Are Toys Taking Over?

Children tend to accumulate so much stuff! Between celebrations and loving grandparents they are showered with toys and clothes. Try adopting some give away routines to keep the toys from taking over.

• Celebrate an “unbirthday” or a “1/2 birthday”. The child picks a toy to give away. Then reward the child with cake and ice cream!
• Before or after gift-giving celebrations: get rid of toys that are broken or no longer used.
• When you notice child hasn’t played with a toy or hasn’t worn certain clothes, ask, “Can we give this away?”
• One in/One out rule: when a new shirt is received, get rid of an older shirt.
• “No empty hangers” signal: Use this as a sign that there are more clothes than needed in the closet. Have your child pick several items to give away.

Keep a “To Give Away” container in a convenient spot to put items in that are no longer needed. When full, take it to a local charity or store it in a “garage sale items” area.