If anyone gives my kids toys for Christmas, I might scream.

[Anonymous]

Btw, OP -- and I say this genuinely and not with snark -- I'm sure there are lots of kids who would love your excess toys. Check with Head Starts, domestic violence shelters, charities that work with foster kids...etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poor OP. I am totally with you. Donating is a lot of work and generally not a solution. Grandparents who don’t respect the wishes of parents are deeply selfish and disrespectful.

This is worth repeating.

[Anonymous]

Make sure to request a Scrooge sweatshirt for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did you come to have so many toys?? Is it solely the fault of grandparents over-buying? We don’t have this problem so it’s hard for me to imagine. My kids were ecstatic when they got toys as gifts!

Why don’t you buy them the soccer goals/equipment?

Also, in a nice and respectful way be very clear with the grandparents. “They’re still playing with all the great toys you got them last time - and our house is getting a little cluttered, would you mind getting them an experience instead?

Exactly. PUrge often and don't keep and buy excess. When your kids are gifted toys it will be a treat instead of a burden. Instead of being annoyed year after year do something different that will actually change the situation.

[Anonymous]

You can stop with the toy buying. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

I can’t imagine how a 7 year old is starting to age out of toys. I’m so sad that my 12 year old is aging out of toys.

I agree you should donate or sell the ones that your kids don’t use. I could understand complaining if the toys were just filler crap but it sounds like they are good toys. Mauve you just need a better organizational or storage system? Also, think about how much space in the house is decorated to your stuff—kitchen equipment, tools, jewelry, clothing, makeup, hobby supplies, books. Don’t your kids deserve to have stuff or their own as well?

But if they really want a play dome, tell GP that—that’s a great “big” play gift.

[Anonymous]

Donating and purging can be tricky when the grandparents specifically ask about the toys they gave. Where is it? Have you been playing with it? Go get it so we can play together!

[Anonymous]

Yes. We broke it by literally letting our faces fall and saying "Oh. Thank you but ... we weren't kidding when we said we didn't want the kids to have any more toys and weren't give them anymore. It's REALLY important to us not to raise spoiled children. I hope you don't mind - we'll just put these away in the closet for another time."

They were VERY upset and then got over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poor OP. I am totally with you. Donating is a lot of work and generally not a solution. Grandparents who don’t respect the wishes of parents are deeply selfish and disrespectful.

How is it work?

Dear Neighbors. there are 10 preschool board games at the end of my driveway. Please help yourself. Some are never played with...

[Anonymous]

Grandparents do the same in our house. We say thank you and then ruthlessly purge. My kids went to a wonderful in-home in the neighborhood. I give the extra toys to the owner and she takes them to her church friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poor OP. I am totally with you. Donating is a lot of work and generally not a solution. Grandparents who don’t respect the wishes of parents are deeply selfish and disrespectful.

How is it work?

Dear Neighbors. there are 10 preschool board games at the end of my driveway. Please help yourself. Some are never played with...

People do this on my neighborhood listserv and buy nothing group all the time, for real.

[Anonymous]

Get ready to scream!

[Anonymous]

I keep a lot of toys in storage and donate/give away regularly. I mostly use buy nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poor OP. I am totally with you. Donating is a lot of work and generally not a solution. Grandparents who don’t respect the wishes of parents are deeply selfish and disrespectful.

How is it work?

Dear Neighbors. there are 10 preschool board games at the end of my driveway. Please help yourself. Some are never played with...

People do this on my neighborhood listserv and buy nothing group all the time, for real.

It is still a burden. The clutter, the rounding up, the making sure you have all the parts/pieces, sorting. boxing up, making a post, consolidating and taking out of house.

Not being over gifted in the first place is the far better option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is 7.5 and for 7.5 years, we have asked for no toys for Christmas. Experiences, large items (basketball hoop), etc. Nope. Grandparents insist on toys…a LOT of them, because it’s “fun”.

We can’t return them once they’re open…I considered that. We get rid of stuff, but it is quality toys: nano bots, legos, coding critters…and my kids play with the items occasionally.

But we are drowning in toys. I have three boys now and we don’t need anything else. The 7.5 is close to aging out of “toys” and he already has legos galore, plus snap circuits etc.

I went a climbing dome, soccer goals, balls…

Has anyone managed to “break” grandparents of this toy obsession?!?

Shut up fool