[ajjhmf]

Well, another holiday season is upon us and the family has begun to ask for gift ideas. The thing is, I already feel over run by toys as it is. We purge what we can, but it never seems to be enough. What do you do?

For J, we asking primarily for legos since they are easily contained in one bin and outdoor stuff because, well, it's not going to be actually in the house.

But H doesn't NEED anything. J was developmentally 2 when he came home so we already have a boat load of toddler toys. I'm thinking of asking for board books and such for her, but I'm just picturing the influx of Little People and large plastic things come Christmas morning.

How do you deal with getting too much stuff for your kids? (I'm already worried about when baby #3 comes along. )

Blessings,
Jenny

[ahimsa]

We are in a similar boat! Oh I dread all the new crap...I mean toys that we will get! :-) I donate a lot of what they get to their preschool or Goodwill. In fact, last year we put their toys all away the day after Christmas and only brought out a new one every day or two. That way they weren't overwhelmed and they got to enjoy each one. It also gave time to figure out where each thing would go. In addition, it allowed us to donate a few right away. I know this sounds horrible...but the kids go too much. My daughter got two stuffed Care Bears. Why does she need two? She doesn't remember getting two.

I ask for clothes and shoes, because it is hard to have too many of those. I thought about asking for experiences this year...like tickets to do things as a family, but I haven't yet. Books are good. They take up less space.

A friend of mine was born and raised on a 30 foot sailboat. Needless to say, her parents had little room for toys. When she got something new, she would have to decide which old toy would get donated. One in means one out...that was their policy. You could try that!

I know...it's so difficult because everyone wants to get goodies for the kids and make them happy. It's a nice thought...of course they don't have to live with the "goodies" later!

Best of luck!

[maxkinzie]

"Books" and "Educational non-battery operated toys" works for our friends, and is what we're doing. We have asked for a couple specific things from Grandparents, but how can you go wrong with books? :-)

[LisaCA]

we're new to this (dd is only 16 months) but last year we said she didn't need anything so save the money. some didn't listen but sent a check-fine, goes to college fund.

this year I expect a few things, but what dd and I will do is buy only a few things from santa. heck, at 16 months, what does she know? She's in love with the superball I bought several weeks ago-best toy ever as far as she's concerned.

We expect that we will probably institute some sort of charity donation, picking one or two toys to donate to the poor. not just the old ones, but the new ones, esp if she gets a ton.

and what we did was put a stack of books and other items on her amazon wishlist. Dd is in love with books. we go into a giftshop (like at the aquarium) and she goes straight for the books, not the stuffed animals or other doodads.

one other way to have everyone not get your kid toys: be very opinionated about the toy. we have rules, and they know I will take that toy away if it doesn't follow the rules. I'm mean and they know it . many will undoubtedly throw in the towel and just send cash .

I think having people give to a charity in your child's name is pretty cool. I know dd would be thrilled when she's older to have people give to Heifer international for instance. she loves that catalog with all the animals .

I'm looking forward to reading what other do-good question.

Lisa

[icunurse]

Since we're hoping to have another child or two, we pack away the toys that he's outgrown (if they're in good enough condition to pass on). I admit, I want my house back, but realize that won't happen soon and that it will onyl get worse when there are two, especially if the next one is a girl (we'll have Barbies next to the trucks!). However, when the family is complete, I will be tossing/donating toys are they get outgrown and plan to have the children donate toys before Christmas so that Santa can bring them new ones.

[Nevada Jen]

We have such a problem with this. I chuckle at everyone talking about asking for books. Trust me, you can have too many books. DD has no less that 25 holiday themed books for every holiday plus 10 times more regular books. I now toss damaged books. Last year DD got a tv, dvd,cd player and clock radio from one set of grandparents alone. We toss and donate toys on a rgular basis but it does not even make a dent. I think I have finally figured it out.

First we buy the kids ONE present. That is it. This year we have held off on buying the kids clothes and are asking for clothes for the kids. I am hoping that controls the flow of toys. One year DD registered on amazon for her toys. That seemed to help control the crap toys at least. I am interested to hear what other people do.

Jen

[icunurse]

Originally Posted by Nevada Jen

One year DD registered on amazon for her toys. That seemed to help control the crap toys at least. I am interested to hear what other people do.

We have a little registry on Amazon for DS. I also pick up stuff throughout the year when I find a great deal on something I think DS will enjoy and then my IL's pay me for the stuff and give it to him for Christmas and bday. Cuts down on the "oh, but he doesn't have this...." type of gifts. This way, he has what we think he'll use and like, it's less stress for everyone, and, hopefully, we can keep things in line (OK...I admit it....I'm a control freak )

[tsmaman]

I'm there with you. I feel ill with consumerism when I look at the dissarray of our house. There is TOO MUCH (besides he only really plays with his train, cars and books) DS bday is days after christmas, so we get a double whammy at the end of the year. I try to donate things he doesn't touch and put away softly used items for # 2. Nevertheless, I remained consumed with guilt that our squirt has so much more than he uses or needs.

