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mathmama
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 7:05am | IP Logged
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We have too many toys and I want to get rid of some. But, how do you decide what to get rid of? My girls play with everything. They have great imaginations and use things in ways I would never imagine. I thought I would be able to get rid of some of the soft toys/stuffed animals but they have recently started calling them their kids and giving all of them names  I know there is a big tea set that I can get rid of as they have 2 tea sets and the other one is more the type of toy I like (read not character themed). Also, my girls don't build too much so I am thinking of ditching the Duplos, but then I think it is bad to not have anything they can build with. I would love a stark playroom with a couple of well loved toys. Instead I have a super cluttered playroom of well loved toys. Any guidance??
Thanks!
Beth
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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Mimip
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 7:20am | IP Logged
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Beth,
Do you have storage space? If you do you might try rotating toys for a few months and see what is missed if anything. Here is a past thread where rotating toys was discussed.
Maybe then you could gage what is really played with more than other things and give you a stark playroom at the same time.
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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mathmama
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 8:10am | IP Logged
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Unfortunately, we have no storage space. We have very few closets that are packed to the max and completely unusable cellar and attic.
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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Mimip
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 8:52am | IP Logged
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Okay, you are just like me, no storage space!
First get rid of things you know you want out (like that character tea set).
Do you have toys that are alike together in bins or baskets? Like are all the doll stuff together? All the duplos in one bin that fits? I recently realized that my stuff is much more orderly if it all is together. I purchased a really cheap storage container with drawers and finally got all the dolls, bottles, slings, diapers and clothes in the drawers. I put a large basket on top and that is where the dolls go when not played with.
Then I would recommend getting bins that you can't see through, just two maybe 18 gallon ones? Put stuff in there and put out of sight as much as possible. Maybe you could put a cloth over it and make it table like? if you could do this then maybe even with purging you could rotate. (Oh and I know this seems logical but make sure the kids don't see you putting the toys in there!)
I personally think the Duplos are used a lot at my house when they are the only thing out. My girls don't naturally gravitate to them, they want to play family ALL DAY LONG! My boys do, but they like to play with their sisters so if they are all playing duplo then they get a lot of use.
Good luck, I know this is a very difficult thing to do when your children seem to play with it all!
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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SusanJ
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 9:23am | IP Logged
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I would ask your girls for help. When I explain to my kids that there are families whose kids don't have very many toys or something like that they are quite generous in choosing what to purge. They may surprise you. My oldest is about the same age as your oldest so I don't think they're too young.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
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Actually, the imagination and using things in ways you never imagined is a good clue that you can get rid of things.. if they need a certain "thing" they'll figure out an invention for it.
and I have no problem limiting the number of stuffed toys. Just because they play with them doesn't mean that they need to have 15 each 
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LeeAnn
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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mathmama wrote:
| Unfortunately, we have no storage space. We have very few closets that are packed to the max and completely unusable cellar and attic. |
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Maybe a general purge is necessary? I just tackled my linen closet this weekend. It's amazing how much better I feel knowing that something I can't even normally see is clean and tidy and free of clutter!
I generally keep the kids' toys up on the top shelf of their closet in closed clear bins or under their beds for the three or four things that are used most often. My rule of thumb lately has been that it has to fit in the space we have availalble and that it can't be stored on the floor. (Under the bed in a bin is an exception.)
Making your belongings fit your space rather than trying to make your space fit all your belongings is a good mindset for determining how much should you really keep.
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LucyP
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This is one way I have been able to do purges, get the children involved, be surprised and keep it imaginative and fun.
I set up a "shop" (I limited it to certain types of toys - ie soft toys OR puzzles OR books OR building toys etc - so it is not overwhelming) Then I gave each child a little purse/container and some play coins (we use little wooden discs) - I limited each child to a certain number, based on what I was hoping to achieve - say with books, they had ten each. With soft toys/dolls it would be 2 or 3 each. I think it also matters that all the toys/books that will be in the shop have been out in circulation - the enthusiasm for something not seen for a while can over-ride their real judgement, I found. Then I explained that each child could buy one thing with each coin, and what was left in the shop would go to the charity shop so other children can have a chance to buy things.
It goes very well. Sometimes, if I have not kept everything out, they pick something I know they don't care about but which they haven't seen for a while. Sometimes it is me who thinks "but x gave them that/that cost so much money/that is so "educational"/but that is *my* favourite". Then I either buy it myself or just let go.
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Waverley
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SusanJ wrote:
| I would ask your girls for help. When I explain to my kids that there are families whose kids don't have very many toys or something like that they are quite generous in choosing what to purge. They may surprise you. My oldest is about the same age as your oldest so I don't think they're too young. |
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I agree. This might be a good project to take on during Lent when we focus as a church on giving. I am always surprised at how much my children are willing to give away. One helpful tip a friend gave me is to line up all the similar items (like stuffed animals), count how many you have, decide how many to keep, and then let the child pick the ones that are to be given away.
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mathmama
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LeeAnn wrote:
Maybe a general purge is necessary? I just tackled my linen closet this weekend. It's amazing how much better I feel knowing that something I can't even normally see is clean and tidy and free of clutter!
I generally keep the kids' toys up on the top shelf of their closet in closed clear bins or under their beds for the three or four things that are used most often. My rule of thumb lately has been that it has to fit in the space we have availalble and that it can't be stored on the floor. (Under the bed in a bin is an exception.)
Making your belongings fit your space rather than trying to make your space fit all your belongings is a good mindset for determining how much should you really keep. |
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I did this over the summer (I sent probably close to 3dz garbage bags to various charities). It is why my closets are packed to the max and not the closets *and* the rest of the house. Like I said our attic and cellar are completely unusable. On the first floor we have a single closet that has to hold all shoes (many of them are old ones of DD#1 waiting for her younger siblings to wear), coats (all sizes), and towels and washcloths. I also have other assorted odds and ends in there like wrapping paper. On the second floor we have 3 closets one of which is super small. I do not have a linen closet I have to find space wherever I can for sheets, etc. Anyway, I am not able to purge anymore general stuff 
I like the ideas of having the kids help. In fact, today we moved the bookcase from the toy room into the LR/DR and did a major book purge getting rid of nonsense books and damaged books. The girls were really into it. After it was finished DD#1 told me that she wants to go through her toys in order to give some to poor children  So, it seems that involving the children is the best thing to do!
Thanks again!
Beth
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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JodieLyn
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Quote:
| I do not have a linen closet I have to find space wherever I can for sheets, etc. |
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Have you seen the suggestion for keeping the extra sheets unfolded enough to lay flat between the mattress and boxspring of the bed they fit.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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sewcrazy
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I recently purged toys with the help of my 5 year old. I found a box for each thing we wanted to keep. Over the course of a week we sorted toys. He could keep only what would fit it the box. He was really able to make good decisions over what to keep and want to bless another child with.
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LeeAnn
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MNMommy
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| Posted: Feb 11 2010 at 7:08am | IP Logged
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LeeAnn wrote:
Making your belongings fit your space rather than trying to make your space fit all your belongings is a good mindset for determining how much should you really keep. |
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Very well said!
mathmama wrote:
| I do not have a linen closet I have to find space wherever I can for sheets, etc. |
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Maybe you can think out-of-the-box? We only have one set of sheets for each bed. We own six bathtowels (one for each family member), and we only use 2-3 right now. I assume that will change when the kids start bathing daily so I am storing the extras. I do have two handtowels for each bathroom so I can have one in the wash and the other out while the wash is running.
When I am in purge mode, I think of Ma Ingalls and how many things she didn't have and really didn't need. She inspires me. 
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Jennifer
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: purging toys
