how do you get rid of toys

I feel like I am being a mean mom, but I just cannot take it. I feel like my house is over run with toys. I want to get rid of some of the more baby toys but then my kids get upset. I don't want to make them upset, but these things have not been played with for months/years. I think the issue is that we don't have anyone in the family with younger kids yet, so they would either go to friends/charity. How do you get your kids to become ok with the idea of giving things away? They are fine with giving clothing away once it no longer fits and we give them coins to put into the charity box at school weekly. They see me volunteer for various causes - so they know it is important to us, but I don't want them to be sad. I just don't have space for all of it and DDs birthday party is coming up and then the holidays are right after that so I have no idea where to put stuff.

Re: how do you get rid of toys

I am the mean mommy, but I can't take it anymore. After they go to bed I move stuff to the attic and 9 times out of 10 they don't even realize it! Once I have enough, I call a local charity to come and get it.

Re: how do you get rid of toys

I have a bin I keep in my basement of things that the kids do not play with on a daily basis. On a rainy day or when the kids look bored, I will bring the "new" toys upstairs & do a trial run. If no one plays with it for an allotted time, I donate it.

there have been items that I have basically had to pry my kids off of as I threw them out the front door but they were "babyish" toys & I just tell them that we are giving them to kids that are "younger" then them & that we need to clean out & make room for the new toys that "Santa" will bring

Re: how do you get rid of toys

I put the stuff away when he goes to bed.. Then I make it disappear for good... I even take the toys he plays with now and rotate them out. After a month, I let him have them again. It is like he is playing with new toys.

Re: how do you get rid of toys

I will either take things to work or donate it to daycare.

Re: how do you get rid of toys

My daughter is 3 1/2 and this X-mas we told her that Santa has asked for some of her old toys to give to other boys and girls who dont have any.

We are thinking of askeing her for 10 to donate.

We still have to hold on to some b/c of DS who is only 3 months old and will play with them when older.

how do you get rid of toys

my friend would hide it away, if they didn't ask where it was it in like a couple weeks, it would then get donated....

if I knew my son outgrew it, and I didn't want to save it for #2, I'd just bring it to daycare.

Re: how do you get rid of toys

I hide it for like a week or so. If he doesn't ask for it then I toss it.

I also find it helps keep my sanity to throw out little things like any crap from the dollar store or a kids meal.

Re: how do you get rid of toys

I wait until they are asleep and clean house...they have so much crap they don't even notice