I have a number of my own books on my kids’ shelves now. I only had boys and they are not really interested in the beautiful dolls my grandmother made for me. I have no idea what to do with them. My sister only had boys also. I am on the fence about saving things for them as I’ve downsized my mother twice and am now cleaning out my dads house after his death. There is just so much stuff and I don’t want to saddle my kids with that. Eldercare caused huge rifts in my family.

My daughter sleeps with the same stuffed animal I did as a child. That’s all I saved but it will be up to my kids to determine what they save. My dad still has his bear and his baseball glove.

I will save LEGOs, magnatiles, wooden blocks, favorite dolls and stuffed animals, some of my sons’ favorite toy trucks, puzzles (as long as they have all the pieces), a few classic baby toys (shape sorter, stacking rings, pop up toy, xylophone), and books as long as they’re in good condition. I have a few large plastic storage tubs I plan to use for this purpose as my kids grow up. My parents saved a lot of stuff from my childhood that my own kids now love seeing and playing with when we visit my parents. So I’m really saving it for potential grandkids also because I’m sentimental and I have really loved the toys/books along with my kids so I would have a hard time parting with them.

Yes! We have a shelf in my daughters room where we "retire" very beloved books and toys after she outgrows them. It's not a ton of stuff -- just a few books that she loved to death and had us read over and over, and two toys from when she was a baby that were particularly dear to her. We'll add some things to it as she goes, and when she is a tween/teen she can decide for herself what goes up there. If she outgrows the shelf we'll just put them in a box and keep them stored away.

My parents kept nothing from my childhood, and actually took very few photos of me (I am a middle child). I even had a box of stuff that I had saved from my middle school/high school years that was sitting in my parents basement and my mom got annoyed it was there and wound up getting rid of it. When my daughter was born, it hurt me to think there was nothing from my own childhood to give to her, or even to put in her room as a kind of connection to my own past. I want her to have a few things that she can hold onto and pass on if she chooses (or toss, if that's what she chooses). I feel it is part of my job as a parent to keep some kind of record of her earliest days so that she can see them when she is older.

Take pictures of things you can’t keep. My daughter is 24 and we love to look at old photos and see a favorite toy. She doesn’t remember most of them, but we do!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm saving special things for me! I mean, the kids will be welcome to them, but I might be the only one who cares.

Same here. I’m more sentimental than my parents and kids. My parents have no problem through out anything they don’t need or giving it away. They gave away all of our family Christmas ornaments and threw away my childhood collections - I’m still upset about that. It has never even occurred to them to ask if I want those, and they had plenty of space to store them. I’m so glad they managed to keep a few of my toys, and they are now sitting on a shelve at my home.

That’s so sad, PP. I’m so sorry.

Anonymous wrote:I'm saving special things for me! I mean, the kids will be welcome to them, but I might be the only one who cares.

Same here. I’m more sentimental than my parents and kids. My parents have no problem through out anything they don’t need or giving it away. They gave away all of our family Christmas ornaments and threw away my childhood collections - I’m still upset about that. It has never even occurred to them to ask if I want those, and they had plenty of space to store them. I’m so glad they managed to keep a few of my toys, and they are now sitting on a shelve at my home.

Keeping Legos, magnatiles, some Fisher Price/Little People toys.

I have a small box of sentimental items. More for me though.

My parents kept my Barbies and Fisher Price and a few other things. My kids absolutely love going to grandma's house to play with said items. I hope my grandkids will feel equally excited and love what I saved.

I'm saving special things for me! I mean, the kids will be welcome to them, but I might be the only one who cares.

I have a 15 yr old and I've saved a few books, blankets and stuffed animals. The only toys I've saved are the ten million dollars in Legos sitting in a giant plastic tote. I just can't get rid of them. Maybe I'll sell them to finance his college education.

Definitely will save beloved books. I have books from when my grandfather was a boy, my mom was a little girl, and me and DH when we were kids. It is special to read those with my kids.

As for toys, my MIL saved a bunch of Dh's toys and my kids love them. (80s play kitchen, Teddy Ruxpin, dinosaurs, etc.) My mom saved those cardboard building blocks and some games. All are used now.

So I will probably save some toys but only things that the kids really loved and have sentimental value.

Well, tons of the books our kids have abs enjoyed belonged to us as kids. My daughter also has a bunch of my old dolls and plays with them daily. Also, a few other special toys, and some games & puzzles my DH had as a kid. So, yes. We will save some things to pass down to the next generation.

Favorite stuffed animal/blanket. Yearbooks. Stuff like that.

Each kid has a plastic box, like a container, that lives under their bed. They can save whatever they want as long as it fits in there.

A special lovey is all I would keep.

If you will save any toys or books for your kids, what and how much will you save and when would you give to them? Did anyone get anything from your parents and think, “I am so glad they saved that and that I have now” (whether glad for you or because can now give to your kid)? Not talking kids art work or their writings or anything— just toys or books that if you have room you would save (v taking a photo)? Thanks! Signed, I need to clean my house!