What happens when #2 rolls in?

I'm motivated to do a tour of duty tonight to sort and toss.

SAM

[Bug-n-Bears-Mommy]

My husbands grandmother put it kind of good when she said "I don't know what to get the boys. I can tell by your family room that they certainly are not short of toys. I also have never seen tehm in the same cloths twice unless it is Seahawks. Would you mind if I set aside the $ I would have spent and after the adoptions are final put it in the savings accounts I intend to open?"

She has accounts for my step daughters too, and we thought that was a great idea.

[LisaCA]

Originally Posted by Nevada Jen

We have such a problem with this. I chuckle at everyone talking about asking for books. Trust me, you can have too many books. DD has no less that 25 holiday themed books for every holiday plus 10 times more regular books. I now toss damaged books.
Jen

okay, this borders on blasphemy. As an academic and a person obsessed with books, they're like shoes-no way you can ever have too many. my house is strewn with dd's books-at 16 months she has about 5 ft of bookshelf space dedicated to her books (not to mention the ones about the house), and it grows weekly. I truly can't imagine having too many books. And it pains me to think that I'll have to dispose of the board books that are partially "consumed" (dd's appetite for cardboard).

I was the aunt who sent only books each holiday. I was also the kid who asked for books each holiday, not to mention plowing thru used book stores with my mom for more.

(shaking head) nope, no way you can ever have too many. Now toys, those things strewn about my house upset me much more. must be contained...

[Howdy]

This thread strikes such a chord with me. We have way too many toys too, and not nearly enough time to play with them. For my dd's birthday I got her socks, a music CD, and a variety of chewing gum. My SIL got her a computer game. Some of her friends got her gift cards which I spent on groceries and put IOUs in my dd's Piggy Bank (and managed to avoid redeeming them for months!). She also got a very nice board game that I returned to the store with the same groceries/IOU result. All in all we avoided accumulating any junk.

I think for the holidays I will have at least some of the presents be educational computer software games, they won't take up much space at all. But I have already got a stack of new toys piling up in a locked closet. This thread was started just a little too late to save me!

[Overwhelmed!]

When asked by relatives what Jacob would like for Christmas, I said Disney DVD movies (I'm building a collection for when he's older) and Dr. Suess books (I've always loved these books since I was a child). I provided a list of the few he has already so that duplicates wouldn't be given. He certainly doesn't need any more toys, he has a ton of them! We'll see how it turns out this year. His 1st birthday is 3 days before Christmas.

[sugarbabysmommy]

Too much stuff for sure. I donate some gifts and regift some.

Maybe to cut down on toys you could request memberships, like to the zoo, the aquairium, museums, even, heaven forbid, money toward Germboree.

Babe is in a no battery phase, actually requesting that batteries be removed from toys unless they make music or animal sounds. Babe also rejects any toy that has a mind of it's own and moves or dances indpendently. This is tough, so many people think if it's noisy and shakes kids will love it.

[Tudu]

My daughter donates a ton of toys and reorganizes her playroom twice a year, birthday and Christmas. She just asked me last night whenwe could do it again, I think she has figured out it's out with the old and in with the new. She is talking about "giving" at school and the letter G (she is 4) and she told her teacher she knew what it meant b/c I make her give all her toys away to hungry people. The teacher thought it was the funniest thing.

RAchel

[MrsSmith]

Originally Posted by sugarbabysmommy

Maybe to cut down on toys you could request memberships, like to the zoo, the aquairium, museums, even, heaven forbid, money toward Germboree.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest - last year, my MIL paid for Emma's Gymboree membership for the entire year. Let me tell ya, that sure came in handy - it was definitely the most "useful" of her presents, and a gift that kept on giving, as we've been regularly attending Gymboree all year!

We also have memberships at the zoo and children's museum, and as those are places we visit regularly, we are going to continue those memberships. I've already suggested to relatives who have asked that these would be wonderful presents........ and they don't come with nine thousand wires and in plastic packaging that needs to be hacked through at the expense of Mommy or Daddy's hands!

LisaCA - as an avowed bookworm since childhood myself, I am with you! Em can never have too many books (she has a 4 shelf bookcase in her room that is stacked full, plus literally piles of books downstairs and out in the minivan too). I'm always good with more books, and will make book recommendations to folks based on books Em has enjoyed from storytime or the library but that we don't actually own yet. A large part of her present collection are books that were mine when I was little - we have some rickety, raggedy Dr. Seuss and co books around here now!

PS - Sugar - totally cracking up at your term "Germboree" 'cause it is SOOOOOOOO true!