Oh my- toys are taking over my house

[Anonymous]

We try to keep only a few toys out at a time so our 2yo is not overwhelmed- keep some stored for rainy days, etc. We just got back from visiting family and we almost didn't fit in the car there were so many toys. Our son still likes his current toys so I don't really want to get rid of them to make room for new- we cull the old ones regularly- but the family who gave the toys also have a tendency to come visit and ask where certain things are if they don't see them out.

I have a pile of toys that we will give away unused during toy drives next year. The toys are nice- and I know they were given with the best of intentions, but if we kept them out we would be living in a toy store. We actually had to apologize on Christmas because our son totally lost interest and was on the verge of tears because he didn't want to open anything else.

Please help- we still haven't had a chance to give our own kid any toys- we picked up about 3 total- and my family is coming for "Christmas" tomorrow. At least with my family they have heard our message that we want to see them, enjoy time and experiences together and limited toys. My DH has told his family the same, but it just doesn't seem to sink in.

Help!

[Anonymous]

Just keep the extra toys in the basement, garage, attic, wherever. You'll be reaching the point of having to go to kid birthday parties soon- I always give presents from the excess at those times. Others get donated. If there are so many you can't close the car door, first stop should be Goodwill on the way home.

[Anonymous]

We bought a bigger home and keep most of everything in the basement

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the rest of your life. From now on, you will need to regularly purge. Keep stuff in the basement until you are sure you are done with it. Wait until you start having real birthday parties.

[Anonymous]

I feel your pain. You need to have boundaries of where to keep the toys, like a closet so the stuff doesn't take over and drive you insane. If it doesn't fit there, get rid of it and don't feel guilty (easier said than done). That sucks they ask where things are they have given. You may have to take up lying and say "it's around here somewhere". You just have to donate and try to guide them to give less and less and less. It really adds up and becomes a nightmare. Teach your kids to put stuff away after they play with stuff otherwise everything will be dragged out all at once and you won't be able to walk around easily. Unfortunately people giving too much stuff has become an epidemic and they often cannot stop even if you ask. You learn to recognize good toys from bad ones (good ones are stuff like books, puzzles, wooden toys, art supplies, dolls, cars, legos, musical instruments; bad toys are anything made of stinky plastic, stuff that breaks, pens that are not washable, anything that makes a mess, anything with batteries, anything that makes noise, tons of little choking hazard pieces, humongous molded plastic furniture, stuff with a character from a tv show, stuff that you can collect more and more of, etc). Decide what you like and make room for that, and the other garbage get rid of.

[Anonymous]

Rotate them - store what isn't being used.

We have our basics that have been used for years - blocks, Legos, Bilibo, puzzles, cars/trains, playdough, etc Other toys tend not to last as long, we get rid of them once they aren't being used.

[Anonymous]

Unopened toys can be donated now or any time. I wouldn't hold on to them for a year.

After two kids and over-buying relatives, be ruthless now. It's so hard to shed later.

[Anonymous]

I would leave some of the toys at the in-laws. Which is what I did. We have two storage ottomans in the living room, a bookcase and doll cradle in the kids rooms and a toy kitchen in the real kitchen. If it doesn't fit there, it doesn't come into our house.