front door from some relative. The thing is the kids never miss any of the stuff I decide to “put away.” I just hate clutter on the floor, and the fewer toys they have, the less there is to clutter. I do think books are different. They do have a lot of those, and we are still expanding our library.
This year, I made a small decision to concentrate on the quality of toy the children play with, instead of the quantity. I just purchased a $120 doll for my daughter for her birthday. Expensive? Yes, but I figure we would have thought a plastic dolly at $15 wasn’t that expensive, and when it broke, we’d get her another, and another, and another. And after a few, well, that would be $120 we would have spent on dolls. Why not invest in one heirloom quality, and save our landfills? Do others think this is counter-culture?
I think it is fantastic that your daughter is able to participate in the “put-away” process. Maybe in a few years here. :)
.-= abbie´s last blog post ..for our newest family member =-.

]]> By: Rose http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11646 Rose Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:29:31 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11646 What a wonderful post! I wish my mum had done that kind of thing when I was 5 (I'm now 19..). What a wonderful way to teach them the joys of simplicity. Unfortunately, the things I want to purge aren't things I can easily give away - pencils (I must have over 300 pencils of every type..) and clean/half-used notepads, ornaments a charity shop would just throw away (I work in one, so I know..). Thus purging my things feels bad because I have to throw pencils and pens in the bin - at 15p for a pack of 30 new, no one would take used ones off me. However, I do at least recycling the pages from notebooks; but this still feels wasteful. Thanks for sharing this with us, ~Rose. .-= Rose´s last blog post ..<a href="http://simplewings.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/setting-goals-in-motion/" rel="nofollow">Setting Goals in Motion</a> =-. What a wonderful post! I wish my mum had done that kind of thing when I was 5 (I’m now 19..). What a wonderful way to teach them the joys of simplicity.

Unfortunately, the things I want to purge aren’t things I can easily give away – pencils (I must have over 300 pencils of every type..) and clean/half-used notepads, ornaments a charity shop would just throw away (I work in one, so I know..).
Thus purging my things feels bad because I have to throw pencils and pens in the bin – at 15p for a pack of 30 new, no one would take used ones off me. However, I do at least recycling the pages from notebooks; but this still feels wasteful.

Thanks for sharing this with us,
~Rose.
.-= Rose´s last blog post ..Setting Goals in Motion =-.

]]> By: Diane http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11645 Diane Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:10:33 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11645 Hi. I can't remember how I found your blog but I've been reading it for awhile and LOVE it. This post spoke to me because I do the same thing! Things I am attached to or think she should be cause me to question her. So glad you posted this because it really pointed the obvious out. Also, where in the world did you find that cute puppy! I'm thinking you made it awhile back?? And where did you get that tote bag? Too cute! Thanks for all the great posts ... I look forward to reading them every night. Diane Hi. I can’t remember how I found your blog but I’ve been reading it for awhile and LOVE it.

This post spoke to me because I do the same thing! Things I am attached to or think she should be cause me to question her. So glad you posted this because it really pointed the obvious out.

Also, where in the world did you find that cute puppy! I’m thinking you made it awhile back?? And where did you get that tote bag? Too cute!

Thanks for all the great posts … I look forward to reading them every night.

Diane

]]> By: Visty http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11644 Visty Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:04:21 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11644 I am always trying to get the kids to cull their toys. They are older now, 10 and 12, and it's really getting easier with the 12 year old. I can't do it behind their backs anymore. (still can with the 2 year old!) But just the other day my 12 year old said he could let his playmobil pirate ship go. I am the one having trouble getting rid of it! But I think back, and while he's had it for a long time, he never loved it like he does other things. So I'm going to take your advice and trust him. .-= Visty´s last blog post ..<a href="http://therinrins.typepad.com/our_little_life/2010/01/2009-in-review-longwinded-style.html" rel="nofollow">2009 in review, longwinded style</a> =-. I am always trying to get the kids to cull their toys. They are older now, 10 and 12, and it’s really getting easier with the 12 year old. I can’t do it behind their backs anymore. (still can with the 2 year old!) But just the other day my 12 year old said he could let his playmobil pirate ship go. I am the one having trouble getting rid of it! But I think back, and while he’s had it for a long time, he never loved it like he does other things. So I’m going to take your advice and trust him.
.-= Visty´s last blog post ..2009 in review, longwinded style =-.

]]> By: Kristina http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11643 Kristina Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:03:28 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11643 I have found that keeping clutter at bay begins at the toy store. My daughter's room has two built in hutches and they are currently full of toys. Therefore, we will not buy her any more toys UNTIL space is made. We treat toys in the store just as we would toys at preschool. She can play with them while she's there, but we always return the toy back "to its home," before we leave. She's only 2 1/2 though and it's only a matter of time before she catches on! I have found that keeping clutter at bay begins at the toy store. My daughter’s room has two built in hutches and they are currently full of toys. Therefore, we will not buy her any more toys UNTIL space is made. We treat toys in the store just as we would toys at preschool. She can play with them while she’s there, but we always return the toy back “to its home,” before we leave. She’s only 2 1/2 though and it’s only a matter of time before she catches on!

]]> By: Just at the right time « It’s My Life http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11642 Just at the right time « It’s My Life Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:59:28 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11642 [...] moving I was taking a little break from cleaning & unpacking to read a few blogs.  I ran into this one and thought that it was perfect timing! When we moved from Alaska to Florida we had a HUGE garage [...] [...] moving I was taking a little break from cleaning & unpacking to read a few blogs.  I ran into this one and thought that it was perfect timing! When we moved from Alaska to Florida we had a HUGE garage [...]

]]> By: Share http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11641 Share Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:43:14 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11641 That is awesome! I try to keep ontop of my childrens clutter, but as they get older it gets much harder. I do the same thing though - "Are you sure you don't want that?" "You just bought that!" I too have to take a lesson from the little ones & learn to let go! .-= Share´s last blog post ..<a href="http://shareslife.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/big-grand-plans/" rel="nofollow">big grand plans</a> =-. That is awesome! I try to keep ontop of my childrens clutter, but as they get older it gets much harder. I do the same thing though – “Are you sure you don’t want that?” “You just bought that!” I too have to take a lesson from the little ones & learn to let go!
.-= Share´s last blog post ..big grand plans =-.

]]> By: Julie http://smallnotebook.org/2010/01/04/managing-your-pre-schoolers-toy-collection/#comment-11637 Julie Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:35:45 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1691#comment-11637 Boy, do we need to clean out toys around here, especially after Christmas - inspirational! I have to tell you this is the second year that I have done interviews with my kids and we had so much fun doing it. Thanks for the idea last year!! .-= Julie´s last blog post ..<a href="http://livelaughbehappy.blogspot.com/2010/01/once-againwhat-weve-been-up-to.html" rel="nofollow">Once Again...What We've Been Up To...</a> =-. Boy, do we need to clean out toys around here, especially after Christmas – inspirational! I have to tell you this is the second year that I have done interviews with my kids and we had so much fun doing it. Thanks for the idea last year!!
.-= Julie´s last blog post ..Once Again…What We’ve Been Up To… =-.

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