Comments on: Toys, toys, toys

By: Outdoor

Outdoor — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:07:46 +0000

I dont usually comment, but after reading through so much info I had to say thanks

By: heatherrabbit

heatherrabbit — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:19:54 +0000

I agree! Rotate the toys!!! We do that, and with 5 children it helps tremendously! Plus, there IS less to clean up and more organized play. When all the toys are out all of the time, they get so bored and so overwhelmed, that I am sure to hear the never ending “i’m bored” whine. When we rotate the toys, is like Christmas each time we gfet a new one out! They play so nice and quietly when we do this. One other thing i do a lot, is turn the TV/movies off. All day. No biggie, they do not miss it. We have enough noise in our house already, no need to add more. Sometimes, we will put on a littel music, but soft music, because rock and roll gets them all geared up! LOL
And LOVE the Gift cert ideas! We recomend this to all relatives as well.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:08:44 +0000

Grandparents have been paying for swimming lessons, or doing gift certificates to the children’s museum or a place called Wild Air (has the big blow up slides etc). Even gc to Chuckee Cheese or McDonalds. We don’t take the kids out to eat very often because we just had #4 and it cost us at least $30 or more depending on where we go. One grandparent has even done a day at a waterpark in a hotel.

By: Alison

Alison — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:09:45 +0000

One thing our family does is donate most unwanted/un-needed gifts to a shelter or toys-for-tots. It also serves to teach our son about those less fortunate children who might not otherwise have toys. We’re very lucky, because both sets of grandparents ask for a Christmas or B-Day list, so we generally ask them for the types of books and toys we’d prefer.

By: Crisanne

Crisanne — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:12:27 +0000

Do they have other toys in their bedrooms? That’s where most of our kids’ toys are-in the closets to minimize mess. Then we have two bins for toys down stairs in the living room.

By: mel

mel — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:15:39 +0000

Yes! Yes! Yes! I’ll add to the voices clamouring for an answer to the Christmas/birthday present dilemma. Help us, Chris. Please. Help us.

By: ChristieNY

ChristieNY — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:09:36 +0000

Ditto the others – we have countless bins of shiny plastic toys, almost every single one filled from birthdays & holidays from well-meaning family and friends.

Even a few enormous obnoxious ride-on thingys that are lining the walls that were given to my youngest for his birthday a few weeks ago – ugh.

We’ll be moving soon and I’m hoping to come up with a system of less is more as you’ve done. Of course, Christmas is right after we move, so I’ve got to get a system in place to manage this. Any advice would be appreciated.

By: Midsummer Night

Midsummer Night — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:04:05 +0000

I have the same problem with extended family buying the battery operated everything. It is so frustrating! My sister understands my ideas and buys things for the boys that encourage imagination and I love her for it. My husbands side, however, um to put it politely thinks I am nuts.

Every.Single. Toy. The boys have ever received from them makes noise and/or lights up along with the noise. I would sell them all in garage sales but my husband is of the mindset that if someone gave it to them, then they can have it. Never mind that it doesn’t help them build their imaginations. Ugh.

By: DW

DW — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:22:51 +0000

I tell grandparents and such to buy savings bonds.. But to a five year old child a savings bond is not as alluring as a shiny new toy. I have trouble with friends and relatives buying obnoxious toys that serve no purpose. I think family and friends are looking for that huge hug and the adoration that comes with giving the child the brightest coolest new toy.
Help?
So basically what Jenn said!

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:15:05 +0000

What do your kids get for holidays & birthdays? Because we don’t even get our kids presents. They receive so many things from grandparents & aunts & uncles, we just never felt like we should add to the pile. Do you tell gift-givers what to give them? We have 3 large rubbermaid bins and many smaller ones filled to the rim scattered around the house full of batteries-required, shiny-plastic things.