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Kathryn
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 5:15pm | IP Logged
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I promise I try to find the right spot to put these odd questions so if it's not the right forum, please move for me.
In aspiring to declutter and "simplify" life around here amidst the toys (and hence chaos it brings), I'm trying to get rid of those things that are just not worth keeping. Overall, I'm doing an ok job but there a few things that leave me wondering. For example...this Lite Brite my oldest rec'd on her 5th birthday! She will be 11 next week and honestly, she and her brother haven't played with it THAT much. I suppose if I bought the replacement pages they might but I always played Lite Bright as a child free style. This thing has been moved here, there and everywhere. Now that I have an almost 2 1/2 year old I'm wondering...does it stay or does it go? Will she be the one child that reallly wants one? Is this one of those toys that just doesn't have staying power? PLEASE help me decide.... 
How do you decide what stays/what goes? This question has prob. been answered before. 
Thanks,
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 5:21pm | IP Logged
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If it doesn't get used, it goes.. the littles tend to want to copy the olders so if the olders didn't use it.. it's not likely to be used by smaller ones. If I don't like picking it up.. it also goes.. ok I don't like picking up any of it.. but those little pegs could drive me bonkers. 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SuzanneG
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I put things out....in a place somewhat all it's own, where it can be easily played with and see what happens. Sometimes I'll encourage use of it.
If it's not played with, then it goes.
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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I think of Jen Mack's recent comment on decluttering: she says she keeps only the best of the best.
I think that is a WONDERFUL screening tool. Ask yourself: is this the best of the best?
We also got a Lite Brite for Christmas from a relative. It was a one hour wonder, and I have already put it away... the kids didn't even notice it was gone. It is in my "holding pen" for toys that are on the give away list.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 7:12pm | IP Logged
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Okay, I'm throwing the monkey wrench...
Both my kids loved LB - as did I as a child. Also, they are getting harder to find. If you have room, I'd set it aside and pull it out at an age-appropriate time.
If you don't have room, that is another story - they take up a lot of space.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 09 2010 at 3:09pm | IP Logged
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 LiteBrite 
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 09 2010 at 3:30pm | IP Logged
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We don't have a lite bright, but I could see some great benefits from having one. Like Suzanne, I tend to set things like this out in a special place, or on the rainy day shelves, and allow it to be special rather than accessible all the time.
Items like this that have a zillion pieces do very well on our rainy day shelves in our learning room. They're treated in a Montessori-ish way - one item out at a time, all pieces together, use/work/play/creatively explore but treat pieces and item respectfully, and put away neatly when done. I keep Zomes, bristle blocks, connectagons, wooden marbles and blocks, K'nex, some favorite games, etc. rotating in and out on these shelves.
My kids tend to respond more to special items out only a little at a time rather than lots of good stuff out all the time. Maybe put the lite bright away for a while. Could you set up some special shelves where your kids know you will rotate special toys on and off and evaluate and set out different toys once a month or so?
Maybe re-evaluate the lite bright after you've rotated it in and out a couple of times. If my kids were consistently avoiding it, I'd gift it to another family.
Good luck deciding what stays and goes!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Any Lite Brite Fanatics?!
