I let them know we will sell it and they can have the money.
Or is the Marie kondo method, do I need this or do I love this. If not it gets thrown out.

Generally I find if it hasn’t been touched in a year it won’t ever be again. In saying that if you draw it to their attention they will swear they play with it regularly

Good luck with that!

Pick a zone. Don’t be overwhelmed by the whole scene. For eg. Choose the kitchen pantry and that is it for one occasion. Have rubbish bag ready and recycling bin. Cloth to wipe shelves out and simple cleaning products. Next time, do drawers. One word focus, ok ( :

Sit down with them and tell them we need to get rid of things. Sort out a keep pile and a get rid of pile. Or sort out our own when they r at school.they won’t notice it missing.

Have regular clean outs to get rid of anything they’ve outgrown or no longer play with. I prefer to buy my kids things like books and craft supplies and outdoor play equipment, I don’t see the point of having so many toys when they hardly get played with anyway, and the rest of their relatives give them enough to keep them happy.

Check out http://www.flylady.net she may have something there – I know she has a kids section and emails

Get your kids to sort out which toys could go to charity for other kids who could use them
For Christmas. Teaches them lessons about those who have less at the same time

Buy them out door toys then its your hubbys problem. lol

perhaps some vouchers… i gave my son an AFL voucher for his birthday this year so that he could pick something he really wanted for himself – and not a toy.. also, one friend always gives him a VILLAGE movie voucher… he was also given a helicopter flight voucher…. sometimes an experience is better than a toy..

I always have this problem as I have one child just before Christmas and then two just after– so I make them do a cleaning just before the first one’s birthday then they make their lists for Christmas am their birthday together and I shop from one list– if they see something later then it goes on the next list or they understand that they may not get it I they add it too late! We are lucky in that the house we moved into has a basement an I set up the arts and coloring there and just keep toys in their rooms! I also equal out toy gifts with things like art or crafts or outside activities so that not everything ha to be stores in their rooms! Use big plastic bins in garage for outside toys! And smaller ones from the dollar store for toys in rooms!

I always have this problem as I have one child just before Christmas and then two just after– so I make them do a cleaning just before the first one’s birthday then they make their lists for Christmas am their birthday together and I shop from one list– if they see something later then it goes on the next list or they understand that they may not get it I they add it too late! We are lucky in that the house we moved into has a basement an I set up the arts and coloring there and just keep toys in their rooms! I also equal out toy gifts with things like art or crafts or outside activities so that not everything ha to be stores in their rooms! Use big plastic bins in garage for outside toys! And smaller ones from the dollar store for toys in rooms!

give to charity but keep favourites.

I would make a big deal about giving them to kids in need and going through them asking your kids to choose what they think kids with no toys would like them donate them!

Agreed that ‘venues’ and outings with family and friends with just one set new clothes, theme parks, together time will be best remembered and appreciated in the long run as well as in the present.

Agreed that ‘venues’ and outings with family and friends with just one set new clothes, theme parks, together time will be best remembered and appreciated in the long run as well as in the present.

TEll them it is time to clean up and get rid of their old toys and baby things. Tell them to choose 10 toys each that they no longer need or want and take it from there

If there are double-ups on toys or toys that you really don’t want for your child, save them for the next birthday. They will always have a party to go to or someone in the family will be having one, keep a present cupboard/box!

If the children are old enough, explain about children who don’t have much and encourage them to select toys to give to a charity, maybe even let them decide which charity. Make it an entire learning exercise with praise and gentle encouragement.

Cull toys regularly to go to charity or friends with younger kids.

With my 15mth old, we rotate his toys weekly or every few days if we remember. So he only has access to 1 tub of toys at a time, thus everything is fresh and fun to play with!

My daughter’s birthday is in late november..so I do know what you mean…I now request no toys but dvds, crafty things or books. I also rotate her toys as well, so they are not all out at once!

I really need to do this. I think organising into categories is good and aiming for one in one out. Our two year old has so much she doesn’t play with need to start giving some away too. I like the idea of experiences instead of things for birthdays.